RIP Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles: rich, severance, celebrities)

[cricket_factor]

Right down the freeway here. Sad day.

[Californiaguy2007]

When I heard of the helicopter crash earlier today,I never knew that Kobe and his daughter were on there until later on.

It's so sad...May they all rest in peace.

[kemahkami]

Such a household name, seemingly immortal. And yet extinguished, just like that.

Peace be with the Legend, his daughter, his family, and the rest on-board that flight.

[CA4Now]

He was named after premium Japanese beef. He spent most of his childhood in Italy. He was a high school basketball legend in Philadelphia.

And he was all Los Angeles.

Kobe Bryant came here a 17-year-old boy, still not a legal adult when he was acquired by the Lakers on draft day in 1996. In a two-decade career played entirely in this city, he scaled the greatest of athletic heights and was tarnished by the worst of personal scandals. He was beloved, reviled and, in the end, revered. He became a father here, retired here, continued to live here and started businesses here.

Los Angeles watched him grow up. Los Angeles watched him stumble. And Los Angeles watched him get back up.

No athlete represented Los Angeles quite like Kobe Bryant:
https://www.latimes.com/sports/laker...eviled-revered

[Mr_Geek]

RIP Mamba. This is so surreal. One of the saddest days in LA.

[Joakim3]

Originally Posted by V8 Vega

Man the TV is overdoing it. every channel, you'd think the president died. Uninterrupted coverage. Enough.

Kobe is one of, if not the biggest American sports icon of the 21st century.... he's a household name across the entire nation. So yeah when him, his daughter and 7 other people die in a helicopter crash out the blue... it's going to hit chords with a lot of people.

So yes, there are public figures that once they reach a certain level of fame/reputation/legacy that they are absolutely in the same tier of cultural influence/impact as a US president.

[SnobbishDude]

Kobe‘s death reminded me exactly of MJ’s death in 2009.

Kobe is not only an icon of the LA Lakers but he is also an icon of the city of Los Angeles and an icon of the United States of America. For a person with such athleticism, perseverance and personality, this is a reality that is too hard to accept. Honestly, until now I still can’t believe everything that has just happened today.

[Spikett]

Originally Posted by Joakim3

Kobe is one of, if not the biggest American sports icon of the 21st century.... he's a household name across the entire nation. So yeah when him, his daughter and 7 other people die in a helicopter crash out the blue... it's going to hit chords with a lot of people.

So yes, there are public figures that once they reach a certain level of fame/reputation/legacy that they are absolutely in the same tier of cultural influence/impact as a US president.

Especially if you are an Angeleno who watched those games, watched him lead us to those chamionships. He was our hero and we loved him. It's a gut punch - staggering loss. I'm in shock.

[Spikett]

From KNBC:
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/s...geles/2298508/

Kobe was LA.

[Astral_Weeks]

A very moving interview with Jerry West on the loss of Kobe. West was instrumental in bringing Kobe to the Lakers.

You can just tell how wrecked Jerry West is about this...comparing this to the day when he lost his brother in the Korean War.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX71t7jKIH0