Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna, and several others die in helicopter crash

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna, and several others die in helicopter crash

Gordon Hayward..wow. Respect due

https://twitter.com/barstoolsports/status/1221966624351313920?s=21

[Hustle Westbrook]

Re: Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna, and several others die in helicopter crash

Woke up from a nap Sunday morning and was browsing another message board when I saw a "Kobe Bryant killed in plane crash" thread with a link to TMZ. The idea of Kobe Bryant just randomly passing away in a helicopter crash was so ridiculous to me that I just sat there refreshing the page waiting to see someone debunk this as just some baseless rumor. Slowly more info started coming out that he and his daughter were on the helicopter and even as I type this right now I'm still in shock that this happened.

He was only 41 and had so much more to accomplish in his post-basketball career. This guy grinded his *** off for 37 years on the basketball court and after retiring 3 and half years ago was JUST starting to enjoy the fruits of his labor. The man left his mark in the basketball world and finally had the free time to devote to his family and now it's gone. The two youngest daughters won't even get the chance to know the man personally. This **** makes me sick man.

Rest in Peace to Kobe and Gianna and my thoughts and prayers go out to Vanessa and Natalia.

[Blzer]

Re: Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna, and several others die in helicopter crash

Woke up from a nap Sunday morning and was browsing another message board when I saw a "Kobe Bryant killed in plane crash" thread with a link to TMZ. The idea of Kobe Bryant just randomly passing away in a helicopter crash was so ridiculous to me that I just sat there refreshing the page waiting to see someone debunk this as just some baseless rumor. Slowly more info started coming out that he and his daughter were on the helicopter and even as I type this right now I'm still in shock that this happened.

I was very similar to this. I woke up from a nap, went to YouTube, saw the first suggested video as him killed in a helicopter crash... and I don't know if I was still half-asleep or just was in total doubt or what, but I completely ignored it and went to search for another video I was trying to watch.

It wasn't until I came to OS and say the E&T thread about it that I realized it was actually a real thing. I was in too much shock then, but then when I heard about Gigi a new level of real hit me. At the time I was trying to find some strange silver lining that at least his family would still be there, but when Gianna was identified as well, it hit a whole new level.

This still feels like a really bad dream. I'm accepting its reality, but something just feels really off about this. I've only cried about two people in my life that I've never met, the other being Paul Walker.

I heard today that his family learned of their death first by TMZ. Don't know if that has been posted here yet, but that is ridiculous. Anything that'll get them a couple more hits, I guess.

[Vni]

Re: Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna, and several others die in helicopter crash

I really struggle to accept his death. Kobe Bryant is dead. Nah it's just too wrong. Nothing has changed in my life, I can still go on youtube and watch highlights or interviews of him but still it feels really empty to know that he's gone. Kobe. That's brutal. He was so alive and going strong. It felt good as a Laker fan that he was around supporting the team and coming to games. How could it end like that, dying with his beautiful young daughter. It might take me months to realise and accept that he's dead.

Sent from my DIG-L21HN using Operation Sports mobile app

[dubcity]

Re: Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna, and several others die in helicopter crash

Been depressed and irritable all day. Smh.

As someone who was never a bigger fan of sports than when I first started watching NBA in 95/96, and throughout the Shaq/Kobe years, it's like part of my childhood has been warped and changed because of this.

[TMagic]

Re: Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna, and several others die in helicopter crash

A day later and it still feels the same. In completely disbelief. Michael Jackson was the only celebrity I've ever shed a tear for. They haven't stopped with Kobe.

Y'all know me as being the #1 TMac fan. But even with that being true, there was no player I have more memories and experienced more emotions with the game of basketball than Kobe Bean Bryant.

He was my most watched athlete by far. Before I moved to Florida and became a McGrady fan, I was a Laker and Kobe fan in California and Ill be a Laker fan til the end (despite what Pack says lol).

I didn't REALLY follow basketball religiously until SHAQ came to LA. That just so happened to be the year Kobe was drafted as well. I'm 32. So that's about a 23 year relationship I've had with the man. I like many of you, got to watch him ascend from just a rookie on the bench to one of the best the game has ever seen.

And even though I obviously had no real "relationship" with the man, it still FELT like it. As silly as it sounds, it was like I was part of everything in his career. From the new kid on the block, to the three-peat, to the post shaq/Smush Parker years, to the 24 title years, to the Kobe and kids years, and finally to the mentor/father years. And everything in between.

I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to be there and at the age where you can truly appreciate it all along the way. Like many players have said, he was MY Jordan. And the best thing about it was he was on my team. When he announced retiring, I could not wrap my head around the Lakers WITHOUT Kobe. His last game against the Jazz I cried.

It's crazy how interconnected he was in my own life. My grandma LOVED Kobe. You would've thought he was one of her own children man seriously lol. Always used to say "My Kobe" whenever she referred to him. ALWAYS..."That's my Kobe"..."Get off my Kobe!"..."Where's my Kobe?"...My uncle was from Cleveland, so naturally a LeBron STAN. He would talk up LeBron around her all the time..."Well he's not better than my Kobe". She passed late last year, and I can just imagine how much this would have hurt her.

