Dear Commons Community,
NBA great Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, earlier today. His 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, was also on board and was killed. Bryant was 41.
Bryant was a special ballplayer who played both offense and defense very hard and with great energy. He played his entire 20-year career for the Los Angeles Lakers and won five NBA championships prior to retiring in 2016. He was named Finals MVP twice and league MVP in 2008. Yesterday, LeBron James passed Bryant for third place on the all-time NBA scoring list.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded to reports of a helicopter that crashed into a hillside and caught fire, NBC Los Angeles reported. The crash was called in at 9:47 a.m. local time, per the report, and flames that spread a quarter acre were put out by 10:30. The fire department reported no survivors.
The helicopter, a Sikorsky S-76, crashed under unknown circumstances according to the Federal Aviation Administration. An investigation is ongoing. CNN’s transportation expert said the flight data shows the helicopter tightly circling downtown Los Angeles before heading out to Calabasas.
There have been many tributes for Bryant. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti might have summed up his contributions best.
“Kobe Bryant was a giant who inspired, amazed, and thrilled people everywhere with his incomparable skill on the court — and awed us with his intellect and humility as a father, husband, creative genius, and ambassador for the game he loved. He will live forever in the heart of Los Angeles, and will be remembered through the ages as one of our greatest heroes. This is a moment that leaves us struggling to find words that express the magnitude of shock and sorrow we are all feeling right now, and I am keeping Kobe’s entire family in my prayers at this time of unimaginable grief.” — Mayor Eric Garcetti
May he rest in peace!
Tony
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