For most people in the world, the year of 2020 was marred by an ongoing global pandemic, a loss of wages and job security, as well as social unrest.

The sports world also saw its share of terrible tragedy throughout the course of the last 365 days. In my view, the fatal helicopter crash that claimed the life of former NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, along with eight other people, tops this unfortunate list.

Like many observers, I was initially shocked at how sudden and unexpected this news was. Of all the people who could have died suddenly, how could it happen to Kobe, a man in his early 40s who was the epitome of health and virility? A man who once soared over defenders on the court with the greatest of ease was now gone forever within the blink of an eye.

Some of the elder statesmen of the sports landscape are also no longer with us as we turn the calendar to 2021. Former NBA commissioner David Stern, who once greeted a 17-year-old Bryant with a handshake when he was drafted into the NBA in 1996, passed away at the age of 77 on Jan 1. As it turned out, Bryant’s life would come to an end later that month on Jan. 26.

Other tragic events included the death of Tarvaris Jackson, a 36-year-old former NFL quarterback who perished in a one-car crash outside of Montgomery, Alabama, on Easter Sunday. One of the youngest sportsman to die in 2020, college football running back Ty Jordan of Utah University passed away at only 19 after succumbing to a single gunshot wound on Dec. 26. Ex-NFL wide receiver Reche Caldwell also lost his life due to gunfire during what was described as an attempted robbery on June 6. Caldwell was 41.

Players who reached the Hall of Fame in their respective sports that passed away this year include football legends Gayle Sayers (77), Willie Davis (85), Paul Hornung (84), Kevin Greene (58) and Chris Doleman (58). We also bid farewell to baseball immortals Bob Gibson (84), Tom Seaver (75), Joe Morgan (77), Whitey Ford (91), Al Kaline (85) and Lou Brock (81), as well as ex-basketball superstar Wes Unseld (74).

Among the all-time coaching greats, football mentors Don Shula (90) and Sam Wyche (74) are no longer with us. Lute Olson (85) and John Thompson (78), both of college basketball fame for Arizona and Georgetown respectively, also died in 2020. Jerry Sloan, who guided the NBA’s Utah Jazz to consecutive Western Conference championships in 1997 and 1998, died on May 22 at the age of 78.

As a student of sports, I am well aware of the contributions each of these individuals made to their discipline. To reach the level of success these men achieved during their lives took a tremendous amount of focus, determination, talent, will power and grit. While saddened by their loss, I can say for certain that none of these men will ever be forgotten.