DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Kobe Bryant reportedly killed in California helicopter crash

It was unusually foggy yesterday. My wife and daughter went out early and commented how crazy the fog was, and we're quite a bit inland from Orange County.

I live in San Diego. I know the golf tournament was postponed due to fog on Saturday. These are pictures I took of the fog Friday morning and Saturday morning.

https://imgur.com/7IUYpmV

https://imgur.com/JfwtIPe

As I watched my wife drive off this morning to take my son to daycare today, I couldn't help but reflect on what happened.

A million things can go wrong in a single second - drunk driver, speeder not paying attention, texter not looking at the road, etc.

I have made it a ritual to tell my son and wife every morning goodbye with a hug and a kiss. Even if my wife and I are fighting, its something I (we) always do. With that in mind, I still take that for granted at times and don't really reflect on it as much as I should, or did today. The hug and kiss I gave my family today will weigh on me for a long time, knowing that that precious girl will never get to say goodbye to her mom again. The only solace I have was that she was with Kobe whom I am sure held an comforted her in the last seconds. At least she had that, not everyone does.

Go home today ladies and gents, hug your kids and kiss your wife's/husbands. If your kids are older, call them. Tell them you were just thinking of them and wanted to say "hi". And when your conversation is over, make sure its the greatest and most heartfelt goodbye you have ever given them. Because one day, no matter what, it will be. So make each one count.

The emergency response helicopters weren't allowed to respond because visibility wasn't good and the cloud cover was too low

j/c:

Kobe was not one of my favorite players. In fact, I used to take some odd satisfaction in not liking the guy. With that said, I always knew he was a great, great player who had the heart of an assassin.

The moment was never too big for Kobe. When the game was on the line, you knew he was going to take the shot. You just had to pray he missed it. He missed quite a few, but the guy had the mentality that he was always the dude who should take that shot.

He wasn't always likeable. He wasn't always a great teammate. However, he had a mentality and a drive to be the very best to ever do it. He didn't quite reach that pinnacle, but he is one of the greatest of all-time.

While he was blessed w/superior athleticism and skills, his heart was even greater than his skill set. He played like he always had something to prove. He's got 5 'Chips. Three were w/Shaq, but he won 2 more later on.

I think his huge dedication to details and perfection drove him to great heights. Those attributes also exposed some of his faults. He rubbed people the wrong way. He was somewhat arrogant. He wasn't buddy-buddy w/teammates.

Thus, I don't think he was a happy man during his playing days.

Ironically, he was much more happy after leaving the game. He wrote children's book. He won an Oscar for a film. He was highly involved in championing women's rights, especially in sports. He was able to enjoy his family a lot more.

I was looking at some of the photos of him and his daughter Gianni. He always had his arm around her. Protective, teaching, enjoying, and loving. That's an image that burns bright in my mind.

I don't want to think about the image of what he did when he realized the helicopter was going down. However, I can't help but not think of it. I imagine he embraced his beautiful daughter, consoled her, and prayed that God would take him and protect his daughter. It's a complex image that is both inspirational and haunting.

I think the world lost a great man yesterday. I hope that the world also learned a few valuable lessons from both his life and death.

Prayers to the families of all the lost ones...

Gone to soon. Smh.

Right, they weren't already in the air and a chopper was down due to visibility.


The only call that could be made.

Once it became clear the pilot couldn't get above it or under it, you can't just hover for hours. You have to make a call.

I want to say more...

I am not the most eloquent speaker and I feel very exposed because I can't find the proper words to express how this particular helicopter crash has affected me in particular and the world in general.

I really like what will wrote. I think he nailed it and I won't repeat what he said, but I will say I would have mentioned many of the same things had he not said it first.

Reflecting on the crash literally, figuratively, and more specifically--metaphorically is almost inevitable.

In life, we can be flying so high and suddenly a bit of turbulence can result in us crashing down to earth. We can have it all and then we can have nothing at all. We can soar and we can crash.

What is this thing that we call "fate?"

