BREAKING SAD NEWS: NBA, WNBA, and NFL athletes pay emotional tribute to legendary Rock icon Ozzy Osbourne (76)!

The worlds of music and sport collided in grief this week as Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary British rocker and cultural icon, passed away at age 76. While tributes poured in from musicians and fans worldwide, a striking number of high-profile athletes from the NBA, WNBA, and NFL also took to social media and interviews to express their heartbreak.

LeBron James, a longtime fan of classic rock, posted a black-and-white photo of Ozzy with the caption:
“The Prince of Darkness gave us light. RIP LEGEND.”

Stephen Curry shared a clip of himself warming up to “Crazy Train” before a 2016 game:
“Been blasting Ozzy since high school. Icon forever.”

Diana Taurasi, one of the WNBA’s most respected veterans, called Osbourne “a fearless voice who made weird feel powerful.”

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes wrote simply:
“No halftime show could top what Ozzy did on a mic.”

WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson tweeted:
“My dad raised me on Ozzy and Tina Turner. Heaven’s got a real show tonight.”

In locker rooms across the country, players paid tribute by wearing black wristbands, dedicating games, or playing Ozzy’s greatest hits during pre-game routines.

Sports analysts noted the surprising crossover between Osbourne and American athletes: “Ozzy’s intensity, rebellion, and showmanship resonated far beyond the stage,” said ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. “He was the original hype man.”