Shaquille O'Neal's son, Shareef, was one of the last people to hear from Kobe Bryant prior to the tragic helicopter accident that claimed the Laker legend's life, as well as that of his 13-year old daughter Gianna, and seven others.
Shortly after the heartbreaking news surfaced on Sunday afternoon, Shareef posted a screenshot of the final message Kobe had sent him earlier that day. As seen in the IG post embedded below, Bryant had simply reached out to check in on Shareef, as the 20-year old forward recently announced that he had decided to transfer from UCLA.
Hours after receiving Kobe's "You good fam?" message, Shareef replied, "Yeah! Just getting this work in trying to figure out my next move.” He added, “How you been?” During the time between Kobe's initial message at 8:19 am and Shareef's response at 10:58 am, the 41-year old icon had been killed in the crash in Calabasas, California.
"You’ve really been there for me all 20 years of my life ... been there for me since I was born .. love you"
"Can we shut down LA for a day and just have a Kobe parade ... someone set it up"
Of course, Shareef's father Shaq was also among those who paid tribute to Kobe on Sunday.
"There are no words to express the pain I’m going through now with this tragic and sad moment of losing my niece Gigi & my friend, my brother, my partner in winning championships, my dude and my homie. I love you and you will be missed. My condolences goes out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board. IM SICK RIGHT NOW!"
Kobe Bryant’s Pilot Warned “You’re Too Low” Seconds Before Crash: Report
Ation experts believe poor visibility looks to be the key cause of the crash however.
By now, most of you heard the shocking news of Kobe Bryant’s death. The Lakers great was killed Sunday morning when a helicopter heading to his daughter’s basketball tournament in Thousand Oaks crashed amid foggy conditions and burst into flames in Calabasas. At first, reports surfaced saying that five people were on board and all died on impact, but authorities later confirmed that nine (9) people were on that helicopter, which was being flown by pilot Ara Zobayan.
While details remain scarce on what actually happened, some reports surfaced late Sunday night suggesting that the helicopter most likely was flying too low in such foggy conditions. In fact, the fog was so severe that the Los Angeles Police Department’s Air Support Division grounded their own helicopters and didn’t fly until later in the afternoon. “The weather situation did not meet our minimum standards for flying,” department spokesman Josh Rubenstein said. The fog “was enough that we were not flying."
According to reports, the air traffic controllers told the pilot (Ara Zobayan) of poor visibility around the Burbank and Van Nuys areas, but he reportedly responded to controllers normally before communication suddenly went dead near the crash site at Calabasas.
"You're still too low level for flight following at this time," the air traffic controller allegedly told the pilot. Then seconds later, the helicopter disappeared from the radar. It was traveling at speed - 153knots (176mph) - when it crashed into the hillside, according to tracking site Flightradar24.
Witnesses said they heard a roar before the chopper slammed into the hillside Sunday morning. One man said he was standing outside the Church in the Canyon drinking coffee when he heard a helicopter flying unusually low and seeming to struggle. “It wasn’t sounding right, and it was real low,” Kocharian said. “I saw it falling and spluttering. But it was hard to make out as it was so foggy.” The helicopter vanished into the sheet of fog, then there was a boom and “a big fireball,” he said. “No one could survive that.”
Bryant and the others in the chopper were understood to have been heading to a children's basketball tournament which his daughter (Gianna) was playing in. There were no survivors sadly. Other victims included John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Sarah Chester, Peyton Chester, and Christina Mauser.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the families grieving during this difficult time.
Tiger Woods Learns Of Kobe Bryant’s Death On Golf Course: See His Reaction
“One of the most shocking, tragic days that I’ve ever been a part of" - Tiger Woods.
Tiger Woods was busy yesterday trying to make his comeback at the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, but that all changed when he received some earth-shattering news that his close friend, Kobe Bryant, had suddenly passed away earlier that morning. Tiger was told of the news by his caddie Joe LaCava, live on TV after completing his round.
LaCava, knowing Woods had a close relationship with the former Lakers star, made the immediate decision not to tell him right away. LaCava said he found out the news around hole 9 but decided to wait to tell Tiger.
