RIP Kobe Bryant

[Reality Check]

I suppose if there is a bright side it was a rather quick death. As opposed to going down and knowing it's the end like the small plane crash on the day of the college football playoffs.

I'm chalking this up to bad weather and the pilot possibly panicking. This is obviously something that should have never happened but as the saying goes shits happens. I just hope no one lashes out at the pilot's family if it is determined to be pilot error.

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.

I mean, Kobe was being inducted into the HOF this year regardless as the headliner. This isn't MLB.​

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Detailed witness account

 

[Voight]

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

People talk about how LBJ could've been an NFL WR but I really think Kobe could have been a professional soccer player. From what I've heard he was pretty good for a guy who didnt play all the time and with his work ethic & desire to be great he very well could have gone pro in an alternate reality

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.

I don't know man, Kobe was a father first and foremost and had a really special conenction with his oldest kid, I feel like he'd of said no if there was a risk. & he'd rather be late than dead.

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.

I don't think that was Cubans goal.

 

[Voight]

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.

There was a 0% chance he wasn't going to get enough votes; now its as close to a guarantee you're gonna get.

Anyhow, the NBA has 0 say when it comes to this. The HOF is independent.

Also, this --> Lakers News: Kobe Bryant Will Be First-Ballot Enshrinement Into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame

 

[kanuck87]

There was a 0% chance he wasn't going to get enough votes; now its as close to a guarantee you're gonna get.

Anyhow, the NBA has 0 say when it comes to this. The HOF is independent.

Also, this --> Lakers News: Kobe Bryant Will Be First-Ballot Enshrinement Into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame

That's what I mean. The vote is foregone conclusion, so given the circumstances, whoever runs the HOF should just announce that he's going to be inducted. I don't think that KG and Duncan are going to be offended by this at all.

 

[Dr Pepper]

I suppose if there is a bright side it was a rather quick death. As opposed to going down and knowing it's the end like the small plane crash on the day of the college football playoffs.

I'm chalking this up to bad weather and the pilot possibly panicking. This is obviously something that should have never happened but as the saying goes ****s happens. I just hope no one lashes out at the pilot's family if it is determined to be pilot error.

I mean, Kobe was being inducted into the HOF this year regardless as the headliner. This isn't MLB.​

I saw an article that included photos of the deceased (taken before the crash, thankfully), and the pilot looked to be up there in age.

What're the chances he had a medical emergency while flying? Everyone's focused on the fog being the culprit but if a helicopter pilot suffers a stroke or a heart attack, foggy or clear skies I don't think it'd make much of a difference.

 

[Juve]

I just hope they all died quick, sudden and painless and not suffer before going.

 

[swimmer77]

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.

Kind of understand where you are coming from but I'll conjecture Cuban's gesture is coming from the heart. He's a passionate guy and if I remember correctly tried to trade for Kobe Bryant. I'm thinking he genuinely loved the guy. Everyone reacts differently.

 

[SixStrings]

This is just crazy and sad. Ever since I heard about it yesterday I've been listening to sports talk radio about it, the news, reading articles, etc.

May the deceased RIP and my thoughts and prayers are for the families who are suffering through this tragedy.

 

[Jack Straw]

That's what I mean. The vote is foregone conclusion, so given the circumstances, whoever runs the HOF should just announce that he's going to be inducted. I don't think that KG and Duncan are going to be offended by this at all.

That would be Jerry Colangelo and he announced it on TV yesterday. Kobe is going in.

 

[Reality Check]

Detailed witness account

Yikes. Outside the pilot having a medical issue, I think he just panicked. The weather either being particularly bad or rapidly changing upon departure just made it worse.

It's also worth pointing out, since we'll never know, that Kobe might have wanted to fly regardless of the weather. A similar scenario happens months ago to an oil bigwig that perished after his daughter or one her friends OD somewhere I believe in the Caribbean. So, in the middle of the night, he demanded that they fly back to the states but they obviously didn't make it. Weather didn't play a factor to my knowledge in that crash but when you have that much money you tend to do what you want to do.​

I saw an article that included photos of the deceased (taken before the crash, thankfully), and the pilot looked to be up there in age.

What're the chances he had a medical emergency while flying? Everyone's focused on the fog being the culprit but if a helicopter pilot suffers a stroke or a heart attack, foggy or clear skies I don't think it'd make much of a difference.

I initially thought the same before viewing that video above. While it still may be the case I think he just became overwhelmed. I believe they were in regular contact with dispatch before those last few seconds or minutes. Apparently, whoever was flying at that time, floored it into that hill.

 

[Terry Yake]

That would be Jerry Colangelo and he announced it on TV yesterday. Kobe is going in.

obviously that was a no-brainer even before his death. what an emotional ceremony that'll be

going in with two other all time greats in KG and duncan

 

[Dr Pepper]

Yikes. Outside the pilot having a medical issue, I think he just panicked. The weather either being particularly bad or rapidly changing upon departure just made it worse.

It's also worth pointing out, since we'll never know, that Kobe might have wanted to fly regardless of the weather. A similar scenario happens months ago to an oil bigwig that perished after his daughter or one her friends OD somewhere I believe in the Caribbean. So, in the middle of the night, he demanded that they fly back to the states but they obviously didn't make it. Weather didn't play a factor to my knowledge in that crash but when you have that much money you tend to do what you want to do.​

I initially thought the same before viewing that video above. While it still may be the case I think he just became overwhelmed. I believe they were in regular contact with dispatch before those last few seconds or minutes. Apparently, whoever was flying at that time, floored it into that hill.

