WASHINGTON — NBA basketball star Kobe Bryant is a massive FC Barcelona fan and on Sunday afternoon, he went as far as crediting the defending European champions for influencing his basketball game. "Growing up in Italy, I’ve always been a huge soccer fan, so it’s very easy for me to identify with the sport," Bryant said at an event hosted by an international airline for which he serves as global ambassador. "When I first saw Barça play, they play with so much creativity, passion and enthusiasm, it was so easy to follow it. They inspired me and the way I play." WATCH: Bryant on Barça The weekend for Bryant has had a distinctive
