am I comparing it to a President being assassinated. But I think you'd be hard pressed to find a more shocking sports related moment than this one. Before my time, but I imagine this is on a level similar to Thurman Munson. My dad still references that shock level.
.
For me personally, Thurman is the worst as it relates to
a sports related death. I have cried a few times over the
years, especially the ten year anniversary of his death.
As I have said before, my favorite Yankee player of all time, that will never change!
Definitely didn't mean to compare it to JFK obviously, but I will remember where I was when I heard yesterday. Just a 'WTF? Really? No, that's gotta be wrong' moment for me as a sports fan.
Especially with three children involved. Those poor families. I can't imagine what Vanessa Bryant and the families of the other victims have gone through.
I read through a lot of this thread and it's surprising the varying opinions on this.
Kobe wasn't a perfect person, nobody is. But, he still did a lot of good in this world and inspired a lot of people, whether he inspired you or not. If we decided not to mourn people with imperfections or who have made poor choices in their life, I don't think we would have anyone left to mourn.
Definitely didn't mean to compare it to JFK obviously, but I will remember where I was when I heard yesterday. Just a 'WTF? Really? No, that's gotta be wrong' moment for me as a sports fan.
Yup you’re spot on. I was never a huge Kobe fan - didnt dislike him, just didn’t root for him. But I think “larger than life” is an apt description.
I lived in SoCal from 2000-2005, during a big part of the Kobe/Shaq/Jax Lakers era, and the obsession with the Lakers in LA was a whole another level. Laker games, referred to as the “Lake Show” (pretty silly IMO), were an event. Most people I knew out there planned their weeks around watching Laker games during basketball season.
Admittedly, made me hate the Lakers, same way people grew to hate the Yankees, or the Pats of the last 20 years. But also makes me understand the emotions and magnitude of yesterday’s tragedy, and what Kobe meant to so many people. He was a real life superhero to many people.
It would be the equivalent of this happening to Jeter, or Eli, for me as a Yankees/Giants fan. And you’re 100% right, it will always be one of those things where you remember where/how you heard the news.
I also think it’s fair, when contemplating the sum total of his life, to at least reference the Colorado accusation and it’s aftermath. But not on this thread and not yet, IMHO
9 people died tragically, including some kids, that’s the story for now, and it’s an awful one.
I place it alongside Munson's death. I wasn't a Yankees fan but a close friend was (and since I was a huge baseball fan, I knew what a huge deal this was) - his parents planned their evenings around WPIX telecasts. They were all in. I remember walking into their living room and seeing them staring at the TV.
While tragic and sad for me it is far from highest level of impact Â
9/11 is head and shoulders above anything else, nothing even remotely close to it. That really shook me.
Challenger still stands out in my mind vividly. I can replay it all in my mind.
And while I was probably too young to feel real grief over, the Robert Kennedy and MLK assassinations were events I knew were enormous and historical that would impact the country.
And while I was even younger the JFK assassination still stand out in my mind to this day, probably even more than with Robert Kennedy and MLK. I can remember watching the funeral procession and events for what felt like days. Of course there wasn't cable and there weren't too many channels and they all seemed to be covering it. But it was just different than anything else and even though I was young it was our president and I could tell everyone was mourning.
For myself, I would put Kobe dying unexpectedly on par with the same level of shock of JFK JR's plane going down.
This is big. I'll remember where I was when I heard about Kobe Bryant and his daughter's death until the day I die. I remember where I was for Cory Lidle, as well.
I remember Heath Ledger, Michael Jackson, 9/11, Chris Benoit's interesting story and the day Harambe was killed.
I lived in SoCal from 2000-2005, during a big part of the Kobe/Shaq/Jax Lakers era, and the obsession with the Lakers in LA was a whole another level. Laker games, referred to as the “Lake Show” (pretty silly IMO), were an event. Most people I knew out there planned their weeks around watching Laker games during basketball season.
2000-2005 were my salad years, loved them. This is when there was a point to watching the NBA.
Reading various news accounts now that more details are coming out - it's very unfortunate that whoever was making the decision chose to proceed with the flight. It was so foggy that the LAPD actually grounded their entire helicopter fleet, and the Kobe copter had to fly under special protocols with the assistance of ground control. Maybe when they took off, they didn't know what they were going to fly into - I'm sure that will come out from the NTSB.