Overwhelmed? Maybe.

A trained pilot with clearance to fly through fog should be able to manage that route, and it's probably a route he flew many times before with Kobe as a passenger.

 

[Voight]

I imagine they will have his funeral at the Staples Center, just like Michael Jackson's.

 

[Terry Yake]

I imagine they will have his funeral at the Staples Center, just like Michael Jackson's.

i remember when michael jackson died kobe was one of the speakers at the funeral held at staples

who knew they'd be doing the same for him just a little over 10 years later

 

[FiveTacos]

Obviously a lot of people don't feel the same way about Pete Maravich the way they feel about Kobe. If you can't see that Kobe was tiers above his peers, on and off the court, I don't know what to tell you.

To me, growing up watching in the 70s and 80s we had a very short list of the greatest of the greats. The ones who, if there were a draft with all these guys available at the beginning of their careers, you wouldn't take anyone else over them unless you were just flat out biased.

Big men: Russell, Chamberlain, Kareem
Forward: Bird
Guards: West, Big O, Magic, MJ

On the old usenet (dating myself here) those used to be, by almost any measure, the "elite 8" gods of basketball, both in terms of subjective and statistical analysis. Even someone as iconic as Dr. J couldn't quite crack it.

Since then, I'd on subjective analysis put Kobe and LBJ on, to make it a top 10.

One reason this is so devastating? That outside of Wilt (who'd be in his 80s by now), ALL of those other guys are still around. Kobe wasn't supposed to be the next one to go, and it just feels so so wrong.

 

[Voight]

i remember when michael jackson died kobe was one of the speakers at the funeral held at staples

who knew they'd be doing the same for him just a little over 10 years later

What has amazed me is the out-pour of support. I have people on social media posting about him who literally do not watch basketball, he was just so iconic and truly a global star.

He had his critics but the last 24 hours has made me realize he was such a likable person. Speaking of Mike Jackson, Kobe's death may be the "biggest" since his.... no disrespect to the musicians, politicians and entertainers we've lost in the last decade but I don't recall it being like this for them.

 

[Hammettf2b]

To me, growing up watching in the 70s and 80s we had a very short list of the greatest of the greats. The ones who, if there were a draft with all these guys available at the beginning of their careers, you wouldn't take anyone else over them unless you were just flat out biased.

Big men: Russell, Chamberlain, Kareem
Forward: Bird
Guards: West, Big O, Magic, MJ

On the old usenet (dating myself here) those used to be, by almost any measure, the "elite 8" gods of basketball, both in terms of subjective and statistical analysis. Even someone as iconic as Dr. J couldn't quite crack it.

Since then, I'd on subjective analysis put Kobe and LBJ on, to make it a top 10.

One reason this is so devastating? That outside of Wilt (who'd be in his 80s by now), ALL of those other guys are still around. Kobe wasn't supposed to be the next one to go, and it just feels so so wrong.

This is the biggest factor imo. If it were his time to go, (in his 80's or something) it wouldn't be such a tragedy as it is today.

 

[kanuck87]

I imagine they will have his funeral at the Staples Center, just like Michael Jackson's.

They'll probably even shut down the city for the funeral, so that everyone can be there (in some fashion, not necessarily just at the Staples Center.)

 

[Cody Webster]

ESPN is reairing his final game tonight at 9

 

[MS]

That's what I mean. The vote is foregone conclusion, so given the circumstances, whoever runs the HOF should just announce that he's going to be inducted. I don't think that KG and Duncan are going to be offended by this at all.

If I was Garnett or Duncan I'd politely ask the BHOF to delay their induction for a year.

It would kinda suck to have your induction basically be Kobe's funeral ... and oh, hey! Yay for these guys too!

They deserve to have their day and be celebrated in a positive fashion and not be afterthoughts on a day that will be all about Kobe.

 

[Tuggy]

Detailed witness account

Can't ask for a much more detailed account than that.

 

[kanuck87]

If I was Garnett or Duncan I'd politely ask the BHOF to delay their induction for a year.

It would kinda suck to have your induction basically be Kobe's funeral ... and oh, hey! Yay for these guys too!

They deserve to have their day and be celebrated in a positive fashion and not be afterthoughts on a day that will be all about Kobe.

I understand this line of thinking and certainly wouldn't blame them if they wanted to do this, but you never know what could happen in a year's time. Something tragic could happen to KG or Duncan.

If anything, I think it would be a great honour and privilege for anyone to be inducted in the same class as Kobe Bryant. It probably already was before his death and now even moreso after.

 

[kanuck87]

Too add along to my previous post. Given that KG and Duncan battled Kobe for so many years, I think that KG and Duncan would love to have that platform to talk about Kobe, in addition to all the other things they were gonna say in their speech.

 

[Reality Check]

This is the biggest factor imo. If it were his time to go, (in his 80's or something) it wouldn't be such a tragedy as it is today.

NBA was still on a bit of shaky ground as late as say '82? There was also no social media, no dream teams etc..

The death of Maravich was sad but it's not comparable. Factor in the market that Kobe played for, his dad playing overseas and Bryant frankly being a better player than Maravich.

It's been brought up a couple of times here but Drazen Petrovic is another who would receive more praise if he didn't perish so early. Especially with the NBA booming and starting to branch out globally. He was the guard version of Dirk Nowitzki.