Kobe Bryant died on Sunday in a California helicopter crash that claimed the lives of nine people — including Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna.
As the news spread, the NBA community was in disbelief as they mourned the loss of one of the all-time greats at 41 years old. The NBA opted to continue Sunday’s slate of games as scheduled, and many teams honored Bryant with in-game tributes.
That applied to broadcasters as well.
At the start of Sunday’s game between the Knicks and Nets, play-by-play announcer Mike Breen started the broadcast by offering a reflection on Kobe’s death and the challenges of calling/playing a game under these circumstances.
"Just don't feel like broadcasting. I know a lot of the players don't feel like playing. It's just a sad, sad day."
Mike Breen speaking emotionally about Kobe's death at the start of the Nets-Knicks game pic.twitter.com/ufr9CVmd17
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 27, 2020
An audibly emotional Breen said:
“On my way into the arena, I thought of Bill Gallo. Gallo is the legendary sports cartoonist that when Thurman Munson passed away, the next day he had an unbelievably touching cartoon. And it was these two characters that he had, Basement Bertha and Yuchie, and the cartoon read, ‘Naw, Yuchie, I just don’t feel like playin’ ball today.’ And she was crying. And that’s the way I think a lot of us feel tonight. Just don’t feel like broadcasting, and I know a lot of the players — excuse me — don’t feel like playing. It’s just a sad, sad day.”
This was the cartoon Breen referenced:
This Bill Gallo cartoon (published after the death of Thurman Munson) was referenced by Mike Breen during today’s Knicks broadcast.
A sentiment that also echoes the feelings of many this Sunday.
“Naw Yuchie – I just don’t feel like playin’ ball today.” pic.twitter.com/YhoJEiQNJA
— Sam Dykstra (@SamDykstraMiLB) January 27, 2020
As Breen said that, the Nets took a 24-second violation to honor Bryant.
[jwplayer utcKtuZQ-q2aasYxh]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3]