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Friday, March 29, 2024

Bryant A Block

Credit: 23ABC News | Bakersfield
Duration: 13:11s 0 shares 1 views

Bryant A Block
Bryant A Block
Bryant A Block

LOSS FORALL THAT HE MEANT TO ALL OF USIN SO MANY, AND SO MANY PEOPLELOVED HIM FOR SOMANY DIFFERENT REASONS."THE WORLD STOPPING TODAY --AFTER TRAGEDY STRIKES INCALABASAS....LAKERS LEGEND AND TRANSCENDINGSUPERSTAR KOBEBRYANT -- DIES IN A HELICOPTERCRASH SUNDAY MORNING.THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR 23ABCNEWS AT 11 -- I'M BAYAN WANG.AND I'M ALEX BELL.MANY ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARECONTINUING TO MOURN THE LOSSONE OF BASKETBALLS GREATESTLEGENDS, KOBEBRYANT.BRYANT WAS AMONG EIGHT OTHERS...INLCUDING HISDAUGHTER GIANNA, WHO DIED IN AHELICOPTER CRASH INCALABASAS,23ABCS LEZLA GOODEN TAKES A LOOKAT THE LIFE OF THE GREATKOBE BRYANT.GOOD EVENING ..EIGHTEEN-TIMEN-B-A ALL-STAR KOBE BRYANT ISDEAD AT THE AGE OF 41.

HE ANDHIS DAUGHTER, GIANNA, DIEDSUNDAY IN A HELICOPTER CRASH INSOUTHERNCALIFORNIA.

TODAY WE TAKE A LOOKAT HIS LIFE AND THE LEGACYTHAT HE HAS LEFT BEHIND.BROADCASTER OFF CAMERA:"GREATNESS LIES AHEAD FOR THISYOUNG MAN."AT THE TIME, BRYANT WAS THEYOUNGEST PLAYER IN THELEAGUE'S HISTORY AT JUST OVER 17YEARS OLD...KOBE BRYANT/NBA LEGEND:"I THINKA LOT OF PEOPLE - EVEN WHEN ICAME OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL -- ITHINK PEOPLE WERE KIND OF,KIND OF GIVING ME THE COLDSHOULDER TO BEGIN WITHBECAUSE I THINK, UNFORTUNATELY,SOME PEOPLE WANTED ME TO FAIL.BECAUSE I DEFIED THE ODDS." THEMVP SPENT HIS ENTIRE PRO CAREERWITH THE L-A LAKERS - WINNINGFIVE NBA CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH THEBRYANT'S LEGACY ON THE HARDWOODGOOD EVENING ..EIGHTEEN-TIMEN-B-A ALL-STAR KOBE BRYANT ISDEAD AT THE AGE OF 41.

HE ANDHIS DAUGHTER, GIANNA, DIEDSUNDAY IN A HELICOPTER CRASH INSOUTHERNCALIFORNIA.

