SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — Kobe Bryant’s tragic death devastated people from all walks of life and backgrounds, but the loss is hitting the Hispanic community especially hard.
Angel Solorio is only 7 years old, but on Monday he wanted to bring Koby Bryant’s excellence to practice. In his home, it was all about Kobe all the time.
“I just think it is part of the Hispanic culture,” said Annette Solorio, Angel’s mother.
Annette said the Hispanic community felt a special connection with Kobe and welcomed him with open arms.
The Hispanic community not only loved Kobe, but his wife Vanessa, who is Hispanic. Kobe even learned to speak Spanish.
“It was amazing how he picked up the Spanish language," said Annette.
"When he started speaking Spanish, I was like what,” said Coach Ramon Vasquez.
For Coach Vasquez, it was a sense of pride knowing that one of the world greatest basketball superstars was such a big part of the Southern California Hispanic community.
“Hispanics in the NBA, you don’t see a lot. So, someone that cared a lot about Hispanics, who learned the language, it was amazing,” said Coach Vasquez.
On Monday, the world continued to honor and remember Kobe, his daughter and the seven others killed in Sunday’s helicopter crash.