Tag: Gianna Bryant

In heavy fog and with no radio …

In heavy fog and with no radio connection to the controller, likely blocked by the mountains in low altitude, the helicopter crashed into a hillside in Calabasas, California. “This was totally avoidable, and on the part of some people I can go as far as to say irresponsible,’’ said Robert Ditchey, a longtime airplane pilot, aeronautical engineer and former airline executive who lives in Los Angeles. “Here’s one of the most important people in the world who comes to a tragic end like this and you say, ‘Why? What the hell happened?’

“They’re in the fog, and you’re down …

“They’re in the fog, and you’re down hugging the ground trying to fly up the highway and barely able to see it,’’ Ditchey said. “He’s down only 100 feet or so above the ground. In that area of the San Fernando Valley you have mountains on either side of you … and the clouds have obscured them, and you don’t have that much room to maneuver.’’ Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said the precise conditions when the crash occurred are still under investigation, but he acknowledged there was “an issue with visibility and a low ceiling’’ on Sunday.

Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka …

Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike, the 2016 MVP and WNBA champion, said Gigi was “symbolic of his legacy, and also the future of women’s basketball.” Gigi had become a big fan of 11-time national champion UConn, and she went to Huskies games with her father, including UConn’s senior day in 2019 for Samuelson and Napheesa Collier. Samuelson said Bryant sent her a text after that game. “He recorded me walking out with my dad,” Samuelson said. “He said he had to get that moment, because he knew he’d be a wreck if it was him.”

Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird sat next …

Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird sat next to Bryant and Gigi at the WNBA All-Star Game last July in Las Vegas. The four-time Olympic gold medalist — at the game with girlfriend and U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe — was sidelined with a knee injury. They got a chance to chat with Bryant and Gigi while watching many of the best women’s basketball players in the world. “He just really wanted to expose Gigi to as much greatness as he could,” Bird said. “He wanted her to meet Megan, to meet me. I know he’s taken his whole family to Megan’s soccer games. He’s been very present in the WNBA. He was going on this journey with his daughter, and I think we could all feel that it was going somewhere special. For him as a father, for her as a future basketball player, for them in that father-daughter relationship.”

However, Terry has also taken on a …

However, Terry has also taken on a prominent role in coaching youth girls basketball and his daughters. He spoke on the broadcast about the impact Gianna Bryant had on them. “[Gianna] was a walking image [of Kobe Bryant]. I watched her shoot one of her last 3-point shots, it was right in front of me and it was the same body mannerisms. She had it, she embodied it and she was the same competitor,” Terry said. “It was funny. Before I came to work today, my youngest is in the driveway shooting baskets. My second-youngest now tells me she’s gonna now play basketball. And that’s because of GiGi. They don’t know Kobe. They know GiGi.”

Boxing world expresses grief in wake of Kobe Bryant’s death

Admirers around the world expressed their grief on social media upon the death of Kobe Bryant. Among them were many in the boxing world.

The world on Sunday was shocked to learn that NBA legend Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash in suburban Los Angeles.

Bryant, who died with his daughter Gianna and seven others, was on his way to a travel basketball event when the helicopter went down in dense morning fog in the hills of Calabasas.

Admirers from all walks of life expressed their grief on social media. Among them were many in the boxing world.

Here are some Tweets.

UConn basketball honors Gianna Bryant, who dreamed of playing there

The UConn Huskies paid tribute to the late Gianna Bryant, daughter of Kobe, who wanted to one day play there.

Gianna Bryant, Kobe’s daughter, died tragically this weekend along with her father and seven others aboard a helicopter that crashed outside Los Angeles.

She was 13.

Gianna was a budding basketball star. Her father coached her, and talked often about her winning mentality, as well as her evolving game. Gianna’s goal was to play for UConn, a goal that she and her father were working toward.

On Monday night, the UConn women’s basketball team honored her by setting aside a jersey and flowers on the bench in her memory before their exhibition game against Team USA.

The stadium also showed a tribute to Kobe and Gianna on the video board.

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