Still mourning the death of his friendKobe Bryant,Shaquille O’Nealput on a smile on Saturday afternoon at Michael Rubin’s Fanatics Super Bowl party in Miami Beach.
Dressed in all black and wearing dark sunglasses on a rainy Saturday afternoon in Miami Beach, O’Neal, 47, was spotted walking through a crowd of 1500 people who attended Michael Rubin’s Fanatics Super Bowl party behind the Loews hotel.
The basketball star and TNT analyst has been so devastated that his friends weren’t sure he would make it to the Super Bowl festivities.
“I was with Shaq yesterday, andhe remained just hurt,” Van Jones, CEO of Reform Alliance and a national news commentator, told PEOPLE during the Fanatics party. “He was walking like an 80-year-old man, yet saying good things to all of the people who wanted to hang around him. He tried to be upbeat but he is hurt. He is really hurt.”
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Towering over most of the Fanatics guests, includingJAY-Z,Dwyane Wade, former NFL star Emmitt Smith,Dr. OzandNick Lachey, O’Neal was polite, friendly and attempting to smile as he made his way through the throngs of sports fans to prepare for his tribute to Bryant.
“The tribute was long but not somber, Shaq did not tear up,” a party guest who heard the tribute told PEOPLE. “He did a wonderful thing for Kobe, he talked about his guy.”
The 1500 party guests were gifted beautiful Los Angeles Lakers jerseys in the appropriate yellow and purple colors with the name Bryant and No. 24.
“I got a couple jerseys to take home to my children,” a Lakers fan said. ”We’re all still in shock.”
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Kevin Hartalso gave a tribute to Bryant.
“I just want to keep everybody in a positive, amazing place. Remember that we’re celebrating life today,” the comedian said. “If you love Kobe Bryant than today let’s put this positivity in the air.“
The NBA announced they would bemaking a $100,000 donationto the foundation in partnership with the National Basketball Players Association.
O’Neal also said he would bedonating the proceedsfrom his annual pre-Super Bowl party to the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Foundation as well as to the families of the victims.
If you would like to help the families of the victims of the crash, consider donating to theMamba on Three Fund. Contributions to theMamba Sports Foundationwill help support youth sports.
source: people.com
