Kobe Bryant Dead at 41

 

NBA legend Kobe Bryant, along with four others, died in a helicopter crash Sunday in Calabasas, CA. The tragedy was first reported by TMZ and is now being confirmed by local media. The LA Times reported that no homes or other bystanders were impacted by the crash. Bryant is survived by his wife Vanessa and four children.

Bryant played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, retiring in 2016. He won five NBA championships, was an 18-time All-Star, and NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2008.

Update: LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has confirmed that 9 individuals died in the crash. There were 8 people and the pilot on the flight plan manifest. Among the dead are Bryant, his daughter Gianna (13) and Orange Coast College baseball coach, John Altobelli, his wife Keri and their daughter Alyssa. Other names were withheld pending notification of family.

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  1. Eugene Kriegsmann Member
    Eugene Kriegsmann
    @EugeneKriegsmann

    I am not a basketball fan, but I know Kobe’s name and I am deeply sorry to hear about the death of such a young man with so much life left to live.

    • #1
  2. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    Eugene Kriegsmann (View Comment):

    I am not a basketball fan, but I know Kobe’s name and I am deeply sorry to hear about the death of such a young man with so much life left to live.

    Yes, very sad. 

    • #2
  3. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    A tragedy.  Yes, he had legal issues which dogged him.  However, he was a great player – no question.

    • #3
  4. Nerina Bellinger Inactive
    Nerina Bellinger
    @NerinaBellinger

    He leaves behind 4 young daughters (one just born last June).  Many prayers for them.

    Updated with new info: apparently his 13 year old daughter was also killed.  Just terrible.

    • #4
  5. Weeping Inactive
    Weeping
    @Weeping

    Prayers for his family and the families of the others who died in the accident as well.

     

    • #5
  6. OmegaPaladin Moderator
    OmegaPaladin
    @OmegaPaladin

    Rest in Peace.  May God comfort his family.

    • #6
  7. EJHill Podcaster
    EJHill
    @EJHill

    Nerina Bellinger: He leaves behind 4 young daughters (one just born last June). Many prayers for them.

    His second daughter, Gianna, 13 also perished. She played on a girl’s traveling team and they were on their way to a game. Another player and parent were also killed.

    • #7
  8. Weeping Inactive
    Weeping
    @Weeping

    EJHill (View Comment):

    Nerina Bellinger: He leaves behind 4 young daughters (one just born last June). Many prayers for them.

    His second daughter, Gianna, 13 also perished. She played on a girl’s traveling team and they were on their way to a game. Another player and parent were also killed.

    Correction then to my earlier post:

    Prayers for the both the Bryant family and the family of the other two. How very, very sad. :(

     

    • #8
  9. Unsk Member
    Unsk
    @Unsk

    Every death of a person in the prime of life is a tragedy, but wasn’t Kobe a rapist? Not convicted but with a lot of evidence. 

    • #9
  10. Manny Coolidge
    Manny
    @Manny

    I was stunned when I saw.  I was actually at my son’s basketball game (how ironic!) when at half time I glanced on the news feeds and right on top it was about Kobe.  It was then whispered across the stands.  I don’t really follow professional basketball to know what his personality was like, but he seemed a congenial man.  From what I understand, he also found faith later in life.  May God grant him eternal rest.

    • #10
  11. Manny Coolidge
    Manny
    @Manny

    EJHill (View Comment):

    Nerina Bellinger: He leaves behind 4 young daughters (one just born last June). Many prayers for them.

    His second daughter, Gianna, 13 also perished. She played on a girl’s traveling team and they were on their way to a game. Another player and parent were also killed.

    I didn’t hear about that.  Oh, how utterly sad.  My prayers for Gianna too.  

    • #11
  12. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Nerina Bellinger (View Comment):
    Updated with new info: apparently his 13 year old daughter was also killed. Just terrible.

    Very sad.  The family loses a father, a husband, a daughter, and a sister.

    • #12
  13. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Unsk (View Comment):

    Every death of a person in the prime of life is a tragedy, but wasn’t Kobe a rapist? Not convicted but with a lot of evidence.

    We should leave that out for now . . .

    • #13
  14. Manny Coolidge
    Manny
    @Manny

    Unsk (View Comment):

    Every death of a person in the prime of life is a tragedy, but wasn’t Kobe a rapist? Not convicted but with a lot of evidence.

    No he was not.  He denied it.  You can read about it here.  Here is a key passage.

    In 2003, Kobe Bryant was accused of raping a woman in his hotel room, while he was in Colorado for knee surgery. He admitted having sex with the woman but denied rape. A judge eventually dropped the charges, but the woman went on to file a civil lawsuit against Bryant that was settled outside of court. In the midst of it all, he issued a public apology, stating that he was sincerely ashamed of what he had done.

    The incident had major consequences as numerous sponsors abandoned him and his reputation was tarnished. In 2011, his wife filed for divorce.

    Yet during one of the darkest moments of his life, Kobe Bryant turned to his Catholic faith. In an interview with GQ in 2015 he explained:

    “The one thing that really helped me during that process — I’m Catholic, I grew up Catholic, my kids are Catholic — was talking to a priest. It was actually kind of funny: He looks at me and says, ‘Did you do it?’ And I say, ‘Of course not.’ Then he asks, ‘Do you have a good lawyer?’ And I’m like, ‘Uh, yeah, he’s phenomenal.’ So then he just said, ‘Let it go. Move on. God’s not going to give you anything you can’t handle, and it’s in his hands now. This is something you can’t control. So let it go.’ And that was the turning point.”

    After some rough years, Kobe Bryant reconciled with his wife, and they remain married to this day.

    There is some consolation that the morning of the crash, Kobe and his daughter went to Mass and received Holy Communion.  

    • #14
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