This is big. I'll remember where I was when I heard about Kobe Bryant and his daughter's death until the day I die. I remember where I was for Cory Lidle, as well.
I remember Heath Ledger, Michael Jackson, 9/11, Chris Benoit's interesting story and the day Harambe was killed.
What was the weather like when Harambe was killed?
Reading various news accounts now that more details are coming out - it's very unfortunate that whoever was making the decision chose to proceed with the flight. It was so foggy that the LAPD actually grounded their entire helicopter fleet, and the Kobe copter had to fly under special protocols with the assistance of ground control. Maybe when they took off, they didn't know what they were going to fly into - I'm sure that will come out from the NTSB.
Just unimaginably terrible in any event.
Unfortunate that these deaths probably resulted from poor decision making. They had no business flying that day. Just unnecessary.
As someone who was never a huge Kobe fan, this still hurts so much.
In terms of global popularity he is Top 3 all time and probably 2nd. His impact in the Asian market is just ridiculous. There’s an argument to be made he’s more popular than Jordan in Asia. And Kobe’s European background and ability to speak multiple languages always made him a popular player among Europeans. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Kobe had more jerseys in South America than any other NBA player.
He was clearly an iconic athlete. But it was hard to understand how vast his imprint went until this tragedy. I learned of this news from my sister who isn’t a sports fan. She texted me “Did you hear about Kobe” around 3pm yesterday. Anytime you read/hear a question like that, you think the worst. My mother was talking to me about it. As I walked out of Penn Station this morning, I watched dozens of people of all types take pictures of Kobe’s memorial ad in front of the station in NYC aka the other side of the country from where Kobe made his name. And at work, people who I know don’t give a shit about sports were talking to me about this.
There was a tribute to him by the players and fans at the Pro Bowl. There was Tiger Woods in golf talking about Kobe. There was Kyrgios in tennis paying tribute to Kobe by wearing his #8 jersey before his AO match last night with Nadal. There was Neymar in soccer throwing up the 2-4 after he scored a goal. There was every NBA team taking an initial 24 sec violation in honor of him. There was fucking Obama and Trump commenting and paying respect on Twitter.
The word transcendent gets thrown around a lot. But as sad as it fucking is, we found out how transcendent this man was. Despite all his faults, his imprint will be lasting and never forgotten. Legend.
Reading various news accounts now that more details are coming out - it's very unfortunate that whoever was making the decision chose to proceed with the flight. It was so foggy that the LAPD actually grounded their entire helicopter fleet, and the Kobe copter had to fly under special protocols with the assistance of ground control. Maybe when they took off, they didn't know what they were going to fly into - I'm sure that will come out from the NTSB.
Just unimaginably terrible in any event.
My guess is the pilot thight they could fly low until they got to the hills and thought the fog would of lifted by the time they got there..
When they got there he tried to go up but lost track or where he was and by the time he decided to try and turn back they were surrounded by hills and he got confused on which way was up and which way was down...
For me personally, Thurman is the worst as it relates to
a sports related death. I have cried a few times over the
years, especially the ten year anniversary of his death.
As I have said before, my favorite Yankee player of all time, that will never change!
I read through a lot of this thread and it's surprising the varying opinions on this.
Kobe wasn't a perfect person, nobody is. But, he still did a lot of good in this world and inspired a lot of people, whether he inspired you or not. If we decided not to mourn people with imperfections or who have made poor choices in their life, I don't think we would have anyone left to mourn.
Yup you’re spot on. I was never a huge Kobe fan - didnt dislike him, just didn’t root for him. But I think “larger than life” is an apt description.
I lived in SoCal from 2000-2005, during a big part of the Kobe/Shaq/Jax Lakers era, and the obsession with the Lakers in LA was a whole another level. Laker games, referred to as the “Lake Show” (pretty silly IMO), were an event. Most people I knew out there planned their weeks around watching Laker games during basketball season.
Admittedly, made me hate the Lakers, same way people grew to hate the Yankees, or the Pats of the last 20 years. But also makes me understand the emotions and magnitude of yesterday’s tragedy, and what Kobe meant to so many people. He was a real life superhero to many people.
It would be the equivalent of this happening to Jeter, or Eli, for me as a Yankees/Giants fan. And you’re 100% right, it will always be one of those things where you remember where/how you heard the news.
I also think it’s fair, when contemplating the sum total of his life, to at least reference the Colorado accusation and it’s aftermath. But not on this thread and not yet, IMHO
9 people died tragically, including some kids, that’s the story for now, and it’s an awful one.
