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Show Wed/Thurs/Fri, January 29-31, 2020 B-7 The Park Record Kobe Bryant mourned across world Teammates, rivals and fans remember the Black Mamba GREG BEACHAM Associated Press LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant inspired a generation of basketball players worldwide with sublime skills and an unquenchable competitive fire. He earned Los Angeles’ eternal adoration during his two decades as the fierce soul of the beloved Lakers, and he was respected by basketball fans from every place with a hoop and a dream, including his native Philadelphia and in Italy, his other childhood home. Less than four years into his retirement, Bryant was seizing new challenges and working to inspire his daughters’ generation through sports and storytelling when his next chapter ended shockingly early. Bryant, the 18-time All-Star who won five NBA championships and became one of the greatest basketball players of his generation during a 20-year career all with the Lakers, died in a helicopter crash Sunday. He was 41. The crash occurred in the foggy hills above Calabasas, California, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Bryant was killed, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press, and a different person familiar with the case confirmed Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna also died. Both of the AP’s unnamed sources spoke on condition of anonymity because few details of the crash had been released publicly. Authorities said nine people were on the helicopter, and all were presumed dead. No names were released. Bryant lived south of Los Angeles in coastal Orange County, and he often used helicopters to save time and avoid Southern California’s notorious traffic. He traveled to practices and games by helicopter before his playing career ended in 2016. He continued to use them after retirement as he attended to his new ventures, which included a burgeoning entertainment company that recently produced an Academy Award-winning animated short film. Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, had four daughters. He had been a vocal booster of women’s sports since his retirement, coaching and mentoring basketball players around the world while also backing women’s soccer and other endeavors. Bryant retired as the third-leading scorer in NBA history with 33,643 points, all scored in Lakers purple and gold. The self-nicknamed Black Mamba was a prolific, gifted shooter with a sublime all-around game and a relentless, hard-edged work ethic that thrilled his fans and almost everyone else, even those who reviled him. Taking cues from Michael Jordan, one of his idols, Bryant played with a swagger that compelled him to talk trash, to guard the toughest opponents, to play through pain and to demand the ball at the biggest moments of games. He didn’t always hit them, but Bryant never stopped trying. “He had zero flaws offensively,” LeBron James said Saturday night. “Zero. You backed off of him, he could shoot the 3. You body him up a little bit, he could go around you. He could shoot from mid-range. He could post. He could make free throws. ... He was just immortal offensively because of his skill set and his work ethic.” Bryant held the No. 3 spot in the league scoring ranks until the day before his death, when James passed him during the Lakers’ game in Philadelphia. On Saturday night, James said he was “happy just to be in any conversation with Kobe Bean Bryant, one of the all-time greatest basketball players to ever play. One of the all-time greatest Lakers.” Bryant always reacted graciously to the achievements of James, his former on-court rival who joined the Lakers in 2018. “Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames,” Bryant wrote in his last tweet. “Much respect my brother.” Bryant had been spending more time with his daughters since leaving the league. The Bryants’ first daughter, Natalia, turned 17 a week ago. Bianka Bella Bryant is 3 years old, and Capri Kobe Bryant was born last June. Gianna, better known as Gigi, had a promising youth career and a competitive pugnaciousness that reminded everybody of her dad. Bryant sat with her courtside at a Brooklyn Nets game late last year, clearly passing along his wisdom to his daughter. Bryant told Jimmy Kimmel in 2018 that Gianna wanted to play in the WNBA and recalled how fans would often approach him saying “you gotta have a boy, you gotta someone to carry on the tradition, the legacy.” Gianna took exception: “She’s like, ‘Oy, I got this,”’ Bryant recalled. News of Bryant’s death inspired an outpouring of grief around the sports world and beyond, but it was felt particularly painfully in Los Angeles, where Bryant was unquestionably the sprawling city’s most popular athlete and one of its most beloved people. Buildings from downtown to Los Angeles International Airport were illuminated in Lakers purple and gold. Bryant retired as the Lakers’ franchise leader in points, games played, 3-pointers and steals — no small feats on a franchise that has employed many of the greatest players in basketball history. The NBA kept its games on as scheduled when the news broke. The Spurs and Raptors both took voluntary 24-second shot clock violations at the start of their game in honor of Bryant, who wore No. 24 for the second half of his career. Several other teams followed up by deliberately taking delays of 24 and 8 seconds, honoring both of his jersey numbers. Many players were seen crying before their games, and James looked emotional on the tarmac when he got off the Lakers’ team plane from Philadelphia. Bryant won an Oscar in 2018 for his contributions to “Dear Basketball,” an animated short about his relationship to the game. He also produced content for ESPN. In 2003, Bryant was charged with attacking a 19-year-old employee at a Colorado resort. He had