AREA MOURNS PASSING OF LAKERS LEGEND KOBE BRYANT
Local coaches, athletes reflect on ex-NBA star who died Sunday morning
For 20 years NBA star Kobe Bryant couldn’t seem to miss when taking a shot on the basketball court. However, the news people heard about the ex-hoops star on Sunday morning was something most people couldn’t believe.
The world was dealt a tragedy on Sunday morning when Bryant, 41, as well as his daughter, Gianna, 13, were among nine people that died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, just north of Los Angeles.
Kobe Bryant played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers and won five NBA championships while winning one MVP award. He’s fourth all time in points scored.
Local coaches in Vallejo and American Canyon, like just about every city in the world, seemed to take the news hard.
“When I learned of the tragic accident I was in a state of shock,” Vallejo High head basketball coach Andrew Johansen said on Monday. “As a coach I am saddened that we are losing a legend of the game too soon. As a father, I have been completely broken when thinking about what the entire Bryant family is having to endure. My thoughts and prayers go out to all the families affected by this tragic accident.”
St. Patrick-St. Vincent High girls basketball head coach Nadine Walker was with her team at a Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles restaurant in Hollywood when they found out the news.
“We were sitting down and like normal teenagers, the whole team was on their phone,” Walker said. “Then one by one you hear a few of them say, ‘Wait, what? Kobe’s dead, what?’ And I just told them, ‘You do not say that in Los Angeles.’ Our waiter came out and said that it was fake news, but soon after a waitress came out crying and saying that it was in fact true. When everyone saw that you just looked around the restaurant and the faces of all the patrons began to change. Everyone was in utter disbelief. We soon went outside and it was so quiet and somber and just surreal.”
St. Patrick-St. Vincent High boys head basketball coach Derek Walker felt the same state of shock when hearing the news.
“My 13-year-old son came in my room saying Kobe was gone. I was hoping it was fake
news,” Walker said. “After I searched and found out it was true I kind of went into denial for a while. More news came and I was hoping it was a bad dream. Hearing about his (Bryant’s) daughter later in the day only made it worse. As a father, it hurt to imagine those last moments of being helpless with your child with no control over the situation. Heartbreaking for sure.”
Bryant is survived by his wife Vanessa as well as three other daughters, Natalia Diamante, 17; Bianka Bella, 3; and Cari Kobe, who was born in June 2018.
Longtime junior college baseball coach John Altobelli, 56; as well as his daughters Keri Altobelli and Alyssa Altobelli also died in the crash. Christina Mauser, Ara Zobayan, as well as Sarah and Payton Chester were the other victims.
Tuesday’s Laker game against the Clippers was postponed, but other games took place on Sunday, with teams saluting Kobe by
committing 24-second violations on purpose at the start of games.
On Sunday, longtime Vallejo High basketball coach Duke Brown thought about not only the loss of Kobe, but also Gianna, who was already making a name for herself playing youth basketball. Brown was able to coach his own daughters over the years.
“I’ve had the opportunity of coaching my daughter Brittane’ and Devanique in Junior Warriors basketball when they were young. I coached Devanique in high school and Kennedy on the Hurricane travel softball team and I’m looking forward to coaching or assisting with my youngest daughter, Anayiah, in track and field,” Brown said. “Those times I spent on the road traveling and being a fan with them, as well as a dad, are moments I will cherish for life.”
Jesse Bethel High head coach Dwayne Jones couldn’t fathom the news either as he looked for numerous news outlets to see if the news was in fact, real.
“When ESPN finally announced it, I was devastated,” Jones said. “Michael Jordan is an time favorite of mine, but I really admired Kobe. I remember him in his prime when he played with my good friend Brian Shaw. I remember going to the Staples Center (Bryant’s home court in Los Angeles) to watch him play during those championship years. What I was so impressed with was his approach to the game. He was a no nonsense player that competed at both ends of the floor … It was special seeing that in person.”
It wasn’t just coaches that mourned the loss of Bryant, as players such as ex-Cal Maritime men’s basketball star Phil Randles and American Canyon’s Oliver Aandahl praised Kobe’s hard work ethic.
“Kobe inspired me big time throughout my basketball career,” Randles said. “Hearing stories of him waking up at 3 in the morning and 4 in the morning before practices and games to workout really inspired me to do the same. I knew I could never be who he was but I knew if had a work ethic similar to what he had I could be the best ME I could possible be. Looking at the impact he’s made on the world speaks volumes of how great Kobe was.”
Aandahl is a Golden State Warriors’ fan, but respected the play of Bryant.
“I think everybody is upset and sad yesterday and today,” the Wolves senior guard said. “I’m more of a Warriors fan, but I knew that if he dropped 30 or more in a game against them, they (the Warriors) were going to lose. He’s had a big impact on myself but he’s been more of an inspiration to me because I know he was a big gym rat.”
On Monday before practice, American Canyon head coach Scott Hayburn showed the film, “Dear Basketball,” which is based off a poem by Bryant that won him an Oscar in 2018.
“The thing about Kobe was that he demanded greatness,” Hayburn said. “His work ethic was great and it showed. He put up James Harden-type numbers back when people still played defense in the NBA.”
It seems Kobe always put in the extra effort to get success. While the term is often thrown around that you must give it your all each minute of each day or “24/7”, that didn’t seem to ever be enough for Bryant.
Maybe that’s why he always worked as 24/8.