Kobe Bryant
Had a day to think about this.
Horrible tragedy.
Focussing just on Kobe for the minute. He was a hell of basketball player. One of the top 3 modern basketball players. Along with MJ and Lebron. Top 10 all time IMO and some will say top 3 all time. Absolute pro. Mean streaked. Ball hog. Fearless. Champion.
His legacy is set in stone and he was obviously an inspiration to many. I’m not going to dwell too much on the most controversial aspect of his career but I will say this. Second chances are not granted to everyone and sometimes those who do not deserve them, get them. He was, by his own admission someone who perhaps was not worthy of a second chance but he got one. He didn’t waste it. He became a great on the court and started to really blossom as a businessman and positive mentor off it. His production company was making big moves, Dear Basketball won him an Oscar and his Detail series with Daniel Cormier was excellent.
I’m sad because my son came in this morning upset that someone he idolised was gone. I was never a Kobe guy. I loved Jordan and hated the the Lakers. But I know what his impact on the sport was. I know I have made multiple shot attempts at my work bin. Saying “Kobe” as I missed with rolled up pieces of paper. I know he was loved by millions and the grief is mostly real. Tons of attention seeking posts for likes etc. Some classless posts about the controversy. But mostly it’s shock, disbelief and real sadness. I learned to like him in these last few years. He had an old school mentality, the Achilles tear free throws are something Buck Shelford would be proud of. His “soft” gif is a personal favourite to use on group messenger when a mate is being, well, soft.
Watching Lebron on the tarmac today, not knowing he was being filmed and clearly genuinely distraught was hard to watch.
The saddest thing in all of this though is that through his daughters basketball we got to see a softer side to him. Watching him go over game strategies with her court side and seeing him light up when she got it was brilliant. That moment, when your child gets it, is something we all hope to experience. And Ironically it was that thing, that shared love for a silly ball that led to their untimely passing. life is so unfair sometimes.
@raznomore he bloody well better not, that'll kill my treble!!! Hoping they have him on big minutes restrictions and no back to backs
Kobe's career in numbers:
From 1 to 48,655: Kobe Bryant's career in numbers
As Kobe Bryant retires, BBC Sport brings you the stats that show why he will go down as one of basketball's all-time greats.
I'm genuinely upset about this. I don't draw inspiration from many people. He was one. Not just for his basketball ability but more so for his work ethic, mindset, early success outside of basketball and his dedication to his family.
I watched lots of his interviews one thing I remember is him talking about how he would helicopter back and forward to training so he could drop off and pick up his kids!
RIP #manbamentality
@Magpie_in_aus I’m a big Kobe fan and thought his midrange post up game was what made him so dominant (like MJ).
Sad news for all affected.
I was never a lakers fan but always loved his competitive streak. Over the last 12-18 months have watched so many of his interviews etc. Enjoyed his interview with Patrick David Bet
Also his podcast with lewis howes was good.
I watched about 3 hours of ESPN 2 this morning. Some amazing raw stories of all the stuff you never here all the other people he was constantly checking on/keeping in touch with/ giving up time for.
As someone who is chasing their own entrepreneurial dreams and loves basketball, he was someone I looked up to (more off the court/mindset wise)
@raznomore Nice post Raz. Personally, I wasn't his biggest fan, and I wouldn't have him in a top 10, let alone a top 3, but I guess it's not the time for that debate. Certainly nobody can doubt the work ethic or competitiveness of the guy. The FT's you mention were all-time, and he has had some huge moments on the biggest stage.
Just a shitty thing to happen to one of the greats, and a tragedy for his daughter and their surviving family.
Copter carrying Kobe in climb before rapid dive
The helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant that crashed Sunday was in a climbing turn at about 2,400 feet before it turned into a dive, NTSB officials announced Monday.
Sounds like it might have been pilot error and adverse weather conditions....
Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Josh Rubenstein said the department's Air Support Division grounded its helicopters Sunday morning due to foggy conditions and didn't fly until later in the afternoon.
"The weather situation did not meet our minimum standards for flying," Rubenstein said, adding that the fog "was enough that we were not flying."
LAPD's flight minimums are 2 miles of visibility and an 800-foot cloud ceiling, he said. The department typically flies two helicopters when conditions allow, one in the San Fernando Valley and one in the L.A. basin, he said.
@canefan said in NBA season 2019/20:
Sounds like it might have been pilot error and adverse weather conditions....
Were the reports of the "engine sputtering" false? The S76 is a twin so it shouldn't have mattered, but there could have been some other failure that the witnesses heard.
