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Monday, January 27, 2020 - Vol. 120 Issue 49
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Kobe Bryant and daughter, Gianna, among nine dead in helicopter crash By Devon Greene editor-in-chief
Former NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others are dead after a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif. on Sunday. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles Fire Department received a call at 9:47 a.m. of a possible helicopter crash on the hills overlooking Calabasas. When they arrived on the scene, firefighters discovered a quarter-acre brush fire and all passengers were pronounced dead on the scene. The names of the remaining passengers have yet to be released. The investigation into the cause of the crash is still being investigated by local police, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Kobe was on his way to a travel basketball game with Gianna, one of her teammates, their parent and the other remaining passengers. The names of the other passengers are yet to be released. Gianna was a basketball player who had hopes of playing in the WNBA and hoped to carry on the Bryant name into the future of women’s professional basketball. Kobe was praised as one of the greatest minds to ever step foot on the hardwood in the history of the NBA and became an international icon over the course of his life and career. Children yelled “Kobe” when shooting crumpled up paper into trash cans, bit on their jerseys to mimic the shooting guard and plastered posters on their walls. His brand was rivaled only by fellow NBA stars LeBron James and Michael Jordan. He played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers and retired in 2016 in one of the most legendary final games in the history of the NBA with a 60-point performance against the Utah Jazz. Kobe won five championships with the Lakers, is top five in scoring in NBA history and was the youngest play-
er in history to reach 30,000 career points. April 13 was named “Mamba Day” in remembrance of the day when Kobe “Bean” Bryant laced up his shoes for the final time as an active member of the NBA.
the WNBA, an advocate for the league across the world and a mentor to young players across the league. Kobe was passed by Los Angeles Laker, James on Saturday night on the NBA’s all-time
WIKIMEDIA.ORG
Kobe Bryant shoots a free throw. In the time after his career, Kobe has become one of the most beloved members of the NBA community. He began a new life after basketball where he took an interest in soccer and even produced various entertainment projects. One of those projects “Dear Basketball,” won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short in 2015. He has been a massive supporter of
on Sunday. Two of the most well-known members of the Laker family tweeted out their condolences to the Laker legend. “There’s no words to express the pain I’m going through with this tragedy of losing my neice
scoring list in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers, a game which Kobe attended and the two shared a hug at the game. Kobe’s last tweet congratulated James on the accomplishment. “Continuing to move the game forward,” Kobe said. “Much respect to my brother.” Social media was flooded with disbelief as TMZ first reported the death of the star at 1:32 p.m.
Gigi and my brother [Kobe],” Shaquille O’Neal, former teammate of Kobe, who won multiple championships with the guard, tweeted. “I love you and you will be missed. My condolences goes out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board. I’m sick right now.” “Most people will remember Kobe as the magnificent athlete
who inspired a whole generation of basketball players,” the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar tweeted. “But I will always remember him as a man who was much more than an athlete.” “My friend, a legend, husband, father, son, brother, Oscar winner and greatest Laker of alltime is gone. It’s hard to accept,” former Laker Earvin Magic Johnson said. “He was such an icon but also did so much for LA. He was passionate about serving the homeless and was an advocate for women’s basketball. Coaching his daughter’s basketball team brought him so much happiness.” Players from around the NBA joined the former Lakers to remember Kobe. “I am in shock over the tragic news of Kobe’s and Gianna’s passing,” Kobe’s selfproclaimed idol, Jordan said. “Words can’t describe the pain I’m feeling. I loved Kobe - he was like a little brother to me.” “I’m stunned,” former Chicago Bulls forward Scottie Pippen said on Twitter. “Words can’t even come close to describing it. Just an incredibly sad and tragic day.” “Man I don’t even know where to start,” Philadelphia center Joel Embiid said. “I started playing ball because of Kobe after watching the 2010 Finals. I had never watched ball before and that Finals was the turning point of my life. I wanted to be like Kobe.” The NBA’s Player’s Association released a statement on Sunday. “We are stunned and devastated by the news of the sudden passing of Kobe Bryant,” the statement read. “Words cannot express his impact on our players, the NBA and the game of basketball. This is a monumental loss for the entire basketball community and our hearts are quite simply broken. We send love and prayers out to his wife Vanessa and the entire family.”
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