Kobe Bryant among 9 dead in helicopter crash

So much speculation and make-believe interspersed with comments about why the press/media rushes to report before facts are known. Hmmmm... It would seem to be ‘catching.’

The helicopter was a Sikorsky S-76B and could carry 13 passengers.  It was a large helicopter.  It's used sometimes to fly crew to/from some of the oil rigs.   I suspect the finding will be a combination of weather issues and pilot error.   

Very sad day for the families of all the victims who are left behind to deal with this tragedy.  

What is that??

I think it is horrible that the families of 9 people found out that their loved ones were dead from TMZ.

in the race to be first, the human element is often ignored.

We may not have known who else was on the helicopter, but you know family members of the dead knew their family was with Kobe. My hearts go out to all of them.

I listened to a phone interview this morning with the surviving husband of one of the passengers. They asked how he was feeling and he said he was scared because he has no idea how to face the future with three small children at home with no mommy.

My heart breaks for all the families suffering from this tragedy.

I was not really a fan of his.. I'm just not into basketball that much and when the allegations came out it was huge news because the incident was in Colorado, where I live, so it was on the news ALL the time... I didn't like him from that incident but I didn't think much about it other than if I heard news about him, I usually tuned it out. He was very talented. I feel for his wife/kids/family and all the other families that are involved. No one deserves this kind of pain. Prayers for all involved.

😭 so heartbreaking

Most of the new stories today are focusing on why the helicopter was even flying given the poor visibility. Even LAPD grounded all their birds yesterday morning. Such a tragic mistake.

But the moment I tell someone their forefathers and ancestors weren’t shit and probably raped and/or lynched mine, I’m not patriotic. If that same energy could be maintained when talking about this man.

I'm sorry if someone shared this already. I just saw it on FB and agree completely.

Aly Wane
17 hrs
I think Kobe Bryant meant a lot to many of us Black folks, for complicated reasons.

I also believe he got away with rape.

I also think he was a great dad.

I also think he was one of the greatest players to play the game.

I also think his promotion of Women's Basketball and the WNBA was admirable and forward-thinking.

I also loved his aerial artistry.

I also know that sexual assault survivors will be triggered and traumatized by this public lionization.

I also know that even though I resented his seeming selfishness and political apathy in his early years, he grew into a type of maturity in his personal life and in his philanthropic endeavors that surprised me in a positive way. As he grew older, he grew bolder in his political visibility in ways that I appreciated (seeing him rock the "I can't breathe" T-Shirt to commemorate Eric Garner's assassination by the police heartened me).

I also don't think that this erases the deep trauma he caused.

I also believe in healing, growth and redemption.

I also cried when I heard he died, because feelings are not political agendas and many of these celebrities are intertwined in our memories in ways that bypass our frontal cortex (I'm looking at you Michael Jackson). I remember "where i was when Kobe, the athlete did [insert great athletic achievement]."

I also know that the ability to compartmentalize is a luxury of the privileged, and as someone who has not been sexually abused I have privilege.

I also know that his child died with him and that she deserved a longer life.

I also mourn for his family.

I also hold his survivor and other sexual assault survivors in the Light tonight.

I also know that the Basketball fan in me will miss him.

This is hard to process.

Please be gentle, as best you can.

And if this reflection hurts or offends, I also believe that as an imperfect human being (like all of us), I will hurt and harm people I love.

Because such is life.

And life is very, very short.

Surely the other families would also then know if they confirmed that Kobe's had died in the crash. They would know that their family was also on the same helicopter, whatever the media reported. So yes, they did indirectly find out through TMZ or any other media that reported it.

An awful tragedy, so very sad for the families affected.

flanz that was so good. TFS