Is it the great equalizer? Is it a reminder of our own mortality? Is it something we have invented to explain the events in our lives that can't be explained?

What should one take away from this horrific tragedy? Surely, most of us can relate to what will so eloquently stated. Perhaps we have learned to not take things for granted. Perhaps we understand just how insignificant our lives are in this world. Perhaps we can find the determination to live our lives to the fullest and press forward to be the best we can possibly be. Perhaps we can admit that we don't like to think about our own immortality and what lasting impressions we have made on the world because we would not like the conclusions that would be drawn.

If you were to leave this world today, would you be okay w/the life you have lived? Would you be okay w/your legacy?

Should we ask those questions every day?

Would our lives change if we did ask those questions each and every day?

I want to know. I want to feel. I want to be. I don't want to just exist.

I think Kobe was a champion of those feelings. He was all about taking control of your life and doing everything possible to be the very best that you can be. That is a great example for the world to follow. I swear to God that every person I heard who spoke of him today echoed stories about how Kobe pushed them to take control of their own lives and to be the best that can absolutely be.

So yes, let's learn from his death that life can take a tragic turn in an instant. And let us learn that taking charge of one's own life while he/she has the opportunity do so is an endeavor certainly worth pursuing.

j/c...

Very cool...

Good stuff. Glad I clicked.

He wasn’t always classy, but I feel bad that he and his daughter died too soon.
Top 5 at least.

Worth the watch...

Wow, wow, WOW.

That'll be enough of that bro.

Pretty much says all you need to know about the man. And we all thought the "mamba" was the gift.

That’s a sad, but telling clip

Vers - Very well stated. I feel like you added a lot of what I wanted to post but just couldn't find the words to write. Thank you for adding/sharing them to the thread.

J/C

I have been reflecting a lot since Sunday, watching all the tributes from the NBA, seeing Kobe's fans remembering him. I never considered myself a Kobe fan, well - because I was always fighting everyone saying that LeBron was the better player and arguing against him. Calling him a ball hog and saying LeBron could score 80 if wanted too, but he rather win the game than get the accolade for shooting the ball.

Honestly, I didn't want to really post about Kobe the basketball player - as you could tell he was a Father first and foremost. He explained once why he flew by helicopter around the city. The dude literally traveled by Helicopter so he could be able to pick his kids up from school everyday, and still have time to work on his craft. It wasn't to be elitist, it wasn't because he thought he was more important than everyone else. He valued the 20 min ride with his kids. That hits home for me, because I do similar things. I try to schedule time where its just me and him. That 1-1 time is the most important thing I can give my son.

I apologize for these post if it sounds like I am being too sappy or anything. This event has just really hit home to me. Maybe its because I watched this dude even if from afar since I was 9 years old. Maybe its jut the horrific way of their passing, knowing that this precious little girl will never be able to say goodbye to her siblings or her mommy again. Or maybe its because I am sitting here thinking, how it would feel, knowing that I could do NOTHING to protect my child in that event, and that nothing I say or could do would prevent harm to him. Just thinking about that makes me sick to my stomach. Every parent can relate the first time their child gets hurt - whether they fall and bump their head, or the first time they are sick. How much it hurts you that they are ill or in pain, is indescribable to someone that doesn't have children. And to sit here, knowing that as a father he had to sit there while his baby screamed and was terrified - to me, I feel like that would be worse than the actual outcome.

I cant get over that part of it. I am shook.

Edit to add:

I think part as well for me, was Saturday night.

My wife and I don't do much. We don't go out with friends or go to bars, etc.

She had scheduled a long time ago to go to a concert with her friend, and I needed to get some things done around the house and had a bowling tournament in the afternoon. So my mother graciously offered to watch my son and keep him overnight. DANG! A legit free night by myself. It has literally been 6 years since the last time I was completely alone on a weekend night. I very much looked forward to it. I ordered a pizza, watched a movie, played some Xbox. It was great. But about 3 hours in, I remember thinking to myself - this FEELS odd. I wasn't comfortable. I couldn't quite enjoy it as much as the thought of having the night alone felt. I was lonely. I missed my son and wife.

