Phillies Fans Share #GirlDad Photos in Memory of Kobe Bryant
![LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 29: Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant attend the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks on December 29, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fthatballsouttahere-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2017-2F07-2F1191069688-2-850x560-a6f2161af4e085591b06eb4229592bcd.jpg)
Phillies fans are remembering late NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, by sharing their own #GirlDad photos on social media.
The tragic death of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others this past Sunday continues to hold a place in everyone’s mind and heart.
Bryant, an 18-time All-Star and five-time NBA champion, was so much more than a basketball player. He was a caring father to four girls – Natalia, 17; Gianna, 13; Bianka, 3; and Capri, 7 months old; as well as the husband to Vanessa.
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In recent conversation with ESPN’s Elle Duncan before his passing, Bryant called himself a “girl dad.”
“I asked [Kobe] advice on raising girls,” Duncan says, “as he quite famously had three at the time. He said, ‘just be grateful that you’ve been given that gift because girls are amazing.'”
Duncan continues, “His third daughter, Bianka, was about a year-and-a-half old at the time, so I asked if he wanted more children. He said that his wife Vanessa really wanted to try again for a boy, but was sort of jokingly concerned that it would be another girl. And I was like, ‘four girls, are you joking? What would you think? How would you feel?’ Without hesitation, he said ‘I would have five more girls if I could. I’m a girl dad.'”
"I would have 5 more girls if I could. I'm a girl dad."@elleduncanESPN's story about how much Kobe loved his daughters is something special. pic.twitter.com/1KJx17QRjY
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 28, 2020
One of the several ways fans are honoring the late Bryant is by using the #GirlDad hashtag on social media and sharing photos of them with their daughters.
RELATED | Phillies honor late Philadelphia native Kobe Bryant
The Philadelphia Phillies recently asked fans to share their #GirlDad photos on Twitter, and fans were quick to respond:
She loved the Phestival pic.twitter.com/nkKoAsmrrW
— Frank Klose (@FrankKlose) January 29, 2020
#girldad pic.twitter.com/m1vDlEEGsW
— Marissa Garagozzo (@garagozzom) January 29, 2020
https://twitter.com/jonanangie/status/1222630686563147783
Also, the Phillies recently shared on Instagram several #GirlDad photos of current and former players, including RHP Jake Arrieta, outfielder Roman Quinn, catcher J.T. Realmuto, and LHP Adam Morgan, along with 2008 World Series champions Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B76zr6ZpcF7/
Rest in peace, Kobe and Gianna.