Kobe Bryant dead in helicopter crash

[Bazza]

I know there are people here older than I am (I'm 22) so I know there has been a lot of high profile sports deaths before my time. This is especially hard for me because Kobe was like my Michael Jordan, I grew up with him being one of the best players in the world and I was in middle school when he won his last title, I was 19 when he played his last game.

Also, to those that think that the league is doing too much in terms of reaction like cancelling games and retiring his jersey. Y'all gotta understand the impact that Kobe had on the game, nearly every active player in the league right now either played with Kobe, played against Kobe, or was inspired by Kobe. The Lakers are taking it hard because they operate like a family business, every former player is like family and they're close to the organization, even Jerry West who's with the Clippers now feels like he's lost a son. LeBron looked up to Kobe and he said just wanted to make Kobe proud, Jordan said that he felt like he lost a little brother. People were also close to his daughter as well and she was going to be a beast on the court just like her father.

This was just so unexpected and tragic and shouldn't have happened. Another thing that makes this tragic is that before Kobe died, NBA was the only league where all of the players that people considered the GOAT were still living. I know how some feel about the reaction to his death but people respond to sudden death quickly and he still had an impact on the game, impact on sports really, even after retirement.

RIP Kobe and Gigi Bryant and 7 other great people that lost their lives.

Solid post @RammerJammer15 - thanks!

 

[Bamabuzzard]

One thing that needs to be considered is we don't get to determine what a person means to another person, regardless of degrees of separation. Personally, I've never understood how a fan of a sports figure, movie star, entertainer etc. can emotionally connect with someone who has zero clue they even exist. But, they do. There were people who never saw Elvis except on tv and heard him through radio speakers wailing in grief when he died. The same for Coach Bryant. So it is a real thing. Again, I'll never understand it. But it does happen.

 

[DogPatch]

That’s fine and well but to try and trivialize someone’s life as being just a dude that played basketball is super disrespectful and... Typical

Evidently not (fine and well).

 

[The Ols]

Evidently not (fine and well).

Better times to quibble...

 

[Jay Hughes]

I can walk into a funeral of someone I don’t know and my emotions would lead someone to believe that I was close to the deceased. It is called compassion. Some have it and some don’t. I just happen to have an abundance of it.
My heart goes out to all families affected by death. I’m looking forward to that “last enemy” to be destroyed. RIP

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I can walk into a funeral of someone I don’t know and my emotions would lead someone to believe that I was close to the deceased. It is called compassion. Some have it and some don’t. I just happen to have an abundance of it.
My heart goes out to all families affected by death. I’m looking forward to that “last enemy” to be destroyed. RIP

I'd be careful not to base how you're biologically "wired" and your reactions to life's events as the measuring stick for everyone else. You'd make some very wrong judgments.

 

[Jay Hughes]

No judgements, just facts. Sorry you misinterpreted my post. I personally wish I wasn’t so emotional sometimes. It truly sucks.

 

[Jay Hughes]

I'd be careful not to base how you're biologically "wired" and your reactions to life's events as the measuring stick for everyone else. You'd make some very wrong judgments.

Definitely agree! That is why I state facts and try not to make assumptions concerning others. Otherwise, I could make a judgement, as you have just made with me, when I know nothing about the person in question.

I will give you the benefit of the doubt, because I am sure you were only trying to help me become a better member of society and of this forum to which I am grateful for.

 

[Padreruf]

One thing that needs to be considered is we don't get to determine what a person means to another person, regardless of degrees of separation. Personally, I've never understood how a fan of a sports figure, movie star, entertainer etc. can emotionally connect with someone who has zero clue they even exist. But, they do. There were people who never saw Elvis except on tv and heard him through radio speakers wailing in grief when he died. The same for Coach Bryant. So it is a real thing. Again, I'll never understand it. But it does happen.

It's called "transference" -- and happens all the time. I've had to bite my tongue more than once when a usually absent or distant family member was the loudest expressing their grief. Also, the more educated we are, the more we tend to hide our emotions, particularly our grief. That's not particularly healthy...

 

[DzynKingRTR]

It has gotten to the point of ridiculous now. There is a petition to get the NBA logo changed to feature Kobe. It currently has more than 2 million signatures.

What happens when Jordan dies or Bird or Johnson? or even LeBron James? What if they die tragically? Do we change it again?

For those that do not know the current logo is modeled after Jerry West, doing the most basic thing a basketball player does. It is a silhouette of a player dribbling a basketball.

