Oscars 2020: Former NFL WR Matthew Cherry dons Kobe Bryant jersey at Academy Awards win

Just under three weeks after tragic death of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, tributes keep pouring in for one of greatest players in history of sport. Former NFL wide receiver Matw Cherry was latest to join list of tributees for Lakers great. Matw Cherry won an Oscar for his animated short titled Hair Love. In his acceptance speech, ex-Bengals man dedicated award to Kobe Bryant.

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Oscars 2020: Former NFL wide receiver dedicates Oscar to Kobe Bryant

Matw Cherry took time out of his acceptance speech at Oscars 2020 to dedicate award for Hair Love to Kobe Bryant. In his acceptance speech, former NFL wide receiver said, “This award is dedicated to Kobe, may we all have a second act as great as his.” Interestingly, Matw Cherry is w just second former pro athlete to win Best Animated Short Film after Kobe Bryant. Kobe Bryant won award three years earlier for his animated short titled Dear Basketball.

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Oscars 2020: Maw Cherry predicted winning Acemy Awards in 2012

Interestingly, Matw Cherry predicted he would win an Oscar way back in 2012. His animated short film Hair Love was given legs by a kickstarter campaign, which n raised highest amount ever raised for a short film on any platform. When asked about motivation behind filming Oscar-winning short film, Matw Cherry said that a lack of representation in mainstream animation was primary reason for doing project.

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Matw Cherry started his NFL career with Jacksonville Jaguars back in 2004. However, Cherry was n waived by Jaguars and subsequently re-signed to Jaguars’ practice squ. Cincinnati Bengals n opted to sign him to ir active roster in December 2004.

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