Helicopter crashes
FILE - Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant goes up for a dunk during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz in Los Angeles, in this Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, file photo. Bryant is the game’s fourth-leading scorer. He spent 20 years with the Los Angeles Lakers, 18 as an All-Star, and won five titles. Then came the helicopter crash in the fog-shrouded California hills that reverberated across sports and across continents. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Jazz-Lakers 1/25/2013

Dec. 29, 2020 01:22 PM EST

FILE - This is a 1970 file photo showing Chicago Bears football player Gale Sayers. Sports in 2020 was an unending state of mourning. Football lost a big piece of its heart: Don Shula, Gale Sayers, Paul Hornung, Bobby Mitchell.(AP Photo/File)
From Kobe to Maradona, a year of staggering losses in sports

By Fred Lief Dec. 29, 2020 12:54 PM EST

Sneakers and a Los Angeles Lakers uniform with the numbers worn by NBA star Kobe Bryant are left at a memorial for Bryant while fans gather to pay their respects near Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 2, 2020. Bryant, who became one of the greatest basketball players of his generation during a 20-year career with the Lakers, died in a helicopter crash on Sunday, Jan. 26. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Colo Colo vs Cobresal 2/2/2020

Dec. 28, 2020 12:32 PM EST

U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Marwan Sameh Ghabour, of Arlington, Mass., who died in a helicopter crash in Egypt on Thursday, is honored on the video screen at Gillette Stadium before an NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the New England Patriots, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots 11/15/2020

Nov. 15, 2020 08:24 PM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 15, 2019, file photo, Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) chases a play against the Chicago Bears during the second half of an NFL football game in Denver. Miller's body is buffer, his hair tinted orange on top. The star linebacker says his dramatic offseason transfiguration was a result of his battle with the coronavirus, Kobe Bryant's untimely death and the Michael Jordan documentary. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, File)
Von Miller's transformation driven by Kobe, MJ, COVID-19

By Arnie Stapleton Aug. 04, 2020 06:10 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dc. 18, 2017 file photo, former Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant talks during a news conference in Los Angeles. Bryant and fellow NBA greats Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett headlined a nine-person group announced Saturday, April 4, 2020, as this year’s class of enshrinees into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. They all got into the Hall in their first year of eligibility, as did WNBA great Tamika Catchings. Two-time NBA champion coach Rudy Tomjanovich, longtime Baylor women’s coach Kim Mulkey, 1,000-game winner Barbara Stevens of Bentley and three-time Final Four coach Eddie Sutton were selected. So was former FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)
The Latest: Lakers GM Pelinka draws inspiration from Bryant

By The Associated Press Apr. 08, 2020 03:11 PM EDT

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Dante Pettis wears cheats honoring Kobe Bryant before the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
At the Super Bowl, they remembered Kobe Bryant

By Tim Reynolds Feb. 02, 2020 06:07 PM EST

A Miami-Dade police officer patrols outside of the Hard Rock Stadium before the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
San Francisco 49ers at Kansas City Chiefs 2/2/2020

Feb. 02, 2020 02:50 PM EST

DJ Khaled poses in the press room with the award for best rap/sung performance for "Higher" at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
DJ Khaled, Cardi B, Gaga to perform during Super Bowl week

By Mesfin Fekadu Jan. 29, 2020 02:37 PM EST

San Francisco 49ers' Richard Sherman, second left and Kansas City Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu, right along with Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes, (15) and San Francisco 49ers' Jimmy Garoppolo greet each other during Opening Night for the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, at Marlins Park in Miami. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Tribute for Kobe Bryant kicks off Super Bowl media night

By Rob Maaddi Jan. 27, 2020 09:22 PM EST