TODAY WE TAKE A LOOKAT HIS LIFE AND THE LEGACYTHAT HE HAS LEFT BEHIND.BROADCASTER OFF CAMERA:"GREATNESS LIES AHEAD FOR THISYOUNG MAN."AT THE TIME, BRYANT WAS THEYOUNGEST PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE'SHISTORY AT JUST OVER 17 YEARSOLD... KOBE BRYANT/NBA LEGEND:"ITHINK A LOT OF PEOPLE - EVENWHEN I CAME OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL-- I THINK PEOPLE WERE KIND OF,KIND OF GIVING ME THE COLDSHOULDER TO BEGIN WITH BECAUSE ITHINK, UNFORTUNATELY, SOMEPEOPLE WANTED ME TO FAIL.BECAUSE I DEFIED THE ODDS." THEMVP SPENT HIS ENTIRE PRO CAREERWITH THE L-A LAKERS - WINNINGFIVE NBA CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH THETEAM... DURING HIS 20 SEASONS,BRYANT BECAME ONE OF THELEAGUE'S TOP SCORING PLAYERS.HE EVEN SURPASSED MICHAEL JORDANBECOMINGFOURTH ON THE NBA'S ALL-TIMESCORING LIST.ON TWO OCCASIONS, HE HELPEDSECURE TEAM USAOLYMPIC GOLD ON THE WORLD'SSTAGE.BRYANT DEALT WITH CONTROVERSYTOO...IN 2003, HE WAS CHARGED WITHSEXUAL ASSAULT - ACCUSED OFRAPING A 19-YEAR-OLD HOTELEMPLOYEE.THE CHARGE WAS LATER DROPPED,AND THE CASE WAS SETTLED INCIVIL COURT.BRYANT ALSO OVERCAME VARIOUSSPORT-RELATED INJURIES- ALWAYS DETERMINED TO HEAL ANDRETURN TO THE COURT.THEN, IN THE FALL OF 2015, HEANNOUNCED HIS PLAN TO RETIREFROM THE NBA AND PLAYED HISFINAL GAME IN 2016.THE FOLLOWING YEAR, HIS JERSEYNUMBERS - 8 AND 24 - WERERETIRED.SINCE THEN HE HAS MADE HIS MARKON HOLLYWOODWINNING AN ACADEMY AWARD FOR HISANIMATED FILM "DEARBASKETBALL."BUT HIS GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENTMAY HAVE BEEN OFF THEHARDWOOD.... HE WAS A HUSBANDAND PROUD FATHER OF FOURCHILDREN.KOBE BRYANT/NBA LEGEND: "WE ALLHAVE MOMENTS LIKE THIS IN LIFEWHERE IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THATDAY IS NEVER GOING TO END.

ITJUST SEEMS LIKE THE MOMENT THATYOU'RE IN JUST FEELS LIKE THEDARKEST MOMENT TO YOU, YOU KNOW,AND, AT THAT POINT, YOUREALLY KIND OF HAVE TO STEPOUTSIDE YOURSELF ANDPUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE, ANDUNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW,I'VE HAD MANY, MANY BLESSINGS, ALOT OF THINGS TO BE THANKFULFOR."AT SIX FOOT SIX, BRYANT WAS MORETHAN JUST A LITERAL GIANT.L-A MAYOR ERIC GARCETTIWROTE....BRYANT "INSPIRED,AMAZED, AND THRILLED PEOPLEEVERYWHERE WITH HISINCOMPARABLE SKILL ON THE COURT- AND AWED US WITH HISINTELLECT AND HUMILITY AS AFATHER, HUSBAND, CREATIVEGENIUS,AND AMBASSADOR FOR THE GAME HELOVED."BRYANT IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE,VANESSA, AND THEIR OTHERTHREE DAUGHTERS.THE YOUNGEST, CAPRI ... WAS JUSTBORN IN JUNE.

FOR NOW INSTUDIOLEZLA GOODEN 23ABC NEWSCONNECTING YOU.BRYANT'S LEGACY ON THE HARDWOODSTACKS UP AT THEVERY TOP OF THE SPORTS WORLD...THE LEGEND REACHING AN ELITELEVEL SIDE BY SIDE WITH THELEAGUES GREATEST IN N-B-AHISTORY... HE WAS A PRODIGY MOSTCOMMONLY COMPARED TO MICHAELJORDAN."THE BLACK MAMBA" SCORED MORETHAN 33-THOUSANDPOINTS... RANKING IN THE TOPFIVE EVER.HE'S HAD THE THIRD MOST 50-POINT GAMES IN HISTORY -- WITH24 -- AND THE THIRD MOST PLAYOFFPOINTS WITH MORE THAN56-HUNDRED POINTS.BRYANT ALSO OWNS THESECOND-HIGHEST SCORING OUTPUTIN A SINGLE GAME -- WHEN HESCORED 81 POINTS AGAINSTTHE TORONTO RAPTORS BACK ONJANUARY 22-ND, 2006.THE ONLY PLAYER TO SCORE MORE INA GAME WAS WILTCHAMBERLAIN.BRYANT WON 5 CHAMPIONSHIPS WITHTHE LAKERS -- AND EARNEDFINALS M-V-P TWICE.HE PLAYED IN THE ALL-STAR GAME18 TIMES.LOS ANGELES CONTINUING TO SHOWITS SUPPORT FORTHEIR BELOVED LAKERS GREAT.HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLEGATHERING OUTSIDE OF STAPLESCENTER TO HONOR AND REMEMBER AMANTHEY CHEERED ON FOR YEARS.FORMER 23ABC REPORTER LAURAACEVEDO WHO NOW WORKS FOROUR SISTER STATION IN SAN DIEGOHAS MORE ON THE TURNOUTIN L-A.LAURA ACEVEDO: HUNDREDS OFPEOPLE OUT HERE ON LA LIVE,WHICHIS JUST ACROSS THE STREET FROMSTAPLES CENTER, WHICH IS WHERETHE LAKERS PLAY.JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THE SEA OFPEOPLE BEHIND ME.