“I thought it would be better off not telling him,’’ LaCava told The Post. “I didn’t think he’d be to the point where he couldn’t play golf, but I figured I’d wait to the end. It was too much of distraction. I waited until we got into the tunnel on 18 [after his round was complete] to tell him, because I didn’t want the cameras on him and see the shock on his face.’’
As Woods played the back nine, fans from outside the ropes were yelling, ‘‘Do it for Mamba’’ referring to Bryant’s nickname.
“I didn’t understand why they were yelling, ‘Do it for Mamba’ on the back nine, [but] people yell things all the time, so I was just plodding along, doing my own thing,’’ Woods said. “Then when Joey told me … it’s unbelievable, the reality that he’s no longer here. One of the most shocking, tragic days that I’ve ever been a part of.
“Life is very fragile as we all know. You can be gone at any given time and we have to appreciate the moments that we have," Woods said. "I just can’t imagine what their entire family’s going through right now."
Jaden Smith On Tyler, The Creator’s Win: "My Boyfriend Just Won A Grammy"
Is Jaden next in line for a Grammy?
Tyler, The Creator illuminated the Grammy Awards with an unorthodox performance, employing his IGOR persona and bringing dozens of lookalikes on stage with him. The 28-year-old recording artist brought home the award for Best Rap Album, a decision that he has since critiqued as he feels another category would have been more appropriate. In his acceptance speech, however, he was appreciative and gracious for the opportunity to get up on stage and address his fans, noting that it was probably one of the only times he would get the chance. Continuing a troll narrative from over a year ago, Jaden Smith couldn't contain his excitement when he found out the good news, taking to Twitter to congratulate his "boyfriend."
Telling the world that his significant other, Tyler, The Creator, had just won a Grammy Award, Jaden Smith played the role of a proud stage partner on social media. In the Fall of 2018, the two made tons of headlines when they jokingly announced that they were dating. Fans attempted to unpack their messages to determine if they were actually speaking the truth and, to this day, things have been muddy.
Perhaps Jaden is next in line to win a Grammy Award. Congratulations to Tyler on his monumental win!
Kobe Bryant Filed Trademark For Gigi’s Nickname “Mambacita”: Report
Kobe reportedly filed the trademark just last month too.
It looks like Kobe Bryant’s daughter, Gianna, was really to trying to follow in the footsteps of her father. According to a report from TMZ, the Laker great had filed legal paperwork to trademark the name “Mambacita,” which of course was going to be named after his daughter and her basketball skills & mentality.
According to the docs, which were filed just last month on December 30th 2019, the plan was to put “Mambacita” on all sorts of sportswear, including shirts, shorts, hats, jerseys, sweatpants, sweatshirts, and hoodies.
Kobe even started referring to his 13-year-old daughter by that handle on social media. In fact, back in November, Kobe praised GiGi’s offense, and also the defense of Alyssa Altobelli, which is eerily poignant today as Alyssa was also on board and died in yesterday’s crash. Kobe ended the post by shouting out the “familiar fade” shot by his beloved daughter … “#Mambacita.”
While we wait for the full report on what happened, early reports suggest that the fog was the biggest factor in the accident. Reports are saying that the pilot was even warned second before crashing that they were flying “too low,” but it was apparently too late. We’ll be sure to keep you posted once concrete information surfaces.
Our thoughts and condolences go out to all the families grieving during this difficult time. If you missed it, see all nine victims right here.
"Power" Recap: Rashad Tate Receives An Immense "Reversal Of Fortune"
One step closer to the answer.
This week's episode of Power, entitled "Reversal Of Fortune," presented viewers with the calm before the storm. After the violence and the emotional ups and downs of last week's episode, Courtney Kemp slowed things down a bit. Hopeful politician Rashad Tate took the mainstage in "Reversal Of Fortune." The clock rewinds back to the moment that St. Patrick and Tate split ways, and we witness the enraged politician have a night out on the town. In a drunken stupor, he puts a hit on Ghost which leads to a guest-starring role for Cedric the Entertainer. Viewers saw Cedric (who is named Croop in the show) get killed by Tommy before the mid-season break, and now Power illustrates how it reached that point.
