I'm not going to start this blog giving you a bunch of stats you already know about. I will however tell you about a man who loved basketball through the good, the bad and the ugly. Kobe Bryant was gifted from the time he picked up a basketball. Recruited right out of high school in 1996, this man dedicated 20 years into the game playing with and against such legends like Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Rick Fox, LeBron James and others, Kobe mixed basketball with fatherhood and loving his beautiful wife Vanessa.
He passed away this morning in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California this morning. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. His daughter, 13 year old Gianna was also in the helicopter as well. In a day where celebrities and artists were preparing for tonight's Grammy Awards, the death of this legend cast a huge cloud. So far celebrities like Taylor Swift and LeBron James have weighed in and given their deep condolences.
Swift writes, "My heart is in pieces hearing the news of this unimaginable tragedy. I can’t fathom what the families are going through. Kobe meant so much to me and to us all. Sending my prayers, love, and endless condolences to Vanessa and the family and anyone who lost someone on that flight."
His death is sending shockwaves throughout not only the entertainment/sports community but also on social media where fans have been posting condolences, videos, breaking news and more. Getting information from the NTSB and the Calabasas police in addition to the local media, there have been conflicting reports between how many died (which the number is now nine) including Orange County College Baseball Coach John Altobelli.
The Calabasas Sherriff's department is being very careful in identifying the rest of the nine victims in the crash. Our hearts go out to all the families involved and i will provide information on them as they become available.
Despite his tragic death, Kobe leaves behind a legacy beyond basketball. He is also an Academy Award winner for an animated short film called Dear Mr. Basketball. He's given money for veterans who are transitioning into civilian life, and he given money for health and education in China. Some media outlets will pick apart his life and talk about the bad among the bad like his so called sexual assault charge which the woman wasn't even proven credible. He was a hero to many and is the reason their in the NBA or hope to be in the NBA like those before him.
On a related note, MSNBC reporter and anchor Allison Morris accidentally uses the N-word during her report about Kobe Bryant. She accidentally called the Los Angeles Lakers the Los Angeles N----s. Highly unacceptable and now social media is calling for her job. Only time will tell and I will keep you informed on her fate as well.
