As you likely already know, NBA superstar Kobe Bryant recently passed away in a tragic helicopter crash. Afterward, his friend and former teammate Shaquille O’Neal, better known as Shaq, did not know whether or not he should host his annual Super Bowl party in Miami. In the end, he decided to host in and turn it into a fundraiser for Bryant’s charity, The Kobe Bryant Foundation.
Losing Kobe Bryant
As widely reported, Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna died in a crash, onboard a Sikorsky S-76B helicopter. They were on their way to Gianna’s basketball game at a school in Los Angeles, along with many other people. The fellow passengers, head baseball coach of Gianna’s team, John Altobelli, his wife Keri and daughter Alyssa, assistant coach Christina Mauser, fellow teammate Payton Chester and her mother Sarah, and the pilot, Ara Zobayan, all also perished.
After starting an investigation on the crash site in the hills of Calabasas, California, the officials from the Transportation Safety Board are still trying to understand what caused the tragedy. As of now, they believe the helicopter’s terrain alert system was not equipped. However, whether that was manufacture or pilot error remains undetermined.
Sharing His Thoughts
Of course, any friend would feel conflicted after such a horrible accident. Shaq truly wrestled with the question of hosting a party amidst the despair in the wake of Bryant’s tragic death. Then, Vanessa, Bruant’s wife, shared her statement on social media after the disaster. “To honor our Team Mamba family, the Mamba Sports Foundation has set up the MambaOnThree Fund to help support the other families affected by this tragedy,” she wrote.
Afterward, Shaq had an idea. “Been going back and forth the past couple of days on if I should even have my event in Miami this weekend,” he wrote in an Instagram post. Part of me wanted to stay to myself as I reflect on what my brother and his family mean to me and my family. But in thinking what would Kobe wants, what would he do? Kobe would want us to push through and celebrate life. So let’s do just that. I’ll be dedicating and donating all my proceeds from Friday nights Fun House to all the families who lost loved ones and to the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Foundation. Together we will celebrate all those who lost their lives in Sunday’s tragedy. RIP my brother, my friend, and my homie, The Black Mamba. Until we meet again…”
Shaq’s Fun House
Bryant became a very close friend to O’Neal after they played for Los Angeles Lakers together from 2000-2002, winning three consecutive NBA titles in that time. Even after going to separate teams, the two became even closer friends. When recalling everything he and his best friend went through on the NBA on TNT special after Bryant’s death, Shaq teared up and couldn’t finish.
Still, despite the general feeling of sadness, it seems that the annual “Shaq’s Fun House” went well. As showcased on Instagram by many who attended, the party featured fair foods, a carnival midway, and a host of celebrities, including rappers P. Diddy and Pitbull. Shaq even DJ’ed a set under the name DJ Diesel! In total, the party is suspected to have brought in over $1 million for the Kobe Bryant Foundation!
Sources: Good Morning America, Yahoo! Sports