After his night of drunken bliss, Tate wakes up in his brother Kamal's home. Kamal is a cop, and is both supportive and wary of his brother. It's in his brother's home that Tate gets the news of Ghost joining rival Loretta Walsh's campaign. The family dynamic between Tate, his brother, his nephew, and sister-in-law is on full display here. Kemp does the same thing here that the show did with Paz two episodes earlier. Tate is given a solid family background that helps make his character more relatable. He loves his nephew and plays the supporting uncle role. As interesting as it is, it's also strange to see a show devote so much time to a supporting character that is presumably at the end of his run. With the amount they've invested into his backstory this late in the game, it could just be an indicator of Tate's involvement in a spin-off show.
Tate tries to plead his case to the DNC after Ghost and Loretta team up, but they advise him to concede. That isn't an option for Tate though and he storms off only to be greeted by Croop and his son. The young politician tries to call off the hit on Ghost, but Croop wants his money. He gives Tate an ultimatum: tell him where to find Ghost or die. The obvious answer is given and Croop is on his way to tail Mr. St. Patrick.
This could have been a game-changing moment. Ghost has a chance to save his own life here, but he lets his pride destroy him. Tate heads to Truth to speak with Ghost and warn him about the hit, but the former drug kingpin's arrogance causes Tate to rethink his strategy. If Ghost had just been humble, Tate would have warned him about the hit and he would have beefed up his security. Instead, Ghost allowed his power trip to consume him to the point of letting his guard down. Tate becomes even more determined to take Ghost down, and later, Dre gives him the ammo he needs. The treacherous thug mentions Tariq suspiciously, and Tate then tries to use that information to agitate Tasha. He tells Tasha that Ghost is planning to get his son locked up for the murder of Raymond Jones, but she doesn't buy it. Something tells me this piece of information is crucial though, and may have been heard or passed to Tariq at some point. None the less, Tate leaves empty-handed. Viewers are treated to a repeat of the scene where Tate hires Dre to kill Ghost out of desperation, but we all know how that one turns out.
Later, while Tate is taking out the trash, he is approached by Croop's vengeful son. Before Tate can meet his doom though, Kamal kills Croop's son, which ties up that loose end nicely for the councilman. It seems like Tate is in the clear at first, but his brother is rightfully suspicious. Kamal takes Tate down to the station to file a report, and this is where they learn that there was a shooting at Truth. Now, Tate has an alibi and we know he didn't kill Ghost because he was already at the police station at the time of the gunshot. Tate rides along with Kamal to the crime scene, and begrudgingly admits that Dre might have killed Ghost and he may be implicated. Kamal's suspicions grow even more when they are informed at Truth that Ghost is dead.
Tate spins the story of Ghost's death into a beautiful press moment and wins back the hearts of his constituents. Slick work for a man who was desperate just hours before. The next day, the DNC comes crawling back to Tate and Kamal informs him that Dre was killed in prison. "Reversal Of Fortune" is true to the title: Tate goes from political homicide to earning the Democratic nomination in a matter of days. To cap things off Tate sullies Romona's career by telling the press that she was sleeping with Ghost. Once again, this move implies that there is more story to tell in regards to Tate. It would be pointless to show Rashad still creating enemies if the show didn't plan to explore these relationships at some point. Before the episode ends, Tate is enjoying the spoils of his victory when the local news announces Ghost's killer. Tate is in shock, and the audience is left clueless. I believe the most important part of this episode may be Tate telling Tasha that Ghost planned to let Tariq go to jail. That has been an unresolved plot line for most of the season, and Ghost at one point did consider letting his son take the fall to learn a lesson. Could that have motivated Tasha and Tariq to kill Ghost? We'll see next week.
Kanye West Tributes Kobe Bryant With Rare Throwback Studio Picture
Rest in peace to one of the greatest athletes of all time.