Can only assume the pilot was instrument rated and therefor should have been able to manage flying in fog O.K. unless he had a failure. There will be several contributing factors, there nearly always are. Blaming the pilot is just the usual first reaction, and an easy one one that is often incorrect when the report comes out but nobody is paying attention anymore (unless you are an aviation nerd who reads them). An experienced pilot is unlikely to lose control or fly into a hill, even in zero visibility with radar assistance, ground proximity warning, etc.
4000fpm is extreme descent before impact. It is either an inexplicable loss of control by the pilot, or a mechanical failure. Some other inconsistencies in that report as well - he was below the level at which he could be picked up by radar and yet he was getting guidance from ATC. How?
I can only guess, but a police helicopter isn't much use unless they can see, so that probably isn't a safety issue but a practical one to have those minimums.
I liked Kobe more after his career more than during his career.
He's fucking smart, very articulate, and very passionate. And it made him great to hear speak. And yes, the basketball relationship with is daughter is one of the sweetest things you will ever see.
It's really weird to realise he's gone.
@canefan said in NBA season 2019/20:
@Snowy they say the copter climbed rapidly before plummeting. Stall?
Heli aerodynamics aren't my forte, they have things like translational lift and of course retreating blade stall which fixed wing don't have.
The thing with a retreating blade stall is that they are associated with high speed flight (opposite to fixed wing stall, although it is really about angle of attack, not speed).
A climb and then a rapid descent is indicative, but if so, why was he going so fast in reduced vis conditions? I have crawled over mountains in choppers quite safely. Speed is the enemy in those conditions.
A low rotor RPM blade stall shouldn't happen with a fully functioning machine as I understand it, but helicopters are an oil leak surrounded by metal fatigue (albeit fun to fly).
@mariner4life said in NBA season 2019/20:
Man, some professional punters would have lost big on that one!
The return would have been tiny but there are betting brokers that pick that kind of bet for 'next to nothing' odds on a large sum
@canefan said in NBA season 2019/20:
The helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant that crashed Sunday was in a climbing turn at about 2,400 feet before it turned into a dive, NTSB officials announced Monday.
Sounds like it might have been pilot error and adverse weather conditions....
Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Josh Rubenstein said the department's Air Support Division grounded its helicopters Sunday morning due to foggy conditions and didn't fly until later in the afternoon.
"The weather situation did not meet our minimum standards for flying," Rubenstein said, adding that the fog "was enough that we were not flying."
LAPD's flight minimums are 2 miles of visibility and an 800-foot cloud ceiling, he said. The department typically flies two helicopters when conditions allow, one in the San Fernando Valley and one in the L.A. basin, he said.
On Sunday morning I drove from Beverly Hills to Disney Studios for a meeting and there was light fog as we drove, but up in the hills the fog was quite visible.
Not saying it was the reason, but there would’ve been visibility issues and the recordings between pilot and traffic control indicated that.
@ACT-Crusader said in NBA season 2019/20:
@canefan said in NBA season 2019/20:
The helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant that crashed Sunday was in a climbing turn at about 2,400 feet before it turned into a dive, NTSB officials announced Monday.
Sounds like it might have been pilot error and adverse weather conditions....
Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Josh Rubenstein said the department's Air Support Division grounded its helicopters Sunday morning due to foggy conditions and didn't fly until later in the afternoon.
"The weather situation did not meet our minimum standards for flying," Rubenstein said, adding that the fog "was enough that we were not flying."
LAPD's flight minimums are 2 miles of visibility and an 800-foot cloud ceiling, he said. The department typically flies two helicopters when conditions allow, one in the San Fernando Valley and one in the L.A. basin, he said.
On Sunday morning I drove from Beverly Hills to Disney Studios for a meeting and there was light fog as we drove, but up in the hills the fog was quite visible.
Not saying it was the reason, but there would’ve been visibility issues and the recordings between pilot and traffic control indicated that.
It is also reported that the helicopter was not equipped with a terrain warning system despite it being recommended equipment. A local resident filmed the helicopter making aggressive turns above his house 30 minutes before the crash. All of this is details, unfortunately none of it will bring those poor people back
@ACT-Crusader said in NBA season 2019/20:
@canefan said in NBA season 2019/20:
The helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant that crashed Sunday was in a climbing turn at about 2,400 feet before it turned into a dive, NTSB officials announced Monday.
Sounds like it might have been pilot error and adverse weather conditions....
Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Josh Rubenstein said the department's Air Support Division grounded its helicopters Sunday morning due to foggy conditions and didn't fly until later in the afternoon.
