BREAKING: Former NBA star Kobe Bryant dead at 41 in a helicopter crash.

[Applewood]

   I wont shed a tear.  He was a pervert who abused Women.

The only story I remember about him was an allegation of rape by some young girl.  But if I remember right, criminal charges were dropped in favor of a civil suit by the alleged victim which was settled.  If I'm right, I guess we will never know whether their encounter was rape -- he claimed it was consensual and the girl I think was over the age of consent; so there was no statutory rape. 

Were there any other allegations of his misconduct with women?  Honestly, not being a basketball fan, I admit I didn't follow Bryant's life and career all that closely.

[DB]

The only story I remember about him was an allegation of rape by some young girl.  But if I remember right, criminal charges were dropped in favor of a civil suit by the alleged victim which was settled.  If I'm right, I guess we will never know whether their encounter was rape -- he claimed it was consensual and the girl I think was over the age of consent; so there was no statutory rape. 

Were there any other allegations of his misconduct with women?  Honestly, not being a basketball fan, I admit I didn't follow Bryant's life and career all that closely.

She was 19, he was around 24.

[Applewood]

She was 19, he was around 24.

Thanks @DB  Was he married at the time?  If so, I'm sure his wife wasn't too pleased.

[DB]

Thanks @DB  Was he married at the time?  If so, I'm sure his wife wasn't too pleased.

It looks like he was married.

[goatprairie]

A number of years ago, a Ref threw out 3 of the 5 starters for the Phoenix Suns playoff team, before the last and final game of the series with the Spurs on a technical foul when the Spurs threw Nash, the center, over the scoring table.  The Suns lost the game without its starters. 

After the season, it came to light the Ref accepted a large bribe from the owner of the Spurs.  The next season, in the first game of the Phoenix Suns, that Ref was officiating.  He didn't even get fined.

I'd post a link, but it was too many years ago to get a Google search to turn up results in the five minutes I was willing to spend doing the job for you.  Sorry.

Yeah, I know the story. One crooked ref. So then all refs are crooked, huh?
Baloney.

[mountaineer]

Thanks @DB  Was he married at the time?  If so, I'm sure his wife wasn't too pleased.

He was married, and reportedly bought his wife a very, very expensive ring as part of his apology. They seem to have resolved their marital problems.

[Smokin Joe]

She was 19, he was around 24.

Nineteen is considered "of age" and can consent. It may be robbing the cradle, but it isn't perversion. As for infidelity, it appears he and his wife worked through that.

Not mine to judge, that's between them and The Almighty.

[AllThatJazzZ]

Traveling like a VIP does come with risks. In this case it would've been far better to be one of the untermensch stuck on the 405.

Wouldn't it be so nice if we could see into the future regarding such things? That way, we could always make the right choices.

[EasyAce]

Traveling like a VIP does come with risks. In this case it would've been far better to be one of the untermensch stuck on the 405.

@skeeter

When I lived in southern California (Huntington Beach), I was one of the untermensch stuck on the Fraud-05. The only time that freeway wasn't jammed was at three in the morning and even then. If I could have had access to a helicopter to go to work I'd have taken it, too. I can't blame Kobe Bryant for taking that option, but it doesn't make his death any less a tragedy knowing that you never know when your transportation will betray you---on the ground or in the air.

[AllThatJazzZ]

For those who "won't shed a tear," does that include no tears for the 13-year-old daughter or the other passengers who were killed? Just curious.

(How often I witnessed decorum cast aside on DU after one of their "enemies" passed. Back then I thought such responses were limited to leftists.)

[EasyAce]

For those who "won't shed a tear," does that include no tears for the 13-year-old daughter or the other passengers who were killed? Just curious.

@AllThatJazzZ

Also dead in the helicopter crash: John Altobelli, longtime Orange Coast College baseball coach (four state titles, 700+ wins) and later a manager in the Cape Cod League, where his players included future Yankee star Aaron Judge and future Mets star Jeff McNeil. Altobelli and Bryant became friends after their daughters met and became friends.

RIP.

