Kobe Bryant, 41, dead in helicopter crash - sad news

[Marc]

Damn, I just read this on a Dutch website. I'm not that much into basketball, even though I loved to play it at secondary school, but he was very popular all around the world. Bryant leaves behind his wife and 4 daughters, one of them still a baby. This is going to shock sports fans all around the world. He was an icon and, iirc, also won an Oscar for a short vid called "Dear Basketball".

May he rest in peace.

[aligreto]

Very sad news indeed. He was one of the Basketball Greats.

[Gurn Blanston]

Damn, I just read this on a Dutch website. I'm not that much into basketball, even though I loved to play it at secondary school, but he was very popular all around the world. Bryant leaves behind his wife and 4 daughters, one of them still a baby. This is going to shock sports fans all around the world. He was an icon and, iirc, also won an Oscar for a short vid called "Dear Basketball".

May he rest in peace.

According to one of the newspapers, one of his daughters was with him in the helicopter...  They must have been returning from Philadelphia, because I saw him on the news last night, congratulating LeBron James for having passed Kobe in career points to become the new #3 on the all-time list. The Lakers were playing in Philly, which was also Kobe's home town, so I reckon that's why he went. I wasn't a fan, but it's sad to see a great go down at the tender age of 41.

[vandermolen]

Never heard of him but it's all over the news here. Very sad, especially as his 13 year old daughter was apparently in the helicopter as well, along with others.

[relm1]

He was a wonderful person gone way too soon and a huge fan of orchestral music.  I was at the rehearsal of his Oscar winning animated short called "Dear Basketball" last year where he was there.  It is a short film love letter to basketball as he retired.  He was so excited and gave the great composer, John Williams, whom he personally commissioned a huge hug.  He told the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra how thrilling an experience it was for him to stand in front of such great musicians.  He was in awe of them and I could feel that this man who inspired gazillions of fans who adored him was also a fan of these people.  He let everyone who wanted to take a selfie with him but it was clear he was giddy with joy at the entire experience.  I recall he joyfully said it was his first time in front of an orchestra.  RIP.

[vandermolen]

He was a wonderful person gone way too soon and a huge fan of orchestral music.  I was at the rehearsal of his Oscar winning animated short called "Dear Basketball" last year where he was there.  It is a short film love letter to basketball as he retired.  He was so excited and gave the great composer, John Williams, whom he personally commissioned a huge hug.  He told the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra how thrilling an experience it was for him to stand in front of such great musicians.  He was in awe of them and I could feel that this man who inspired gazillions of fans who adored him was also a fan of these people.  He let everyone who wanted to take a selfie with him but it was clear he was giddy with joy at the entire experience.  I recall he joyfully said it was his first time in front of an orchestra.  RIP.

What a nice memory to have.

[Florestan]

Sad indeed. May God rest his soul.

[relm1]

According to one of the newspapers, one of his daughters was with him in the helicopter...  They must have been returning from Philadelphia, because I saw him on the news last night, congratulating LeBron James for having passed Kobe in career points to become the new #3 on the all-time list. The Lakers were playing in Philly, which was also Kobe's home town, so I reckon that's why he went. I wasn't a fan, but it's sad to see a great go down at the tender age of 41.

No, he was coaching his daughter's basketball team which had a game on Sunday when the helicopter crashed.  All onboard were affiliated with the young woman's basketball team plus the pilot.  Nine were lost.  The weather was lousy...dense fog and many hills and coastal mountains are in the area.  Lot's of my musician friends have been posting pictures with him.  I didn't realize how big a fan he was of the LA music and orchestral scene.  He really loved the stuff.  RIP.

[Mirror Image]

It's always a sad thing to see someone so young pass away. I wasn't a fan of Kobe Bryant per se (I was always more of a Shaquille O'Neal fan ), but I recognize his athletic ability and for him to be drafted into the NBA right out of high school was an impressive feat. A terrible loss and the fact that his teenage daughter was in the helicopter with him makes it even more tragic. RIP to all involved in this crash.

[greg]

When my friend first texted me about it sounded like the most random piece of news... but way too young, he's only been retired a few years?(completely lost track with that). Could have done so much more with his life.

[Gurn Blanston]

No, he was coaching his daughter's basketball team which had a game on Sunday when the helicopter crashed.  All onboard were affiliated with the young woman's basketball team plus the pilot.  Nine were lost.  The weather was lousy...dense fog and many hills and coastal mountains are in the area.  Lot's of my musician friends have been posting pictures with him.  I didn't realize how big a fan he was of the LA music and orchestral scene.  He really loved the stuff.  RIP.

Yes, they updated that report shortly after I posted. The news of his daughter being there was still news at the time. Very sad thing, no question. Sometimes people get buttonholed and generalized, like 'he was a basketball player', but they are always so much more than that. Your story above is the proof of it.

[71 dB]

Kyle Kulinski Reflecting On Kobe Bryant's Tragic Death

https://www.youtube.com/v/jLJUr08s_4U