Challenger still stands out in my mind vividly. I can replay it all in my mind.
And while I was probably too young to feel real grief over, the Robert Kennedy and MLK assassinations were events I knew were enormous and historical that would impact the country.
And while I was even younger the JFK assassination still stand out in my mind to this day, probably even more than with Robert Kennedy and MLK. I can remember watching the funeral procession and events for what felt like days. Of course there wasn't cable and there weren't too many channels and they all seemed to be covering it. But it was just different than anything else and even though I was young it was our president and I could tell everyone was mourning.
For myself, I would put Kobe dying unexpectedly on par with the same level of shock of JFK JR's plane going down.
I remember Heath Ledger, Michael Jackson, 9/11, Chris Benoit's interesting story and the day Harambe was killed.
Quote:
I lived in SoCal from 2000-2005, during a big part of the Kobe/Shaq/Jax Lakers era, and the obsession with the Lakers in LA was a whole another level. Laker games, referred to as the “Lake Show” (pretty silly IMO), were an event. Most people I knew out there planned their weeks around watching Laker games during basketball season.
2000-2005 were my salad years, loved them. This is when there was a point to watching the NBA.
Reading various news accounts now that more details are coming out - it's very unfortunate that whoever was making the decision chose to proceed with the flight. It was so foggy that the LAPD actually grounded their entire helicopter fleet, and the Kobe copter had to fly under special protocols with the assistance of ground control. Maybe when they took off, they didn't know what they were going to fly into - I'm sure that will come out from the NTSB.
Just unimaginably terrible in any event.
I remember Heath Ledger, Michael Jackson, 9/11, Chris Benoit's interesting story and the day Harambe was killed.
What was the weather like when Harambe was killed?
Reading various news accounts now that more details are coming out - it's very unfortunate that whoever was making the decision chose to proceed with the flight. It was so foggy that the LAPD actually grounded their entire helicopter fleet, and the Kobe copter had to fly under special protocols with the assistance of ground control. Maybe when they took off, they didn't know what they were going to fly into - I'm sure that will come out from the NTSB.
Just unimaginably terrible in any event.
Unfortunate that these deaths probably resulted from poor decision making. They had no business flying that day. Just unnecessary.
That is something.
In terms of global popularity he is Top 3 all time and probably 2nd. His impact in the Asian market is just ridiculous. There’s an argument to be made he’s more popular than Jordan in Asia. And Kobe’s European background and ability to speak multiple languages always made him a popular player among Europeans. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Kobe had more jerseys in South America than any other NBA player.
He was clearly an iconic athlete. But it was hard to understand how vast his imprint went until this tragedy. I learned of this news from my sister who isn’t a sports fan. She texted me “Did you hear about Kobe” around 3pm yesterday. Anytime you read/hear a question like that, you think the worst. My mother was talking to me about it. As I walked out of Penn Station this morning, I watched dozens of people of all types take pictures of Kobe’s memorial ad in front of the station in NYC aka the other side of the country from where Kobe made his name. And at work, people who I know don’t give a shit about sports were talking to me about this.
There was a tribute to him by the players and fans at the Pro Bowl. There was Tiger Woods in golf talking about Kobe. There was Kyrgios in tennis paying tribute to Kobe by wearing his #8 jersey before his AO match last night with Nadal. There was Neymar in soccer throwing up the 2-4 after he scored a goal. There was every NBA team taking an initial 24 sec violation in honor of him. There was fucking Obama and Trump commenting and paying respect on Twitter.
The word transcendent gets thrown around a lot. But as sad as it fucking is, we found out how transcendent this man was. Despite all his faults, his imprint will be lasting and never forgotten. Legend.
Reading various news accounts now that more details are coming out - it's very unfortunate that whoever was making the decision chose to proceed with the flight. It was so foggy that the LAPD actually grounded their entire helicopter fleet, and the Kobe copter had to fly under special protocols with the assistance of ground control. Maybe when they took off, they didn't know what they were going to fly into - I'm sure that will come out from the NTSB.
Just unimaginably terrible in any event.
My guess is the pilot thight they could fly low until they got to the hills and thought the fog would of lifted by the time they got there..
When they got there he tried to go up but lost track or where he was and by the time he decided to try and turn back they were surrounded by hills and he got confused on which way was up and which way was down...
I'm sure they'll do something.