"The weather situation did not meet our minimum standards for flying," Rubenstein said, adding that the fog "was enough that we were not flying."
LAPD's flight minimums are 2 miles of visibility and an 800-foot cloud ceiling, he said. The department typically flies two helicopters when conditions allow, one in the San Fernando Valley and one in the L.A. basin, he said.
On Sunday morning I drove from Beverly Hills to Disney Studios for a meeting and there was light fog as we drove, but up in the hills the fog was quite visible.
Not saying it was the reason, but there would’ve been visibility issues and the recordings between pilot and traffic control indicated that.
Meeting with Disney? Have you got a job on one of the next SW projects???
@canefan said in NBA season 2019/20:
@ACT-Crusader said in NBA season 2019/20:
@canefan said in NBA season 2019/20:
The helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant that crashed Sunday was in a climbing turn at about 2,400 feet before it turned into a dive, NTSB officials announced Monday.
Sounds like it might have been pilot error and adverse weather conditions....
Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Josh Rubenstein said the department's Air Support Division grounded its helicopters Sunday morning due to foggy conditions and didn't fly until later in the afternoon.
"The weather situation did not meet our minimum standards for flying," Rubenstein said, adding that the fog "was enough that we were not flying."
LAPD's flight minimums are 2 miles of visibility and an 800-foot cloud ceiling, he said. The department typically flies two helicopters when conditions allow, one in the San Fernando Valley and one in the L.A. basin, he said.
On Sunday morning I drove from Beverly Hills to Disney Studios for a meeting and there was light fog as we drove, but up in the hills the fog was quite visible.
Not saying it was the reason, but there would’ve been visibility issues and the recordings between pilot and traffic control indicated that.
Meeting with Disney? Have you got a job on one of the next SW projects???
Yeah, I think we need a follow up to this!
@Nepia said in NBA season 2019/20:
@canefan said in NBA season 2019/20:
@ACT-Crusader said in NBA season 2019/20:
@canefan said in NBA season 2019/20:
The helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant that crashed Sunday was in a climbing turn at about 2,400 feet before it turned into a dive, NTSB officials announced Monday.
Sounds like it might have been pilot error and adverse weather conditions....
Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Josh Rubenstein said the department's Air Support Division grounded its helicopters Sunday morning due to foggy conditions and didn't fly until later in the afternoon.
"The weather situation did not meet our minimum standards for flying," Rubenstein said, adding that the fog "was enough that we were not flying."
LAPD's flight minimums are 2 miles of visibility and an 800-foot cloud ceiling, he said. The department typically flies two helicopters when conditions allow, one in the San Fernando Valley and one in the L.A. basin, he said.
On Sunday morning I drove from Beverly Hills to Disney Studios for a meeting and there was light fog as we drove, but up in the hills the fog was quite visible.
Not saying it was the reason, but there would’ve been visibility issues and the recordings between pilot and traffic control indicated that.
Meeting with Disney? Have you got a job on one of the next SW projects???
Yeah, I think we need a follow up to this!
it was a MASSIVE humblebrag
@mariner4life said in NBA season 2019/20:
@Nepia said in NBA season 2019/20:
@canefan said in NBA season 2019/20:
@ACT-Crusader said in NBA season 2019/20:
@canefan said in NBA season 2019/20:
The helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant that crashed Sunday was in a climbing turn at about 2,400 feet before it turned into a dive, NTSB officials announced Monday.
Sounds like it might have been pilot error and adverse weather conditions....
Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Josh Rubenstein said the department's Air Support Division grounded its helicopters Sunday morning due to foggy conditions and didn't fly until later in the afternoon.
"The weather situation did not meet our minimum standards for flying," Rubenstein said, adding that the fog "was enough that we were not flying."
LAPD's flight minimums are 2 miles of visibility and an 800-foot cloud ceiling, he said. The department typically flies two helicopters when conditions allow, one in the San Fernando Valley and one in the L.A. basin, he said.
On Sunday morning I drove from Beverly Hills to Disney Studios for a meeting and there was light fog as we drove, but up in the hills the fog was quite visible.
Not saying it was the reason, but there would’ve been visibility issues and the recordings between pilot and traffic control indicated that.
Meeting with Disney? Have you got a job on one of the next SW projects???
Yeah, I think we need a follow up to this!
it was a MASSIVE humblebrag
It’s all about context my young Padawans...
@raznomore said in NBA season 2019/20:
Lillard is playing like a man possessed. He's one of my favourite players but he can fuck off with playoff run type form. He's coming for OKC again.
he was huge against the Lakers on the weekend. maybe should have let them win though...
who had the hot take about Zion? he has started his career averaging 20 points.