MANY OFTHEM ARE GATHERING AT THE CENTEROF THE PLAZA, WHERETHEY HAVE LAID OUT FLOWERS FORKOBE BRYANT.AT TIMES, WE HAVE HEARD CHANTSOF M-V-P, KOBE, KOBE, KOBEAND ALSO OF GI GI -- THE NAME OFHIS DAUGHTER WHO WAS ALSOON THAT PLANE.EVERYBODY HERE WEARING SOME TYPEOF PURPLE AND GOLD INHONOR OF THE LAKER.

FANS SAYTHEY WANTED TO COME OUT HEREAND PAY THEIR RESPECTS FOR A MANTHAT WAS SO IMPORTANT INTHEIR LIVES.IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THESCREENS AT LA LIVE, THEY ALLREAD -- IN LOVING MEMORY OF KOBEBRYANT.

THEY HAVE THE DATE OFHIS BIRTH 1978 AND THE DATE OFHIS DEATH 2020.PEOPLE OUT HERE BRINGINGFLOWERS, THEY HAVE BEENPLAYING MUSIC, THEY HAVE BANNERSAND EVERYTHING OFKOBE'S MEMORABILIA ALL TO HONORA MAN THAT BROUGHT SOMUCH TO THIS CITY AND SO MUCH TOSPECIFICALLY TO THIS PART OFDOWNTOWN.JUST FEET AWAY FROM WHERE HEPLAYED 20 YEARS OF BASKETBALL.REPORTING IN LOS ANGELES, LAURAACEVEDO.MEANTIME -- L-A-X ALSO PAYINGTRIBUTE TO THE FORMER LAKERSGUARD...THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TURNEDITS PYLONS TOGOLD AND PURPLE TONIGHT IN HONOROF BRYANT.YOU COULD SEE THEM SWITCHBETWEEN THE TWO COLORSEARLIER THIS EVENING.AND BRYANT WAS NOT A STRANGER TOBAKERSFIELD -- AS HE PLAYEDSEVERAL TIMES HERE IN TOWN --AND HIS IMPACT CAN BE SEENWITH LOCAL PLAYERS AT PARKS ORON HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS.23ABC'S SPORTS REPORTER MATTLIVELY JOINS US IN STUDIO WITHWHAT PEOPLE AROUND TOWN ARESAYING ABOUT KOBE.MATT?KOBE BRYANT SPENT HIS ENTIRECAREER AS A LOS ANGELES LAKER --MAKING BAKERSFIELD JUST ONE OFTHE HEARTS OF HISMASSIVE FAN CLUB.IT WAS THE MOST UNEXPECTED NEWSWE COULD HAVE IMAGINED TOBEGIN OUR SUNDAY WITH.

ONE OFTHE GREATESTPLAYERS TO EVER SUIT UP --TRAGICALLY GONE - ALONG WITH HIS13 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER.SOT - NATHAN AKPAN - BAKERSFIELDLOCAL"I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT TO BEHONEST.