[AllThatJazzZ]

@skeeter

When I lived in southern California (Huntington Beach), I was one of the untermensch stuck on the Fraud-05. The only time that freeway wasn't jammed was at three in the morning and even then. If I could have had access to a helicopter to go to work I'd have taken it, too. I can't blame Kobe Bryant for taking that option, but it doesn't make his death any less a tragedy knowing that you never know when your transportation will betray you---on the ground or in the air.

 

When I lived there, the 405 was called the San Diego Freeway. None of the freeways were called by numbers back then. Now it seems they all are.

Incidentally, I went back for a visit a couple of years ago and got to experience the 405 up close and personal. I'd seen it on TV, so I wasn't actually surprised, but it did give me a deep longing for the "olden days" of the early 70s.

[Smokin Joe]

@AllThatJazzZ

Also dead in the helicopter crash: John Altobelli, longtime Orange Coast College baseball coach (four state titles, 700+ wins) and later a manager in the Cape Cod League, where his players included future Yankee star Aaron Judge and future Mets star Jeff McNeil. Altobelli and Bryant became friends after their daughters met and became friends.

RIP.

IIRC, the coach's daughter was along, too.

I don't care who you are, what your politics are, this is a sad day for the families and friends of all these people, and offer my prayers for them in their time of grief.

[Gefn]

IIRC, the coach's daughter was along, too.

I don't care who you are, what your politics are, this is a sad day for the families and friends of all these people, and offer my prayers for them in their time of grief.

 

[roamer_1]

IIRC, the coach's daughter was along, too.

I don't care who you are, what your politics are, this is a sad day for the families and friends of all these people, and offer my prayers for them in their time of grief.

That's right... Though other than recognizing the name... something. something, basketball... I really don't know anything about this guy 

[musiclady]

IIRC, the coach's daughter was along, too.

I don't care who you are, what your politics are, this is a sad day for the families and friends of all these people, and offer my prayers for them in their time of grief.

Amen!

[catfish1957]

For those who "won't shed a tear," does that include no tears for the 13-year-old daughter or the other passengers who were killed? Just curious.

(How often I witnessed decorum cast aside on DU after one of their "enemies" passed. Back then I thought such responses were limited to leftists.)

@AllThatJazzZ

What the hell are you talking about?  I haven't seen any du level of celebration here of Kobe Bryant's death.  Just because some of us would rather treat the death of a woman abuser and probable rapist (accused and out of court settlement) with indifference, is well within acceptable social guidelines.  If you want to celebrate the life of a person like that....  Then that is your business.  And BTW, I do feel for the other victims.

[jmyrlefuller]

It looks like he was married.

He was. I remember the story well.

K.F. (though I know her name, I'm not going to go Tom Leykis on her) had sex with Kobe in a Colorado hotel. He was married with a one-year-old child at home. He claimed it was consensual. K.F. says it was rape. The media covered everything about K.F. except her name at the time, and this was before the era of MeToo. That is also the source of Kobe's nickname, the Mamba.

Kobe was a Hollywood creation. It's perfectly fine to acknowledge the accidental death of nine people, including innocent children, as a tragedy while noting the Day of Mourning that seems to be sweeping the media is a gross overreaction. Kobe was no saint. For many of us, he wasn't even a cultural icon.

I couldn't watch the Pro Bowl yesterday because ESPN was acting like JFK had just been shot.

[catfish1957]

He was. I remember the story well.

K.F. (though I know her name, I'm not going to go Tom Leykis on her) had sex with Kobe in a Colorado hotel. He was married with a one-year-old child at home. He claimed it was consensual. K.F. says it was rape. The media covered everything about K.F. except her name at the time, and this was before the era of MeToo. That is also the source of Kobe's nickname, the Mamba.

Kobe was a Hollywood creation. It's perfectly fine to acknowledge the accidental death of nine people, including innocent children, as a tragedy while noting the Day of Mourning that seems to be sweeping the media is a gross overreaction. Kobe was no saint. For many of us, he wasn't even a cultural icon.