@mariner4life said in NBA season 2019/20:
@raznomore said in NBA season 2019/20:
Lillard is playing like a man possessed. He's one of my favourite players but he can fuck off with playoff run type form. He's coming for OKC again.
he was huge against the Lakers on the weekend. maybe should have let them win though...
who had the hot take about Zion? he has started his career averaging 20 points
I’ll take the credit for that one ?. Yesterday’s game probably showed the best of what he will be capable of in today’s NBA. If opposition teams throw bigger guys at him, he will be too quick and athletic. If they try and throw a small quicker guy, he will overpower them.
He still needs to get game fit, but is building nicely and the Pelicans system is the right fit (so far).
@ACT-Crusader i was more calling out @raznomore but if you want to sign on as well...
Big trade news seems to be the Rockets are trying to get even smaller and trade out Capela.
@mariner4life I said I thought if he was slow going, with the injury etc he'd be traded but that kid is amazing.
His mid-air hand change on the alley-oop at the weekend was just silly. But the stat about his conversion is crazy. He makes 70% of his shots and if he misses he almost certainly gets the follow-up rebound.
@raznomore said in NBA season 2019/20:
@mariner4life I said I thought if he was slow going, with the injury etc he'd be traded but that kid is amazing.
His mid-air hand change on the alley-oop at the weekend was just silly. But the stat about his conversion is crazy. He makes 70% of his shots and if he misses he almost certainly gets the follow-up rebound.
I love Zion’s game. He reminds me of a bigger more athletic in his prime Larry Johnson. LJ was a beast particularly when he was at the Hornets.
@ACT-Crusader said in NBA season 2019/20:
@raznomore said in NBA season 2019/20:
@mariner4life I said I thought if he was slow going, with the injury etc he'd be traded but that kid is amazing.
His mid-air hand change on the alley-oop at the weekend was just silly. But the stat about his conversion is crazy. He makes 70% of his shots and if he misses he almost certainly gets the follow-up rebound.
I love Zion’s game. He reminds me of a bigger more athletic in his prime Larry Johnson. LJ was a beast particularly when he was at the Hornets.
Mixed with the explosiveness of a young Charles Barkley. He's a physical freak
@ACT-Crusader I can see that comparison. I thought he was a smaller bulkier Shawn Kemp. When I say bulkier I’m talking about Shawn Kemp in his prime not at the end when he resembled Oliver Miller.
@ACT-Crusader I cringe though everytime Lonzo throws the lob......very productive for them but man that increases Zions (re) injury chances 10 fold! I just hope he doesn't just keep throwing them up willy nilly.
What is also amazing is his soft hands around the rim with the put backs and layups.
@Nogusta said in NBA season 2019/20:
@ACT-Crusader I cringe though everytime Lonzo throws the lob......very productive for them but man that increases Zions (re) injury chances 10 fold! I just hope he doesn't just keep throwing them up willy nilly.
What is also amazing is his soft hands around the rim with the put backs and layups.
Agree. And given Zions determination and how hard he goes to the basket etc, it is like watching for an injury to happen.
The Shawn Kemp comparison isn’t a bad one. Kemp was one of if not the quickest big guy in the NBA during that Sonics time.
One of my top 5 in game dunkers.
@ACT-Crusader the 2 hand double pump reverse dunk in the lane is one of the all time dunks. As was that 1 hand tomahawk windmill he threw down on the break over Lister
But Kemp never averaged more than 20ppg and wasn't a creator in any way. Zion is an infinitely better basketball player than Kemp ever was.
@voodoo said in NBA season 2019/20:
@ACT-Crusader the 2 hand double pump reverse dunk in the lane is one of the all time dunks. As was that 1 hand tomahawk windmill he threw down on the break over Lister
But Kemp never averaged more than 20ppg and wasn't a creator in any way. Zion is an infinitely better basketball player than Kemp ever was.
Kemp was in a damn good Seattle side and when you’re only getting 12-13 shots a game, you’re not going to average more than 20ppg. GP, Schrempf, Ellis, Eddie Johnson, all got their shots. And that was in a time when teams weren’t putting up the sort of field goal attempts we see today.
I agree the all round game of Zion is better, but the way both attack the rim and the soft hands and finesse for big guys is something both have and at a high level.
Kemp wasn’t shooting 3s in high school or at college (like Zion) and probably was never coached to or had that freedom that has been a feature of the bball landscape over the last 5-10 years at all levels.