Death Of A Legend

The death of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others, is a tragedy so big that it has transcended the sports world, touching the lives of non-sports fans as well. Kobe’s helicopter crash will go down in life as one of those moments that everyone will always remember where they were when it happened. Maybe you were studying in a coffee shop like Junior, Andrew Graham and Junior, Hayley Robartes or just hanging out at your house like Jackie Yu .One thing that everyone had in common when they heard was an almost overwhelming sense of shock and disbelief. “I was pretty shocked when I heard. I was like holy shoot. I just was not expecting it, nobody was obviously.” Said, Junior, Sam Tipps. Junior, Brianna Silva shared a similar reaction. She said, “My first reaction was disbelief. He is so popular and you see so many pictures of him in the news. So I couldn’t really wrap my head around the fact that this guy and his daughter had died.” People also seemed to share the same sentiment about how they would remember Kobe, as a legend, an icon and one of the best basketball players of all time. Nevertheless, Junior, Nick Contardo said he would remember Kobe a different way. He said, “Obviously he had a great NBA career. But honestly I think I’ll remember him most from all the videos I’ve seen of him sitting courtside talking basketball with his daughter. I think I’m going to remember him for the family man he was because of those later images, after his career.” While people seemed to be on the same page with the previous question they were asked, poeple were mixed on how Kobe should be covered by the media in relation to his 2003 rape case. “ I think they had the time to report on it when it happened.” Said, Sophomore, Chad Douty. “I think now that he’s passed I don’t think we should be focusing on that. It’s definitely something to keep in mind but I don’t exactly think (Journalists) should be reporting on it now that he’s passed away.” Andrew Graham said, “I mean obviously it’s something to talk about. He paid her off, he lost the settlement. But I don’t know if it should be the focus right now just after he died. Maybe if in the future they do a documentary it should definitely be a part of that. Right now I’m not sure it’s respectful. But at the same time the victim is probably thinking about it right now because (Kobe’s) name is in the news so that has to be awful for her to have to think about. So I think it should be covered but not right this second.” Hayley Robartes said, “It’s something to keep in mind. But I’m sure it was reported on when it happened and got a lot of attention. I’m not sure if it’s super relevant right now.” While those three had a similar take on the question, that it needs to be talked about but there should be a sort of grace period, Nick Contardo differed. He said, “I don’t think so. I mean that was in the past. I think we got to remember him for the good he did and not the bad.” The only shared answer from most of these students was that there is a time and place to discuss this topic and that right after Kobe’s passing is not that time or place.