I couldn't watch the Pro Bowl yesterday because ESPN was acting like JFK had just been shot.

The "MeToo" faction sure has gone quiet on this one, haven't they?

[skeeter]

@skeeter

When I lived in southern California (Huntington Beach), I was one of the untermensch stuck on the Fraud-05. The only time that freeway wasn't jammed was at three in the morning and even then. If I could have had access to a helicopter to go to work I'd have taken it, too. I can't blame Kobe Bryant for taking that option, but it doesn't make his death any less a tragedy knowing that you never know when your transportation will betray you---on the ground or in the air.

True, there're tragedies on CA freeways every day.

[mountaineer]

A celebrity's death has absolutely no impact on our lives unless we were family or close personal friends, but people still seem to want to believe they were directly affected. As a human being, I feel empathy for the families of all of the dead whenever something like this happens (including, but not limited to Kobe) - how awful to have someone taken away so suddenly and unexpectedly!

Needless to say, the nitwit former president wants everyone to know it's all about him, as usual.

Barack Obama Grieves Friend & 'Legend' Kobe Bryant After He Dies in Helicopter Crash with His Daughter
Adam Carlson
15 hrs ago
People Magazine via MSN News

Former President Barack Obama joined so many others this week in grief and shock over the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who was killed early Sunday along with his daughter Gianna in a helicopter crash in the Los Angeles area.  ...

His friendship with Bryant dates back years. Bryant visited Obama (a noted basketball fan) repeatedly in the White House, including in 2015 as he prepared to retire from the L.A. Lakers.

“He and Obama talked at length about the end of the current chapters in their lives,” according to Politico. ...

[mystery-ak]

Girls’ basketball coach Christina Mauser IDed as victim in Kobe Bryant crash
https://nypost.com/2020/01/26/girls-basketball-coach-christina-mauser-ided-as-victim-in-kobe-bryant-crash/

[Applewood]

He was. I remember the story well.

K.F. (though I know her name, I'm not going to go Tom Leykis on her) had sex with Kobe in a Colorado hotel. He was married with a one-year-old child at home. He claimed it was consensual. K.F. says it was rape. The media covered everything about K.F. except her name at the time, and this was before the era of MeToo. That is also the source of Kobe's nickname, the Mamba.

Kobe was a Hollywood creation. It's perfectly fine to acknowledge the accidental death of nine people, including innocent children, as a tragedy while noting the Day of Mourning that seems to be sweeping the media is a gross overreaction. Kobe was no saint. For many of us, he wasn't even a cultural icon.

I couldn't watch the Pro Bowl yesterday because ESPN was acting like JFK had just been shot.

I'm not objecting to those who are not wailing and gnashing their teeth over Bryant's passing.  What I do object to are accusations that paint this guy as a serial rapist.  As far as I know, there was just this was one incident, which may or may not have been consensual -- the matter was settled and both Bryant and the woman in question went on with their lives.  No, Bryant wasn't a saint, but then again, none of us are.  We all do stupid things.  Bryant was a stupid young man who did a stupid thing.  But unlike so many other celebrities,  it appears he learned his lesson and in the nearly 20 years since the incident he has become an older and wiser fellow and a better husband and father.  He had a good career in sports and he parlayed his fame and fortune into philanthropy for a number of endeavors.  I'd like to think that he would be remembered for all those other good things, rather than one really stupid incident.

By the way, I do agree with your complaint that the media coverage of this tragedy is way over the top.  I just pulled up a morning newsfeed on my computer -- six separate stories on this tragedy.  And few of them mention the other people who perished.  I guess their lives weren't as important as Bryant's.  GRRRRRR!

[mystery-ak]

Washington Post journalist is suspended after tweeting a link to a 2016 story about Kobe Bryant's rape case just hours after he died in helicopter crash
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7932771/Journalist-suspended-tweeting-link-story-Kobe-Bryants-rape-case-2003.html

[Lando Lincoln]

Needless to say, the nitwit former president wants everyone to know it's all about him, as usual.

Your comment made me wonder... how'd Kobe get along with Hillary? (Bad joke)