Tag: Helicopter crash

Pete Carroll: Pro Bowlers ‘crushed’ with news of Kobe Bryant’s passing

Seattle Seahawks Pete Carroll had a message for the NFC squad Pro Bowlers following the crushing loss of NBA star Kobe Bryant’s passing.

The Pro Bowl went on as scheduled Sunday afternoon, despite the shocking and saddening news that NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gigi, and seven other passengers, passed away in a helicopter crash that morning. Bryant was 41 years old and his daughter was just 13.

Players were asked during in-game and postgame interviews their feelings about the tragic loss, and Packers linebacker Za’Darius Smith revealed that shortly after the team learned of Bryant’s passing, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson gathered the team together in prayer for Bryant’s family.

The game was won 38-33 by the AFC, an outcome that was hardly relevant with so many players playing with their hearts broken.

“When it hit our locker room, our guys were crushed,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, who coached the NFC squad, said after the game. “They all were.”

 

Carroll admitted that at first, playing in the game did not seem like the right thing to do. However, he came to realize that if Bryant “would have had a say in it, he would want us to go play.”

“Go play and go play hard because if he was here that’s what he would do,” is the message Carroll sent to the NFC team.

Bryant’s untimely death sent shockwaves through the sports world, impacting athletes of all ages and in all sports. Carroll and the Seahawks teach a lot of Bryant’s mentality and work ethic, which makes his passing hit even more home for many of them.

“We have used his stuff a lot,” Carroll said. “It’s a great, crushing loss.”

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OKC: Words can’t express ‘shock and sadness’ of Kobe Bryant’s death

The Thunder released a statement Sunday evening expressing condolences on the death of Kobe Bryant and the victims of the helicopter crash.

The death of former NBA superstar, Kobe Bryant, sent shockwaves around the world on Sunday morning.

There was an immediate outpouring of grief and disbelief, followed by sympathies and tributes to the late Lakers star.

As did the rest of the teams in the league, the Oklahoma City Thunder expressed their condolences over the untimely passing of Bryant on Sunday morning, releasing a statement on his tragic death later in the afternoon:

“No words can adequately express the shock and sadness the NBA family is feeling. Kobe was an icon, a person who embodied greatness in so many ways. He pushed the game of basketball to new heights with a passion for the game that he shared with fans across the globe for decades. We send our thoughts and prayers to the Bryant family and all those who were lost in today’s tragedy.”

Second-year Thunder guard Deonte Burton also paid his respects to Bryant on Sunday, tweeting out his disbelief and wish for Bryant to rest in peace.

The final road game of Bryant’s career was in Oklahoma City, a 112-79 loss to the Thunder.

In that game, Russell Westbrook went for a triple-double before halftime, with Bryant ending the night with 13 points on 4-of-12 shooting from the field.

Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif. on Sunday morning, along with his daughter, Gianna Maria, and seven others, including the pilot.

The NTSB has not released the cause of the crash. The investigation is still ongoing.

Seattle Seahawks react to the death of Kobe Bryant

Seattle Seahawks players reacted on twitter to the death of NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, who passed away in a helicopter crash at age 41.

The sports world was turned upside down Sunday afternoon following the shocking news that retired NBA superstar Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash outside of Calabasas. He was 41.

Bryant was among the greatest athletes of his generation, in any sport, and his death shocked and saddened just about everyone, including many former athletes who grew up inspired by the former Lakers superstar.

An outpouring of grief hit social media after the announcement, including a ton of messages from members of the Seattle Seahawks.

Bryant retired in 2016, scoring 60 points in his final game in a contest that captivated the entire league. He was an 18-time All-Star and is widely considered one of the five greatest players in NBA history.

Bryant finished his career scoring 33,643 points, which is fourth all-time just behind Lebron James – who passed him earlier this week and prompted the final tweet of Bryant’s life.

Our thoughts are with Bryant, his family and the NBA community following this tragedy.

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Current, former Saints players react to tragic death of Kobe Bryant

New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees called Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash Sunday, “one of the great competitors of any generation”

The sports world was shaken by the sudden passing of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, who was among five people killed in a helicopter crash in Southern California. It immediately took attention away from the 2020 Pro Bowl, with some players getting the news in the minutes between warmups and the all-star game’s kickoff.

Drew Brees reacted to the news during an appearance on the sidelines with ESPN’s Lisa Salters, saying, “You know, I had a chance to meet him one time. He was a guy who I always hoped I’d have a chance to be around more. I had so much respect for him as a competitor. I know he inspired so many people in so many different ways. I mean, one of the great competitors of any generation, not just with sports but with the way he approached a lot of things and now what he was doing after basketball. So, I pray for him. I pray for his family. I know we don’t know all the details yet, but it’s a tragic loss.”

Bryant’s impact on sports is impossible to understate — several generations of fans grew up trying to emulate his “Mamba mentality” style of play, including Saints players like wide receiver Michael Thomas.