Sunday, after the news broke, I instantly thought about being excited that I was going to be alone by myself the night before, and I felt this tremendous guilt because of what happened. What Kobe wouldn't give to another day with his daughter. What his wife would give to another day with the two of them. I felt awful for feeling excited about missing time with my family the night before.

The thought of this makes my heart hurt for Mrs. Bryant. Think about that, think about the people you see everyday and love, and that they will NEVER be there again to see at your dinner table. . . . .

Great story...

Impressive...

Great post, definitely words to ponder about appreciating the ones you are closest to.
Well done, man.

Let me start bysaying I'm not a Basketball fan at all.

I don't get all this love for Kobe.He was a great player granted but wasn't he a rapist? Didn't he Rape a maid in some hotel? Didn't he buy her off with big money and then buy his wife a hugh diamond to forgive him. I know he made all the Libs cry. Ellen,Fallon, Kimmel but what am I missing. If he iwas such a great guy. What is the difference between him andWeinstein 0r Epestein? I'm not trying to be a jerk but I don't get it.

I get it, but to be honest, I didn't care for the guy. I feel badly for his family and feel sorry he died in a air traffic accident next to a young daughter, but no, I have no feelings much beyond what I just expressed.

I hope he finds Heaven.

The "rapist" label is a little difficult. He thought it was consensual, she apparently didn't. We honestly will never know one way or the other. The thing is he completely reinvented himself afterwards. He cut out a lot of the superficial things in his life, became a lot more spiritual, and a much better guy afterwards. There is story after story of him quietly doing all kinds of little charity things, like where he would show up in a hospital room unannounced and visit a kid with a terminal illness. Never asked for anything in return except that they keep it quiet so the press didn't show up.

At one point his wife filed for divorce, and he said "No, I made a promise to you, and we're going to work things out." She later pulled the petition and they've been married since, having a few more children as well.

Wow

I have mixed feelings but i always end up thinking about how he owned it and admitted after hearing her and reading her testimony he could see how she thought it was forced ...

then as u said he became as good a human being as hoopster ... like u said lots of charitable acts he never wanted let out ...

They were all way to young .... RIP all of u ...

Quick summary: At best, he only cheated on his wife. At worst, he forced a consensual woman to do a very specific non-consensual act against her will.

As for the cheating, if his wife forgave him, I don’t think that’s something we can hold against him. People make mistakes and that mistake wasn’t against us, so it’s not ours to worry about. Plus, the worst mistake of your life doesn’t normally make global news.

The details of the incident are all here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobe_Bryant_sexual_assault_case

Ultimately, something happened during an encounter that was 90-something percent consensual until the end. What was the tone during that last percent is what we’ll never know. Was it completely clear that she refused, what was his knowledge of her refusal and did he hurt her on purpose? How does she explain wearing underwear that had another man’s semen on it to the police station the next day? Why was she bragging about hooking up with Kobe to her friends? Why was she telling her friends all the things she was going to buy with the settlement money?

I’m not trying to bash the girl, but those questions are tough to answer especially since she knocked on his door and wanted to hook up with a celebrity.

He wasn’t convicted (she refused to testify which is important in a “he said/she said” kind of case, plus, the other details I mentioned forced the case to be dropped by her attorneys). The settlement doesn’t really prove anything either way. It looks terrible though.

The girl in question refused to testify after the fact and the case was dismissed. What really happened we will never know. But I take it for his word after the case was dismissed. he stated it was consensual (and from what I remember she agreed at first it was as well), but realized hearing her tale and seeing her emotions, she may have changed her mind during - there is a lot of questions as to the fact if she said anything to him to tell him that.

I believe if you actually watch the press conference afterwards of him speaking about it - he truly felt that is was a misunderstanding and was hurt that he may have hurt her unintentionally.

What we do know about Kobe, is that after the case was over - there was never a single allegation against him. There was never another whisper of him cheating, let along anything inappropriate.

