As the Masters get underway, Rory McIlroy is strolling the green wearing special golf shoes. Attentive viewers will see that McIlroy’s shoes bear a tribute to Kobe Bryant, who is just four games away from retiring. Notice the “4/13” on the side, which is the date he’ll play his final game against the Jazz.
Rory McIlroy is walking around the Masters in Kobe Bryant tribute golf shoes
McIlroy's shoes ⬇️
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 7, 2016
Marked with "4/13" as a tribute to @KobeBryant who will play his final @NBA game on that date. pic.twitter.com/xwaZEDGtGv
Rory McIlroy is first Nike athlete to honor Kobe, wearing this black & gold cleat today at the Masters pic.twitter.com/beMQB11S8a
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 7, 2016
It’s all part of a promotion from Nike celebrating Bryant’s career, and McIlroy is just the first athlete to start the tribute. In the lead-up to his final game other Nike-sponsored athletes all over the world will also wear a Kobe tribute, from Carli Lloyd and Sanya Richards-Ross to Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. ESPN also reports April 13 will be the day Nike releases the “Black Mamba” version of the Kobe 11, which comes in slick black and gold colors.
(Image via Nike.com)
Kobe’s goodbye is starting to feel real now.
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