Many local fathers who coach their daughters were affected by the death of the Lower Merion and NBA legend Kobe Bryant not just as fans, but also on a deeper level, writes Gary Thompson for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

“We lost a global icon, but in the fraternity of fathers and daughters, we lost a brother too,” said Charles Howard, chaplain at the University of Pennsylvania whose daughter Anna plays basketball at Bala Cynwyd Middle School.

Not long after news broke of the accident, Howard joined other fathers as they watched their daughters play in Lower Merion. The mood was somber.

“I’m standing there with two other guys whose daughters are also 13 years old, and everybody is teary-eyed,” said Howard.

While everybody knew and loved Bryant the basketball legend, some fathers respected him even more for setting aside his stature as a famous player to encourage his own daughters.

“He was a dad who loved his kids, like millions of dads who love their kids and coach them in soccer, basketball, or in another sport,” said Howard.

Read more about Kobe Bryant at The Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.

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