A cumulative shock spread throughout the Los Angeles region today when news broke that Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, one of his daughters and seven other people died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas.

In Long Beach, the disbelief was palpable.

At the Second Street sports bar Legends, longtime fan Charles Aguilar, 39, called Bryant the Michael Jordan of his generation.

“For 20 years I saw him on TV every day when the basketball season started and ended,” said Aguilar, who is originally from Los Angeles but has lived in Long Beach since 2006.

Aguilar also called it the end of a tradition because even after Bryant retired he would still see the late champ courtside at Laker games.

“And now he’s completely gone,” Aguilar said.

From left: Daniel Guerra, 33, of Nashville, Jeff Youngblood, 43, of Los Angeles, and Charles Aguilar, 39, of Long Beach at Legends sports bar on 2nd Street on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. Photo by Stephanie Rivera.

For Aguilar’s friend Daniel Guerra, 33, Bryant was an inspiration to the millions of people living in Los Angeles. The unfitting end to Bryant’s life made it especially hard.

“To me, that’s just not the way you envision a winner going out,” said Guerra, who moved from California to Nashville.

Donning Bryant’s No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys, friends Eddie Torres, 27, and Sergio Fernandez, 28—both of Wilmington—made the trek to Legends for a drink in memory of Bryant. It’s a bar they frequented to watch his games.

“It’s a sad day in L.A.,” said Fernandez, who pulled out his phone to show the last day he saw the late basketball player in person—a few months ago at a Lakers game where Bryant and his daughter sat courtside.

“We’re still in shock, to be honest,” Torres said. “It hurts. It’s a hard day for L.A. today. Hard day.”

Torres said he loved Bryant’s competitive drive and hustle on the court.

“That’s why L.A. loves Kobe, because he never gave us anything less than a 100 percent,” Torres said. “He just gave it all every game. That’s why we love Kobe so much. If Kobe were to run for mayor he would win, hands down.”

From left: Wilmington residents Sergio Fernandez, 28, and Eddie Torres, 27, enjoy drinks at Legends sports bar on 2nd Street in memory of Kobe Bryant on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. The two men wore Laker jerseys in memory of Kobe Bryant who died in a helicopter crash earlier that day. Photo by Stephanie Rivera.

Kristen Greer, of Huntington Beach, said she has been a Lakers fan since she was old enough to like basketball and it was always about Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.

The 29-year-old has jerseys and souvenirs from Bryant’s last game before he retired in 2016.

“It’s just unbelievable. I can’t even wrap my mind around it,” Greer said at Legends. “It’s so sad, and his daughter! You can’t even put it into words.”

At the Cherry Park basketball court in Bixby Knolls, 14-year-old Anthony Ramos was shooting hoops with a friend as a way to get his mind off the tragedy. He sported Bryant’s No. 24 jersey in all black with gold trim.

Ramos said he cried when his mother broke the news to him.

Long Beach resident Anthony Ramos, 14, plays basketball with a friend while wearing Kobe Bryant’s No. 24 Laker jersey on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. Ramos said he was sad when he heard the news of Bryant’s death earlier in the day. Photo by Stephanie Rivera.

While baseball is his main sport, Ramos said he enjoys playing basketball for fun and always watched Bryant play, describing himself as a big fan.

When asked what he’ll remember about Bryant, Ramos said without missing a beat: “To be the best person you can on and off the court.”

During an evening vigil at the vintage sports clothing store Play Nice LBC in Alamitos Beach, dozens gathered to remember the legend.

Standing in front of an alley-facing mural of Bryant that covers the side of the shop, people stood or squatted in silence as others placed candles on the ground.

Ryan Hoyle, who co-owns the shop, knew he had to organize the gathering as soon as he found out the news, even though he couldn’t yet process what had happened.

Ryan Hoyle, 27, of Long Beach, poses in front of a framed photo of Kobe Bryant inside the vintage sports clothing store he co-owns in Alamitos Beach on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. Hoyle organized a candlelight vigil outside his store when news broke that Bryant died in a helicopter crash. Photo by Stephanie Rivera.

Standing inside the shop and surrounded by Bryant memorabilia while the Spike Lee documentary “Kobe Doin’ Work” played on a small television set, Hoyle described Bryant as one of his heroes.

“Kobe was one of the earliest athletes that I can remember literally seeing his game day in, day out,” Hoyle, 27, said. “I remember rushing home after school to watch the games with my dad, watching Kobe, just enjoy his dominance over the game.”

It was deeper than the sport, too.

Seeing Bryant as a father, husband, son and entrepreneur also resonated with him.

“He was always such a driven competitor, even off the court,” Hoyle said. “He just had this swagger about him.”

Fans huddle for a prayer in honor of the late Kobe Bryant during a small vigil outside of vintage sports clothing store Play Nice LBC on Jan. 26, 2020. Photo by Crystal Niebla.
Long Beach resident Jesus Ruiz, 28, lights a candle for the late Kobe Bryant during a small vigil outside of vintage sports clothing store Play Nice LBC on Jan. 26, 2020. Photo by Crystal Niebla.
A memorial was held at local vintage sports clothing store Play Nice LBC for Laker legend Kobe Bryant, who died on Jan. 26, 2020. Photo by Crystal Niebla.
A basketball written on by fans sits on the ground next to candles as part of a small vigil outside vintage sports clothing store Play Nice LBC in memory of Kobe Bryant, who died on Jan. 26, 2020. Photo by Crystal Niebla.

Stephanie Rivera is the community engagement editor. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter at @StephRivera88.