KOBE BRYANT TRIBUTE pg

from January 31, 2020

by The Gatepost

SGA pg

Carlos’ Call: Kobe Bryant: The life of a basketball and family icon

By Carlos Silva Asst. Sports Editor

Jan. 26, 2020 is a day that will go down as one the most heart-breaking days in sports history.

A fatal crash about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles took Kobe Bryant’s life away, along with eight other passengers, including his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna.

Bryant inspired a generation of basketball players worldwide with unbelievable moments and an unimaginable competitive fire.

Bryant was respected by basketball fans from every place with a hoop and a dream, including his native Philadelphia and in Italy, his other childhood home. There is not a single office in the United States, where someone has not crumbled up a piece of paper and shot it at a trash can while simultaneously saying “KOBE!”

The 18-time All Star and five-time champion, was the soul of not only the Lakers, but also the entirety of the NBA.

He was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996 before he was subsequently traded to the Lakers for Vlade Divac. The trade would change the Lakers history forever.

Bryant ended up pairing with another Laker great, Shaquille O’Neal. Together, they were the league’s most dominant duo who hated each other on the court. The pair would win three titles under head coach Phil Jackson before the inevitable break up in 2004.

Bryant went on to win two more titles versus the Orlando Magic in 2008 and the Boston Celtics in 2010.

In 2013, Bryant was well on his way to another dominant season when he tore his Achilles tendon in a late regular season game against the Golden State Warriors. He famously was able hit two free throws after tearing up his knee before he was taken to the locker room.

After the injury, Bryant appeared never to be the same, until he returned for a farewell season in 2016, where he scored 60 points in his final game at the Staples Center.

A poll to change the NBA’s logo from Jerry West to Kobe Bryant has already reached 2,000,000 signatures and continues to grow. The interesting piece of this story comes from West, who was also the same man who traded for Bryant. West said that he is 100% in agreement with the idea of giving his logo spot to Bryant. This marks the first year Bryant is eligible for induction to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Being a for sure first ballot pick, he will be honored in August of this year and will forever be immortalized in the game of basketball. It did not take long for Bryant to dominate off the court after retirement. He was seizing new challenges and was inspired by his daughters.

In retirement, Bryant’s influence also grew in storytelling. He founded a production company and was the author of multiple novels. In 2018, he won an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film for “Dear Basketball,” based on a poem he wrote when he had announced his retirement in 2015.

His daughter, Gianna, was very well on her way to writing her glorious story as “Mambacita” before the fatal crash ended her story too early.

The two died doing what they loved. Gianna was on her way to a basketball game, and Kobe was on his way to watch his daughter have fun. That was what truly mattered to him.

Velozo scores her 1,000th as Rams win back to back games

By Sara Senesac Sports Editor

The Rams women’s basketball team traveled to Bridgewater State for a MASCAC matchup against the Bears Jan. 25.

The score was tied at nine halfway through the first quarter, but a 7-0 run allowed the Rams to take a 16-9 lead over the Bears.

Framingham went into the second quarter with a 24-18 lead over Bridgewater.

Less than two minutes into the second, the Rams extended their lead to 31-19. By the end of the quarter, they brought the lead to 43- 29, giving them a comfortable advantage going into the third.

The Bears managed to pull within 11 during the third quarter, but the Rams took off on a 9-0 run, leading 62-42 and never looking back. Framingham dominated the final quarter of the game, winning the match 78-58 over the Bears.

The Rams shot 44% for the game, including 76% at the line and 33% from behind the arc.

Senior Emily Velozo led the team in points with 22. She also added three assists, three rebounds, and two steals.

Freshman Flannery O’Connor led the team in rebounds with 11, while senior Mary Kate O’Day had 14 points, nine rebounds, five steals, and seven assists.

FRAMINGHAM STATE 78 BRIDGEWATER STATE 58

The Rams hosted the Fitchburg State Falcons for another conference matchup Jan. 29.

Fitchburg took an early lead in the first quarter and led by seven points at the halfway mark.

Both teams went back and forth in the second, but the Rams eventually broke away and went on a 16-0 run to bring the lead to 36-24 at the end of the half.

Framingham ended the match with a 77-51 victory over the Falcons. Velozo said, “This was a big game for us because if we won … we would seal being undefeated in the first round of league play. This win was a great team win, everyone came together and supported one another.”

O’Day led the team with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Velozo followed close behind with 18 points.

Velozo scored 14 out of her 18 points for the game in the final quarter, and also secured her 1,000th point as a Ram.

Velozo said, “I’m so happy to have had the opportunity to score 1,000 points, but being able to do it at home was extra special.”

The back to back wins bring the Rams to 14-5 overall, and an undefeated 6-0 in the MASCAC.

They host the Westfield State Owls for another MASCAC matchup Feb 1.

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Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna. Courtesy of @kobebryant on Instagram

CONNECT WITH CARLOS SILVA csilva14@student.framingham.edu CONNECT WITH SARA SENESAC ssenesac@student.framingham.edu

Men’s Basketball extends losing streak to 11

By Carlos Silva Asst. Sports Editor

Framingham took on both Bridgewater and Fitchburg St. in MASCAC games during the past week. Against Bridgewater State, the Rams put up a good fight at the end of the first half as the score was within two points with the Bears up 34-32.

The Bears took control of the game with a quick 10-0 run to start the second half. Ryan Carney scored eight of the 10 points.

The Rams did their best impression of a comeback when they pulled back within six points, following a layup by Jared Gordon-Anderson.

The six-point difference was the closest the Rams would come as the Bears pulled away with an 11-4 run over the next couple of minutes.

Bridgewater State never surrendered the double-digit lead, which led to the Rams losing by a score of 75-52.

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The Rams then played the Fitchburg State Falcons right here in our very own Athletic Center. Framingham seemed to be playing their best basketball of the season as they started hot with a 7-0 run early in the first quarter.

The offense started to fall flat as the Falcons not only stopped the Rams from scoring, but went on a hot streak of their own with a 13-0 run.

The two teams headed into halftime with the Falcons leading by a score of 34-22. The Rams appeared to have a beacon of hope when Cameren McCloud-Thomas hit a layup to cut the deficit to 10 points.

Shortly after, the beacon of hope turned into harsh reality as the Falcons scored eight straight points and all but ended the Rams chances at a miracle comeback.

With another two losses added to the record, the Rams currently sit at 0-6 in the MASCAC and 1-18 overall.

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