Kobe Bryant was one of the most influential figures in the world of sports, not just in basketball, but also in the city of Los Angeles. Bryant became synonymous with LA during his 20-year long NBA career, a Laker for life. Kobe brought 5 championships to the city, including the legendary three-peat alongside Shaquille O’Neal and Phil Jackson.
While Los Angeles is often considered a Laker town, they do currently have a pretty good NFL team in the Los Angeles Rams. The franchise went to the Super Bowl in 2019 and has secured yet another spot in this year’s Super Bowl after becoming the NFC Champions with a win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night.
Huge contributions in key moments were made by newly acquired star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who paid tribute to Kobe Bryant during the victory. Odell showed up to warm-ups in snakeskin cleats that were inspired by Kobe. The Rams went on to showcase the Mamba Mentality, coming back from a 10-point deficit in the second half to clinch the championship and a Super Bowl berth.
OBJ is honoring Kobe with these cleats 💜💛 (via @RamsNFL) pic.twitter.com/HDbYCXtBiF
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 30, 2022
There are a few things any athlete in Los Angeles can do to earn the respect of the city and honoring Kobe before making big plays to help your team win is right up there. This was a classy gesture from OBJ and will have been appreciated by Kobe’s family as well, considering that the 2nd anniversary of the icon’s tragic passing happened to be just 4 days before the game.
Bryant’s legacy is almost unmatched in Los Angeles, his legacy is something that all athletes will look to follow if they play for an LA team, regardless of the sport. It would be an even more fitting tribute to Kobe if the Rams can now go on to win the Super Bowl and bring the Lombardi trophy back to Los Angeles. If OBJ can challenge the Mamba mentality once again, it’s a very real possibility!
