Tragic, devastating news.  

RIP Kobe and 4 others

Truly sad.  Gotta make helicopters safer.

BC wrote:

Truly sad.  Gotta make helicopters safer.

Since Kobe's passing was announced, I've heard that Kobe would use his helicopter to travel to and from games when he played because sitting in a car for the 2 hour drive from his home to the arena would have a negative effect on his body(I thought the opposite was true, riding in a plane/helicopter was worse for your body). I'm assuming he used his helicopter to travel everywhere around California at some point, including to coach his daughter's AAU team today.

Down below is a picture of the Mamba athletic facility where Kobe and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna(who also died in the helicopter crash) were on their way to participate an AAU game. Kobe coaches his daughter's AAU team. This picture was taken after they found out the tragic news. 



https://twitter.com/RealALEXAN/status/1221532080409985024 

Last edited by Thomas (1/26/2020 9:07 pm)

Devastatingly horrible news.  I was personally less of a fan of his than many others but can certainly understand why he was as beloved a figure as he was.  Plus, the family not only loses its patriarch but a 13 year old daughter and sister as well.  Not to mention the others who perished.  Just a sickening story.

One report I saw indicated that TMZ broke the story before the family was notified.  Journalism has a disgusting side to it which is now all about getting the story out first at all costs.  It appears that other media outlets did wait on the story to make sure that the family knew first.  TMZ executives should feel mortified by this but chances are, they are instead in congratulations mode for being first. 

I agree with GWRising and Gwmayem about SLEEZY media outlets like TMZ! I know that TMZ is now considered mainstream because the morality/standards in the culture have lowered dramatically in recent years, but breaking the news about Kobe Bryant and the 8 other victims before the authorities can notify the victims next of kin is just despicable. I'm assuming TMZ has a large paycheck ready for first responders, EMT Workers, hospital workers, security etc. in order to get the scoop on a celebrity who has died, been seriously hurt, checked into a facility, or gotten arrested which is how they are able to pull of such things. 

Adding on to what Gwmayem wrote, I wasn't the biggest Kobe fan either, but you have to respect his talent, greatness, longevity and most importantly, his work ethic. Kobe was always the best(or 2nd best when he played with Shaq) player on every team he played on, but he always worked/prepared as if he was the 12th man trying to earn a spot on the team, which is something to be admired and the type of attitude that every athlete(and probably every person in general) should have. 

 

GW Alum Abroad wrote:

BGF should probably move this thread to the "other" category.
A great hoopster is gone but let us remember he scored a grand total of zero points in college bastketball. And if you know of news reporting, you do not wait to get clearance from authorities to report it. I think news of Jefrery Dahmer´s demise broke before authorities had notified his family and confirmed it. Was that "sleazy"? (And, yes, TMZ is sleazy and unethical, but also sometimes accurate).
Also, as noted by the BBC in its obit (link below), Bryant skated on rape charges, was fined for homophobic comments and missed more shots than any player in NBA history. 
The titles and gold medals and public persona were assets, and he could ball. Sad news, indeed.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/51265909
 

You can be sleazy and accurate. The question was never accuracy. The question was should it have been reported when it was reported in the manner in which it was reported?

I am always disappointed by the constant need to immediately examine a person's whole life within moments of their death. I think out of respect for family and friends it is too raw a time to begin painting the entire picture. The news media would be wise to heed the adage of not speaking ill of the dead at least for a few moments, especially in the case of a complicated sports figure who had significant positives as well as negatives. If the Washington Post can refer to Al-Baghdadi as an "austere religious scholar" surely they can find it in their heart to refrain from posting negative information about Kobe at least until he is put into the ground. However, apparently everyone has a scalp to get these days and the quicker the better. Sad.

Last edited by GWRising (1/27/2020 5:47 pm)