Kobe Bryant vigil to happen in Bakersfield

Kobe Bryant vigil to happen in Bakersfield

THANKS TO VIEWER MATT TOLEDO FORSENDING US THISPICTURE FROM STAPLES CENTER.EVEN THOUGH KOBE ISN'T QUITEAS SYNONYMOUS WITH BAKERSFIELDAS HE IS THE CITY OFANGELS, A LARGE TURNOUT ISEXPECTED TONIGHT."THIS IS A BIG LAKER FAN CITY,SO KOBE ISLIKE ONE OF OUR OWN.

WE CHEERFOR HIM AND ROOT FOR HIM AS IFWE'RE FROMLOS ANGELES."AND THAT'S WHY THE DIGNITYHEALTH SPORTS COMPLEX WILLTURN IN TO A PLACE OF MOURNINGTONIGHT, AS THEPUBLIC ATTENDS A VIGIL FOR NBAGREAT KOBE BRYANT.

BRYANT,HIS 13-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER GIANNA,AND 7 OTHERS WEREKILLED SUNDAY WHEN HISHELICOPTER CRASHED INTO AHILLSIDE IN CALABASAS.

THECOMPLEX HOUSES SPORTS LEAGUESAND YOUTH PROGRAMS."THE KIDS HAVE KIND OF DEALTWITH IT INTHEIR OWN WAY, YOU KNOW ISTRUGGLED WITH IT VERY HARD ATONE POINT, ME ANDMY FAMILY.

AND IT'S STRANGE YOUDON'T KNOW HIM PERSONALLY BUTYOU'VE WATCHED HIM FOR SO MANYYEARS, HE'S KIND OF ONE OF THEFAMILY."SHILOH AND MANY OTHERSREMEMBERING BRYANT FOR HISSKILLS ON THE COURT, AND FORBEING A GOOD FATHER.

SINCENEWS OF KOBE'S DEATH, THOUSANDSHAVE PAID THEIRRESPECTS OUTSIDE THE HOUSE HEBUILT, STAPLES CENTER.AND EVEN SOME LOVE HERE INBAKERSFIELD, WITH THISBILLBOARD SEEN NEAR THEINTERSECTION OF ROSEDALEHIGHWAY AND MOHAWK STREET.HIS WIFE VANESSA POSTING ONINSTAGRAM WEDNESDAY -- APORTION OF IT READING."WE ARE COMPLETELY DEVASTATED BYTHE SUDDEN LOSSOF MY ADORING HUSBAND, KOBE -THE AMAZING FATHER OF OURCHILDREN; AND MY BEAUTIFUL,SWEET GIANNA - A LOVING,THOUGHTFUL, AND WONDERFULDAUGHTER, AND AMAZING SISTER.SHE CONTINUES."WE ARE ALSO DEVASTATED FOR THEFAMILIES WHO LOST THEIR LOVEDONES ON SUNDAY, AND WE SHARE INTHEIR GRIEF INTIMATELY.THERE AREN'T ENOUGH WORDS TODESCRIBE OUR PAIN RIGHT NOW.

ITAKE COMFORT IN KNOWING THATKOBE AND GIGI BOTH KNEW THATTHEY WERE SO DEEPLY LOVED."BRYANT ALSO BEING REMEMBERED BYMILLIONS FOR HISEXTREME WORK ETHIC, OFTENREFERRED TO AS THE MAMBAMENTALITY."NOT MANY PEOPLE CAN DO WHATHE'SDONE, I THINK THAT'S WHATSEPARATES HIM.

NOT JUST WHAT HEDID ON THE COURTBUT HIS APPROACH TO EVERYTHING,THAT'S HALF THE BATTLE A LOT OFTIMES."TONIGHT'S VIGIL WILL START AT 7PM AND THE PUBLIC CAN BRINGCANDLES, AND IS ENCOURAGED TOWEAR PURPLE AND GOLD."I JUST REALLY WANT TO SEE HISMESSAGEPORTRAYED ALL THROUGHOUT THISBUILDING TO EVERY SINGLE KID ANDFAMILYTHAT WALKS THROUGH HERE."THE LAKERS ARE IN ACTION AGAINSTTHE PORTLANDTRAILBLAZERS TONIGHT AT STAPLESCENTER.

IT'LL BE THE FIRSTGAME THEY'VE PLAYED SINCEBRYANT'S DEATH.

NO DOUBT IT'LLBEAN EMOTIONAL ONE FOR THEM.

THEGAME TIPS OFF AT 7:30 ON ESPN.IN THE STUDIO AUSTIN WESTFALL23ABC CONNECTING YOU.THE DELANO POLICE DEPARTMENT ISDOING SOMETHING SPECIAL F