I like how you try to put a stab in there to "libs". Which shows you are generally just trying to get a rise out of people with this. He didn't "buy her off" either. There was a CRIMINAL case that was dismissed.

AFTER that, there was a civil case, in which they settled. But the difference here is he didn't settle to keep her hushed, the world already knew what happened. He settled as he felt bad about the encounter and wanted to close that chapter.

As far as the difference between him and Weinstein and Epstein - if you even have to ask what the difference is between the three I would suggest you refrain from commenting on anything of such in the future.

J/C

about a month ago before he did there a report of Kobe witnessing a traffic accident, he not only sat with the people in the accident, he calmed them, helped them from their vehicles, and even directed traffic until police came.

Kobe also dedicated his life afterwards to promote and help female sports, along with changing the lives of thousands of kids.

he would sneak into hospitals in cities he was playing in or doing business in, and visit sick kids by sneaking up the back stairs. Not announcing his arrival to the press as he wanted to have 1-1 time and didn't want the PR to be about him taking away from time wth the child.

There have also been reports that Kobe had even offered to help some of the families of these children financially that he met on these visits if they needed it.

The world watch him as a 17 year old kid learn to play NBA basketball.

The world watch him have trouble in marriage, and own up to a decision that hurt someone - even when that decision seems to have been a miscommunication that you could easily see troubled him afterwards.

The world watch as after this, he matured and became a great person and advocate for female athletics.

The world watch him become a mentor to young kids in the NBA - to the likes of even one LeBron James.

The world watch as he finished his NBA career in one of the greatest last games to have ever been played.

The world watch as he won an Oscar.

https://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/kobe...le-women-121811

I'd kind of like to see Lebron drop 80 tomorrow night.

OK, great guy except for that one rape.

I agree with others, hard to say. Maybe it was a rape inside consensual relations? Meaning, once invited inside the door, it's hard to stop what happens after.

No means no. Saying no after saying yes is a different deal. It's still not right, but not as wrong as a outright rape.

I stressed to my daughter, and she hated the talk, but she heard, "Don't start something that is hard to stop. You have some responsibility in the matter as well."

It’s a gray level in some cases as you said. You could be all consensual in the talks/actions leading up to a sexual act, but then more hesitant right before or during.

You mean the one he was acquitted of? I hope nobody ever accuses you of anything terrible. Hopefully if they do you will experience the same treatment.

I thought you were the "justice" vs "just us" guy? Now you suddenly have full faith in the judicial process for celebrity multi-millionaires?

Actually I think everyone should get the same "just us". My issue has always been that those who have less don't receive good representation.

When the Dems brought out that woman who said she might have been raped 35 years ago. you guys to a man were ready to hang Kav by his....thumbs. He was scumb and now Kobe is good. He might have been innocent. I just like to point out Liberal hypocrites. I know this isn't the political section but its fun to show you guys for what you stand for.

Like most people, I felt terrible when I heard the news. And then worse when I found out his daughter was with him. Just heartbreaking.

My mind did go back to the incident at the hotel, eventually. People can say he wasn’t convicted, etc., but if you actually look in to the details, you do not come away feeling sympathetic to Kobe unless you are trying to defend a stance, like way too many people do here.

At the very least, he treated that girl horribly, and at the worst, he raped her.

Kobe, from all accounts, tried to make himself a better person, and even championed women’s sports and seemed to take them under his wings.

It’s such a trap to try and make flawed people into saints. I’ve had mixed feelings about all the glory being thrown his way, but i do feel he was a changed man. At least I hope he was.

RIP

He was not acquitted. It was settled out of court.

Is this story still "reportedly?"

That was the civil case, not the criminal case . The criminal charges were dropped(acquitted)

That's a good point.

Your article to refute will's claims is from 2011. I also don't get why some folks are trying to make this about politics? Character is often revealed in such times.

Anyway, here are Vanessa's comments from just 3 days ago. The picture is painted very differently that the article from 9 years ago.



https://www.instagram.com/p/B77K8XWDY7O/?utm_source=ig_embed