The ‘Lakers Night’ at the Dodger Stadium was a sight to behold for the Los Angeles faithful. Honoring late legend Kobe Bryant, the entire stadium wore purple and gold as Vanessa Bryant and her three daughters took over the diamond. Recreating the 5x NBA champion’s first pitch from 2000 at the same stadium, Natalia did the ceremonial honors today. Moreover, a $100,000 check made it even more special for Vanessa and her family.
As the video of the first pitch by Natalia hit social media, fans started to remember the late legend. The resemblance is indeed crazy. Well, Natalia was the only star of the night as the Dodgers never shined.
The special Lakers night ends on a sad note
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The evening started off on a high note as the Bryant family was seen sporting Dodgers jerseys with No. 8 on the back. On the other hand, the entire Dodgers team was seen wearing Los Angeles Lakers jerseys with 8 and 24 on the back to honor the Black Mamba.
As Natalia threw the ceremonial pitch, the crowd roared. However, the roars did not last long once the game started. The Dodgers have been on one this season as they stand on top of the table in the Western Conference.
With the second-best record this season at 83-50, the Dodgers were favored to win tonight. However, the table-toppers Atlanta Braves decided to ruin the special night for both the Dodgers and the Bryant family.
The LA unit was scoreless for the maximum time of the game. Anyhow, Julio Uriyas and Co. managed to escape an embarrassing defeat as they lost 3-6 to the Braves. A win this evening would have made it a perfect night for the Bryants.
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However, the Black Mamba will be proud of his daughter and will definitely appreciate the Dodgers’ massive donation tonight.
Vanessa Bryant honored by the Dodgers with a huge donation
The Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation is a name to look out for in the upcoming years. Run by Vanessa currently, the 41-year-old continues to support underprivileged youth in every way possible.
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Impressed by the efforts, the Dodgers decided to donate a lump sum of $100,000 to her sports foundation. Vanessa, with a check in her hand, shared on her Instagram, “We love you LA! Thank you for all the love. Mamba Forever!!!! “
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It was indeed a memorable night for the LA fans, except for the sad ending to the game. However, these moments are meant to be cherished. What are your thoughts on this? Share it in the comments below.