Los Angeles Lakers to Unveil Kobe Bryant Statue on Feb. 8

FILE - People visit the Star Plaza of Crypto.com Arena on July 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
FILE - People visit the Star Plaza of Crypto.com Arena on July 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
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Los Angeles Lakers to Unveil Kobe Bryant Statue on Feb. 8

FILE - People visit the Star Plaza of Crypto.com Arena on July 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
FILE - People visit the Star Plaza of Crypto.com Arena on July 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

The Los Angeles Lakers will unveil a statue of Kobe Bryant outside their downtown arena on Feb. 8.
The 17-time NBA champion Lakers announced the plan Thursday to honor Bryant, the fourth-leading scorer in NBA history and a beloved mainstay of the franchise for 20 seasons. Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, died in a helicopter crash in January 2020.
Bryant participated in the initial planning of his statue after his retirement in 2016, according to the Lakers. He is the sixth former Lakers player and seventh team employee to be honored with a statue in the so-called “Star Plaza” outside the arena, which has been the Lakers' home since 1999.
The 2/8/24 date of the unveiling is conspicuous: Kobe wore No. 8 and No. 24 during each half of his Lakers career, while Gianna wore No. 2 while playing youth basketball. The Bryants were flying together to a basketball competition with seven others when their helicopter crashed in fog in Calabasas, California.
Bryant's statue will join those of Lakers greats Elgin Baylor, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Jerry West and broadcaster Chick Hearn. Star Plaza also includes statues of the Los Angeles Kings' Wayne Gretzky, Luc Robitaille, Dustin Brown and announcer Bob Miller, along with champion boxer Oscar De La Hoya.
According to The Associated Press, the Lakers say they are planning “a series of physical tributes” to honor Bryant beyond the statue, which is designed by sculptor Julie Rotblatt Amrany.
“Kobe Bryant was one of the most extraordinary athletes of all time and one of the most iconic individuals in the history of Los Angeles,” Lakers owner Jeanie Buss said in a statement. “There is no better place for Kobe to be honored with a statue than here at the center of our city, where everyone can celebrate him and be inspired by his incredible achievements.”



England Coach Tuchel Expects Players to Suffer in World Cup Heat 

 England - Thomas Tuchel Press Conference - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - March 14, 2025 England manager Thomas Tuchel during the press conference. (Action Images via Reuters)
England - Thomas Tuchel Press Conference - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - March 14, 2025 England manager Thomas Tuchel during the press conference. (Action Images via Reuters)
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England Coach Tuchel Expects Players to Suffer in World Cup Heat 

 England - Thomas Tuchel Press Conference - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - March 14, 2025 England manager Thomas Tuchel during the press conference. (Action Images via Reuters)
England - Thomas Tuchel Press Conference - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - March 14, 2025 England manager Thomas Tuchel during the press conference. (Action Images via Reuters)

England coach Thomas Tuchel will attend FIFA's Club World Cup starting this month to observe how players cope with the expected hot and humid weather conditions.

Next year's World Cup, taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico, could be one of the hottest in the tournament's history.

"It is important to see matches now in America, and in Miami at three in the afternoon," Tuchel said as he prepared his team for their World Cup qualifier against Andorra in Barcelona.

"I will see that. How it looks, and we need to understand how to cool the players down, to drink. What our options are."

England are top of qualifying Group K and almost certain to qualify for next year's tournament where they will be among the favorites for the title.

But Tuchel says the conditions will be harsh.

"Let's see because it is after the season, so it will be very similar. The actual experience is for the players, but I have done pre-season there in Orlando and I will be very surprised if we do not suffer," he said.

"Suffering is one of the headlines for this World Cup."

England are preparing for the Andorra game in the Spanish city of Girona and are using heat tents to test the players reaction and recovery to training in heat and humidity.

Sixteen stadiums will be used at next year's World Cup with predictions of potentially extreme temperatures.

In Dallas, one of the host cities, in an average year more than 80% of June and July days exceed 28 degrees Celsius.

A study led by Brunel University found that, according to analysis of 20 years of weather data, 14 of the 16 host stadiums would top 28 degrees Celsius on a daily basis in June and July with four likely to hit 32 degrees in a hotter than summer.

FIFPRO, the world players union, recommends that if there is Wet Bulb Globe Temperature of between 28-32 degree, cooling breaks should take place around the 30th and 75th minutes.

It says that if there is a WBGT of more than 32 degrees, training and matches should be rescheduled.