 

[The Ols]

Definitely agree! That is why I state facts and try not to make assumptions concerning others. Otherwise, I could make a judgement, as you have just made with me, when I know nothing about the person in question.

I will give you the benefit of the doubt, because I am sure you were only trying to help me become a better member of society and of this forum to which I am grateful for.

Passive aggressive much...judges? 🤷‍♂️ ⚖

 

[NationalTitles18]

This thread is going to get back on track or be closed.

 

[bamagradinATL]

It has gotten to the point of ridiculous now. There is a petition to get the NBA logo changed to feature Kobe. It currently has more than 2 million signatures.

What happens when Jordan dies or Bird or Johnson? or even LeBron James? What if they die tragically? Do we change it again?

For those that do not know the current logo is modeled after Jerry West, doing the most basic thing a basketball player does. It is a silhouette of a player dribbling a basketball.

I wouldn't call it ridiculous, especially with Jerry West's comments about it 3 years ago.

Jerry West wishes the NBA would change its logo

Jerry West, whose silhouette is the basis for the NBA’s iconic logo, wishes the NBA would change to a new logo.

www.si.com

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

I like the idea of Kobe as the logo. He's not the GOAT but in some ways he is just as big or bigger than an MJ or LBJ.

Also, almost everyone in my generation grew up saying "Kobe" every time we threw away trash or just threw anything basically lol.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

IMO, if the NBA is looking to change the logo there's not another more recognizable silhouette than Michael Jordan's. The one that is recognized on a global level is the "Jumpman" logo. But it is owned by Nike.

 

[DawgByte]

I know there are people here older than I am (I'm 22) so I know there has been a lot of high profile sports deaths before my time. This is especially hard for me because Kobe was like my Michael Jordan, I grew up with him being one of the best players in the world and I was in middle school when he won his last title, I was 19 when he played his last game.

Also, to those that think that the league is doing too much in terms of reaction like cancelling games and retiring his jersey. Y'all gotta understand the impact that Kobe had on the game, nearly every active player in the league right now either played with Kobe, played against Kobe, or was inspired by Kobe. The Lakers are taking it hard because they operate like a family business, every former player is like family and they're close to the organization, even Jerry West who's with the Clippers now feels like he's lost a son. LeBron looked up to Kobe and he said just wanted to make Kobe proud, Jordan said that he felt like he lost a little brother. People were also close to his daughter as well and she was going to be a beast on the court just like her father.

This was just so unexpected and tragic and shouldn't have happened. Another thing that makes this tragic is that before Kobe died, NBA was the only league where all of the players that people considered the GOAT were still living. I know how some feel about the reaction to his death but people respond to sudden death quickly and he still had an impact on the game, impact on sports really, even after retirement.

RIP Kobe and Gigi Bryant and 7 other great people that lost their lives.

Great post young man, well said!!!

Long before I was a Georgia Bulldog I grew up being a Laker fan. I was born in Burbank CA and my Dad introduced me to the Lakers by listening to Chick Hearn call games over the radio. My sports hero growing up was Wilt Chamberlain, who was larger than life. It was a thrill to see Wilt and Jerry play at the Fabulous Forum. Bleeding Purple & Gold I passed the torch to my son, who grew up during the Kobe era. Kobe was my son's hero and has many of the traits exhibited by Bryant, including tenacity, drive, work ethic and a positive outlook on life. The news of Kobe's death was like a gut punch to both of us, because we share that bond of seeing him play so many times together.

In summary RammerJammer15 I both understand and relate to your sentiments. RIP #8/24!

 

[DzynKingRTR]

IMO, if the NBA is looking to change the logo there's not another more recognizable silhouette than Michael Jordan's. The one that is recognized on a global level is the "Jumpman" logo. But it is owned by Nike.

The logo should be generic and not modeled after one guy. The NBA is more than just one guy.

 

[CoachJeff]

IMO, if the NBA is looking to change the logo there's not another more recognizable silhouette than Michael Jordan's. The one that is recognized on a global level is the "Jumpman" logo. But it is owned by Nike.

And Nike stole that logo from a photographer (insofar as you can "steal" such things).

 

[Jay Hughes]

The logo should be generic and not modeled after one guy. The NBA is more than just one guy.

Until I read this here, I wouldn’t have known that the Logo was a silhouette of Jerry West. I agree that this is a knee jerk reaction and probably overblown.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

Until I read this here, I wouldn’t have known that the Logo was a silhouette of Jerry West. I agree that this is a knee jerk reaction and probably overblown.

Did you know the baseball logo is Harmon Killebrew?