said the two had consensual sex, and the charge was eventually dropped when the women declined to testify in a trial. The woman later filed a civil suit against Bryant that was settled out of court. Bryant looms large over the current generation of NBA players, most of whom grew up either idolizing Bryant or absorbing his work ethic and competitive spirit in the same way Bryant’s generation learned from Jordan. Bryant exemplified and passed on that mentality to James, Stephen Curry and the NBA’s current wave of high-scoring superstars. After James passed Bryant on Saturday, he remembered listening in awe to Bryant when the superstar came to speak at a childhood basketball camp. “I remember one thing he said: If you want to be great at it, or want to be one of the greats, you’ve got to put the work in,” said James, who later teamed up with Bryant on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team in Beijing. Bryant was a basketball superstar for his entire adult life, and he grew up from a teenager to a respected veteran in the unforgiving Hollywood spotlight. He entered the NBA draft straight out of suburban Philly’s Lower Merion High School in 1996 after a childhood spent partly in Italy, where his father, former NBA player Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, played professionally. Bryant was occasionally estranged from his now-65-year-old father, but reconciled. Between his title runs and before the quiet final years of his career, Bryant accomplished innumerable feats including an 81-point game against Toronto in January 2006. Bryant’s final NBA seasons were dogged by injuries, but he still went into retirement with that jaw-dropping 60-point performance against Utah. Some of the petS at NuzzleS & Co. lookiNg for love These animals are available to be seen at the Nuzzles & Co. Adoption Center and Rescue Ranch. Our Adoption Center is open everyday from noon to 6 p.m. It is located in the Outlets Park City in Kimball Junction. Our Rescue Ranch is open Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 5p.m., and closed Mondays. The Rescue Ranch is located at 6466 N. Highview Road in Peoa. Dawn Gunner Harry Jack Meet Dawn! This cute little girl would love to snuggle in your lap or join you on your next adventure! She would do well in a home with other furry friends but would need a proper introduction. She would also prefer a quiet home with older children. Gunner is a five-year-old silver Lab mix. And yes, you are seeing that correctly, he is adorably cross eyed. He knows his basic commands, but is not a fan of small dogs or cats, and would prefer to be an only pet so he can have all of your attention. Meet Harry! This good looking boy is very energetic and friendly. He is looking for a home that has plenty of time to take him on lots of adventures. He would prefer a home with no cats, and would need a meet and greet with other dogs. This funny guy is Jack! He is a 3 month old cattle dog mix puppy. He will probably grow up to be a medium to large size doggy. He loves to play and would make the perfect adventure companion. Achoo Bats Marvel Whyskers This beautiful dilute sortie is Achoo. She is part Manx and very lovable. She would prefer a home with no other pets so she can have all your attention. If your looking for someone to keep you warm during these chilly nights - she’s your girl! Meet Bats! This sweet guy is 5 months old and loves to be cuddled and play. He is super friendly and would do well in a home with other cats and would probably be good in a home with a nice doggie friend too. This social guy is Marvel. He loves to give nose kisses and be held. He is a total super hero and gets along with other cats (with a proper introduction) and loves to play! Give him some catnip and a cape and he will entertain you for hours. Meet Whyskers! She is a calm, sweet girl. She loves her catnip and to have her cute little head scratched. She would be ok in a home with a friendly dog - but would prefer to be the only kitty. WaNted: voluNteerS These Organizations are looking for volunteers. If you would like to include your group in this section, please email information to copyeditor@parkrecord.com. Please limit your entry to no more than 75 words Help Eliminate Alzheimer’s The Alzheimer’s Association’s Utah Chapter has many opportunities available for volunteers to raise awareness and promote community events. Areas of particular need are community education, outreach, research, social media, public policy, communications and development. Positions can also be created depending on interest and passion. Many positions are virtual. Please contact Ronnie Daniel, executive director: rdaniel@alz.org. Holy Cross Ministries Holy Cross Ministries has openings for volunteers in both the School Readiness Program (3 to 5-year-olds at St. Mary’s White Pine Canyon, Mondays-Thursdays, 8:15 a.m.-3 p.m.) and in after-school homework help sessions at Parleys Park, Jeremy Ranch and McPolin Elementary programs which run 3-5:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays. School Readiness will benefit from persons willing to read and work at small group centers. Please contact Miriam Garcia (mgarcia@hcmutah.org) for more information on the School Readiness Program. Contact Franz Montalvo (fmontalvo@hcmutah.org) for information on the After-School Program. The Hope Alliance The Hope Alliance is looking for volunteers to process eyeglasses for the vision program. These eyeglasses will be distributed to some of the poorest communities throughout Peru, Guatemala, and other impoverished areas, supporting multiple vision campaigns. Volunteers can work at The Hope Alliance’s Park City office, Monday through Saturday, during office hours. For more information, please call 435-333-3334 or email info@thehopealliance.org. For a full list of volunteer opportunities, visit parkrecord.com/volunteers |