Every Christmas, even though some of y'all hated it lol, Lakers were on TV. So just about every Christmas was spent with Kobe. One year I got tickets to the Christmas game as a gift and to this day is one of, if not the most memorable gift I've ever received.

Then you guys know the culture. From the debates about who's better. To the shoes. To the commercials and interviews. To being a king out here in LA. To all of the gifs (at least I'd) used routinely use while texting. To saying Kobe any time you toss something in the trash. Hes just been the biggest part of the basketball ethos.

And I was so looking forward to Gianna hooping in college and professionally. That one clip of her jabbing into her dad to create space and then wetting the J really sold me and got me excited to see the player she'd go on to become. I have a little girl of my own, just turned two Friday. So that really hit home for me man. Funny thing, before she could even crawl, I taught her "Kobe" where she would raise her arm up above her head. A month later she would actually follow through with a goose neck whenever I said it. Damn

This one hurt man.

[DamnYanks2]

Re: Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna, and several others die in helicopter crash

It just doesn't feel real. Like Kobe felt kind of immortal. The guy couldn't be beat by life. He was always a step ahead, similar to MJ. Even when he had nothing left to give on the court he drops 60 in his last game. He was the ultimate competitor, he was so beyond the average basketball player. He was just greatness.

And then when basketball just wasn't an option anymore he found something else to be great at. Whether it was being a father or a coach or a mentor. His competitive desire and will to be as close to perfect as you can is pretty unmatched.

I always try to look at a silver lining in a negative situation. This is virtually impossible. It's just as unfair as it gets. His daughter too, it's just.. well words just can't do it justice.

The only thing I can say positive is be like Kobe to the best of your ability. Unbreakable, mentally conditioned, physically, spiritually, and have no quit in you. That was Kobe. He embodied everything that we should strive to be in life. A legend never truly dies. His impact will be felt forever on and off the court.

R.I.P to all.









Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

[RockinDaMike]

Re: Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna, and several others die in helicopter crash

Filipinos love Kobe and truly truly love this game of basketball. They already have a mural of him and Gigi on a court in Manila.

I can write a book about how deep our love for bball and losing a legend like this feels like losing family.

http://chng.it/Rn5VzhWn2S

Sent from my VOG-L29 using Tapatalk

[ehh]

Re: Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna, and several others die in helicopter crash

Gordon Hayward..wow. Respect due

https://twitter.com/barstoolsports/s...351313920?s=21

Gordan Hayward did say last night that this isn't true.

It has also come to my attention that there is a story going around tonight about an intentional lane violation that I took to ensure Kobe would get his 60th point in his final game and many are applauding me for the gesture. The fact of the matter is that is not true.

That was a night that I will truly never forget as I can remember almost every moment of it and my goal that night was to compete as hard as I possibly could against Kobe because that is what he was all about and I wanted to give him my very best.

He got 60 on me and I didn't give him anything free all night. What happened on the free throw line was not intentional. Kobe would have lost respect for me if I gave him something free. That’s what made him so very special!

Rest In Peace Kobe. I’m so honored to have shared our time on and off the court together!

[TMagic]

Re: Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna, and several others die in helicopter crash

House of highlights has a tribute of sorts to him with their 24 favorite moments. And it's crazy that I witnessed them all live save for his summer league. And then the practice one obviously.

That Matt Barnes non response had me ROLLING. I remember when Barnes did that, thinking "Maybe I didn't see that right" cause Kobe stood there like nothing. But the replay confirmed what I thought I had seen and I was dying man lol

And I remember that "sprint to foul" being the funny **** ever because that was peak Kobe frustration with that team [emoji1787]

https://www.instagram.com/p/B73Wr9Vgz2K/?igshid=3dpcj9xgywak

They have 16 up currently. Any guesses as to what the final 8 will be?

I'm thinking the "Death Stare" could make the cut. At least it would for me because that was another hilarious moment that stands out.

What makes these moments so funny to me is I feel like Kobe was a bit of weirdo. A straight basketball nerd. Always so serious about everything. So when these things would happen, they would just crack me up [emoji23]

[ojandpizza]

Re: Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna, and several others die in helicopter crash

That Matt Barnes flinch play was one of my favorite all-time NBA moments until someone here posted the alternate angle a year or two back and ruined it for me lol.

[TMagic]

Re: Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna, and several others die in helicopter crash

Naw. Don't ruin that for me man. Lol

My boy just sent me this...



[emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna, and several others die in helicopter crash

https://twitter.com/shamscharania/status/1222238196479799298?s=21

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna, and several others die in helicopter crash

Got no problem with that at all and I’m glad the League is being reasonable about this.

[ehh]

Re: Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna, and several others die in helicopter crash

https://twitter.com/shamscharania/st...479799298?s=21

One of the coolest things I've seen in sports. I'm not sure any other gesture will show the amount of respect Kobe had from the current players.