I WAS ACTUALLY TAKING MYLITTLEBROTHER TO THE GYM AND ONE OFOUR UNCLES CALLED FROMOVERSEAS AND WE WERE LIKE NAH."SILVER CREEK PARK IN SOUTHWESTBAKERSFIELD ISKNOWN AS THE "SPOT" TO PLAY APICK UP GAME."HERE IN BAKERSFIELD, YOU'REPLAYING WITH A LOT OFTHESE YOUNG GUYS AT THE PARK, "FROM KIDS -- TO FULL ADULTS --ITS A SANCTUARY FOR BASKETBALL--AND TODAY A HEALING GROUND AFTERTHE NEWS OF KOBE BRYANT'SDEATH.SOT- KAELUB BLACK - BAKERSFIELDYOUTHBASKETBALL PLAYER"YOU KNOW, IT WAS REALLY CRAZY,YA KNOW, I WAS SHEDDINGSOME TEARS, BUT YOU KNOW IT ISWHAT IT IS."SOT - NATHAN AKPAN - BAKERSFIELDLOCAL"I'M DOWN ABOUT IT, I MEAN YOUKNOW JUST BECAUSE ITHAPPENED SO SOON, YOU KNOW, HEHAD A FAMILY, HE HAD ADAUGHTER THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BETHE NEXT PROTIGEE."THIS APRIL MARKS 4 YEARS SINCEKOBE RETIRED FROM THE GAME --BUT LOCALS LIKE JERRY WRIGHTWON'T LET HIM BE FORGOTTEN."HE LEFT A NICE LEGACY, BUT YOUKNOW, THE GUYS, OUT HERE, WEGOTTA REMEMBER IT."A LEGACY WRIGHT ALREADYRECOGNIZES IN YOUNGER KIDS.A LOT OF THESE GUYS, YOU'D BESURPRISED WHEN THEY WERE INDIAPERS, THEY WERE WATCHING,TRYING TO PICK UP MOVES ANDSTUFF AND YOU'LL SEE IT "KOBE'S BASKETBALL STORY BEGAN ASA 3 YEAR OLD WHOLOVED THE GAME AND LOVED THELAKERS -- RELATABLE TOMANY HERE."I WAS LIKE 1, MY GRANDMA SHEJUST TELLING ME STORIES ABOUTHOW I'D JUST SIT UP AND WATCHBASKETBALL WITH HER AND MYGRANDPA.""IVE BEEN A LAKER FAN SINCE IWAS 8 YEARS OLD AND WITH KOBESINCETHE START MAN."BRYANT'S ACCOMPLISHMENT SBROUGHT JOY TO MOST HERE INBAKERSFIELD -- OR AS SOME FANSCALL -- LAKERSFIELD.HE WAS A 5 TIME NBA CHAMP - 2TIME NBA FINALS MVP -- THE 2008LEAGUE MVP -- AND A 2 TIME GOLDMEDALIST.AND HE WILL BE A FIRST BALLOTHALL OF FAMER WHEN HEBECOMES ELIGIBLE LATER THISYEAR.MANY TOOK TO SOCIAL MEDIA TODAYTO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTSAND MEMORIESEVERYONE HONORED THE LEGEND --WITH A FULL SLATE OFNBA GAMES -- TEAMS PAID THEIRRESPECTS."THE GRIZZLIES ARE GOING TO TAKEA 24-SECOND SHOT CLOCK VIOLATION INHONOR OF KOBE BRYANT AND THEFANS HEREAPPRECIATE IT AND RISE TO THEIRFEET."YOU HEAR THAT CALL FROM MEMPHISAS THE TEAM HONOREDKOBE BY TAKING A 24-SECONDVIOLATION.BRYANT WORE NUMBER 24 IN HISFINAL 10 SEASONS.AND THE NEWS HAVING A HUGEIMPACT THROUGHTEVERY N-B-A GAME THAT WAS HELDTODAY...THE NEW YORK KNICKS -- LIKE MANYOTHER TEAMS -- HOLDINGA MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR BRYANTIN MADISON SQUAREGARDEN... WHERE BRYANT HAD MANYMEMORABLE MOMENTS.THE MAGIC AND HAWKS ALSO HADMOMENTS OF SILENCE FOR THEBASKETBALL ICON -- WITH TRAEYOUNG WEARING A NUMBER 8JERSEY -- THE NUMBER KOBE WOREFOR THE FIRST 10 YEARSOF HIS CAREER.THIS DEVASTATING INCIDENT EVENHAD AN IMPACT ONTHE N-F-L'S PRO BOWL THAT WASHELD EARLIER TODAY -- AS A FEWPLAYERS HONORED AND CELEBRATEDHIS LEGACY.PACKERS LINEBACKER ZADARIUSSMITH AND DAVANTEADAMS SPOKE ABOUT BRYANT DURINGTHE FOOTBALL GAME."WE CAME IN ON THIRD DOWN.

