Hammettf2b
oldmanyellsatcloud.jpg
It was prob routine for him. Also, it was also Grammy day so there might have been a little more traffic than usual.
RIP Kobe Bryant
- Thread starter John Price
- Start date
This is the most important factor here.
Kobe isn't the greatest NBA player ever, but he was arguably the NBA's biggest star. He was a big deal in mainstream culture, and it's overwhelmingly obvious with all the tributes he's gotten all around the sports world and outside of it.
SouthGeorge
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- May 2, 2018
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Yeah, it was routine for him. But reports now coming from experienced pilots is the pilot was probably pressured by passengers to land. Only way something like this happens according to them.
A full week of mourning in Italy. Every professional team at every level will observe a moment of silence at every game.
Italy, where Kobe Bryant grew up, to mourn his death for a whole week - CNN
Italy, where Kobe Bryant grew up, to mourn his death for a whole week - CNN
Hammettf2b
oldmanyellsatcloud.jpg
I would think his celebrity is what got him the clearance to take off in the first place.
You can't really compare Maravich or other players of those earlier eras with Kobe. There was no social media and NBA players couldn't play in the Olympics or World Championships. The players got nowhere near the exposure that players get today. But make no mistake, Maravich was a basketball phenom, a white dude who was offered a contract by the Harlem Globetrotters - that just didn't happen.
Hammettf2b
oldmanyellsatcloud.jpg
I'm not saying Pete wasn't a great basketball player because he was, I'm saying what you just said yourself. There's no comparison when it comes to the popularity of these two players. It is what it is. Its not the fault of anyone. Technology grew which made it a lot easier to connect with celebrities. The truth is, there is a reason why there is talk about retiring Kobe's number and not Pete Maravich.
Its not that bad on Sunday. Atleast for me when I commute. You have to also understand that there was other people on the helicopter that may have wanted to fly in one. Receive that special treatment when landing with Kobe Bryant. It’s not every day you get to fly in a helicopter as well as be seen with a hall of famer and celebrity.
robertmac43
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I was talking more along the lines of the impact of his death. There is no athlete that would have this crazy of a ripple effect. Kobe's support for the female side of the game just adds to that.
Yah we all have to remember Kobe Bryant lived in Italy from the age of 6 to 13 while his dad played ball. This isn’t just a North American tragedy it’s a world tragedy.
Terry Yake
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- Aug 5, 2013
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this was routine for him
i remember when he first got the helicopter in the late 2000s so he could get to LA from his home in newport beach. everything i'm reading points to this being 100% due to pilot error which makes it even more sad as it was so avoidable
the pilot apparently was flying under special VFR rules despite the fact that other helicopter companies had grounded their flights yesterday morning due to the heavy fog. he should have landed at lax or burbank but for some reason kept on flying and eventually got trapped in the fog
The pilot was also talking to air traffic controllers of trying to go above the clouds. Which would be the fog. But unfortunately didn’t make it.
Juve
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SouthGeorge
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Once again, he's an experienced pilot and other pilots are saying when flying VIPs there's a lot of pressure because you do something they don't like they will fire you. So he could have recommended not flying but his daughter was late for her game and not an option? Second, with the fog it was hard to see and he spent 15 minutes circling that could have made passengers mad and uneasy. I'm just relaying what experienced pilots are saying. I'm sure we will get more details over the weeks.
Terry Yake
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given the amount of power lines and cell towers on the ground, up was the only way he could go but sometimes the clouds just don't end and you end up trapped
its worth noting that this pilot was IFR certified so its not like he was inexperienced or anything like that. he had probably made this same trip hundreds of times
There's a lot of speculation going on before the investigation is even completed. We don't even know the circumstances of the crash yet. Could have been mechanical failure. Could have been the fog. Could have been a lot of things.
Yup I heard that also this morning. This pilot was legit. I’m just glad that the FBI is being sent as we speak to investigate this. That’s all I wanted. Was a full on investigation
Del Preston
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John Altobelli coached Aaron Judge and Jeff McNeil in the Cape Cod League. His son is a scout for the Red Sox.
Stylizer1
Teflon Don
Kobe is a global cultural icon.
SnS
Global Moderator
Stylizer1
Teflon Don
Not even 24 hours and he decides to honour the guy. Good gesture, but it really could have waited. The death of 9 people should be the focus not the Mavs owner trying to be the first to honour the Bryant.
The human side of Kobe Bryant- 5 NBA Championships, 2 NBA Finals MVPs, 2 Olympic golds, etc, etc..., dancing around with his daughter like a damn fool watching the Eagles win the Super Bowl.
Fair enough. It does seem like a bit of a hasty reaction, but I don't see any self-serving intentions.
What I would like to see however, after the dust has settled a bit, is for the NBA to come right out and announce that he's going to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, without the need of a vote.