THISIS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO, WEARE GOING TWO,TWO STEPS AND THEN WE ARE GOINGTO DO THE FADEAWAY FOR HIM, SOFOREVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE, I JUSTHOPE IT TOUCHED A LOT OF PEOPLEIN ASPECIAL WAY.""KOBE ALWAYS MEANT SOMETHINGSPECIALTO ME, ESPECIALLY BEING FROMCALIFORNIA.

I JUST HAD TO GIVEMYSHOUOUT TO 2-4 AND GET THE 360ON THE GOAL POST AS WELL."THIS TRAGIC NEWS ALL COMING ADAY AFTER LAKERS FORWARDLEBRON JAMES PASSED KOBE BRYANTON THE ALL-TIME SCORINGLIST IN N-B-A HISTORY.AFTER THE GAME YESTERDAY INPHILADELPHIA -- JAMES SPOKEABOUT WHAT KOBE HAS MEANT TOHIM."AS I GOT DRAFTED, I STILL JUSTADMIRED HIM, SEEING WHAT HE WASABLE TOACCOMPLISH, WINNINGCHAMPIONSHIPS, BEING EARLY INHIS CAREER WHERE HELEARNED THE MISSES THAT HE HADIN THE SERIES VERSUS UTAH, ANDHE JUST USED THAT AS MOTIVATIONTO GET BETTER, AND BETTER, ANDBETTER, TO WINNING MULTIPLECHAMPIONSHIPS..

I CONTINUED TOADMIRE HIM THROUGH MY HIGHSCHOOLRANK."35-YEAR-OLD JAMES SET THEMILESTONE ON A DRIVING LAYUPAGAINST THE PHILADELPHIA 76ERSON SATURDAY NIGHT.IN KOBE'S FINAL POST ON TWITTER-- HE TWEETED -- "CONTINUING TOMOVE THE GAME FORWARD KINGJAMES.

MUCH RESPECT MYBROTHER HASHTAG 3-3-644" -- ANDWITH A NOD TO BRYANT'SNICKNAME... JAMES SCRIBBLED"MAMBA 4 LIFE" ON HIS NIKESAGAINST THE 76ERS.WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THEVERY LATEST ON BRYANT'S DEATHLATER IN OUR NEWSCAST AND ONLINEON TURN TO 23 DOT COM.THE HEAD BASEBALL COACH FORORANGE COAST COLLEGEALSO DYING IN THE HELICOPTERCRASH TODAY.JOHN ALTOBELLI WAS ON THEHELICOPTER WITH HIS WIFE -- KERIAND THEIR DAUGHTER -- ALYSSA.THEY WERE ALSO KILLED.ALYSSA WAS A TEAMMATE OFBRYANT'S DAUGHTER.JOHN ALTOBELLI WORKED AT ORANGECOAST COLLEGE FOR 27YEARS.HE HAD MORE THAN 700 WINS IN HISCAREER AND FOUR STATECHAMPIONSHIPS.COMING UP ...

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