We were all struck with immediate sadness upon hearing the news that Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant passed away at the young age of 41-years-old after a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. The iconic player has been remembered by thousands of his fans, hundreds of former teammates, peers, and everybody in between. Our thoughts are with the Bryant family, who also lost 13-year-old Gianna Bryant, Kobe's daughter. The news has caused some unusual suspects to resurface, showing their love for somebody that can be considered one of the greatest basketball players to ever live. Kanye West was notably a big fan of the heroic baller, even designing an "I Feel Like Kobe" tribute shirt and debuting it during one of Bryant's milestone games. Despite his rampant Twitter activity in the past, Kanye West rarely goes on social media these days but after hearing about the loss of #24, he sent his love to his family the medium.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
"Kobe, We love you brother," wrote the Chicago legend, sharing a vintage photo of the two in the studio. Kobe Bryant was also a rapper, releasing several songs and projects during his early days as an NBA player. "We’re praying for your family and appreciate the life you’ve lived and all the inspiration you gave."
The post has netted Kanye over 128K retweets, with many of his fans also idolizing the late Kobe Bryant. Their careers have intertwined several times throughout the last two decades. Rest in power, Kobe and Gianna.
Tyler, The Creator, DaBaby & More Make Our 2020 Grammys Best Dressed Picks
Big night for music and ~FASHION~.
The 62nd Annual Grammy Awards took place on Sunday night (Jan. 26). The event was tinged with sadness as the passing of Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash was announced just a few hours before airtime. This loss weighed down even harder on those in attendance, as they sat in the Staples Center, which the evening’s host, Alicia Keys, aptly described as the “house that Kobe built”. However, everyone tried to transpose their sadness into a celebration of life and one of its greatest joys: music.
Billie Eilish had a record-breaking night, being the youngest artist to win in all four of the Grammy’s major categories. Tyler, The Creator, J. Cole and 21 Savage all took home their first prizes from the Recording Academy. YG sidestepped a questionable arrest on Friday to partake in a tribute to the late Nipsey Hussle alongside Meek Mill, Roddy Ricch, John Legend, Kirk Franklin and DJ Khaled. Overall, the affair was filled with highlights, another of which were the outfits that the stars rocked on the red carpet. Here’s a roundup of some of our favorite looks.
Lil Nas X
Rich Fury/Getty Images
Big Freedia
Rich Fury/Getty Images
YBN Cordae
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Swae Lee
Rich Fury/Getty Images
DaBaby
Rich Fury/Getty Images
YG
Rich Fury/Getty Images
Saweetie
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Guapdad 4000
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Tyler, The Creator
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
FKA twigs
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
H.E.R.
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
EARTHGANG
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
50 Cent Calls Out News Reporter For Lakers Racial Slur After Kobe Bryant’s Death
“She gotta get fired for that.”
The horrifying news of Kobe Bryant’s death impacted the world this weekend. The 41-year-old basketball legend was killed in a tragic helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, taking the lives of nine people in total. Among the victims were his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and others. People have been entering their Kobe tributes all over social media, reacting to the depressing news and sending love and light to the entire Bryant family. During one report of the crash on MSNBC, a reporter apparently flubbed her words when speaking about Bryant’s professional team, the Los Angeles Lakers. Instead of their team title, the host referred to them as the Los Angeles “n***ers”, which is honestly the worst thing she could possibly have said.
“Did this bitch just say that on the air?” asked 50 Cent, reposting the audio following his Kobe Bryant tribute post. “She gotta get fired for that.” The reporter in question, Allison Morris, has denied using the N-word on air but critics are begging to differ. Her explanation muddies things up even more… In her words, she accidentally combined the Knicks and the Lakers to say “Nakers” but that’s not what we all heard. “Where the fuck is @oprah when this kind a shit happens?” asked 50 Cent, continuing to slander the talk show host and exposing the identity of the reporter who made the mistake.
Do you think the slur was intentional? Do you think she deserves to be let go?
Derek Jeter Pens Tribute To Kobe Bryant: "Kobe Just Loved Being A Dad"
Jeter reflects on Kobe's legacy and how much he loved being a father.
It's indescribably difficult to put into words the overwhelming sadness brought on by the passing of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. Bryant, 41, and his 13-year old daughter Gianna were among nine killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on Sunday afternoon and the world is still attempting to come to grips with it all.
In the aftermath of the tragic accident, those who knew Kobe best have attempted to articulate the profound impact he had - not just on the sport of basketball, but the world as a whole. Specifically, Kobe's closest friends have expressed just how much he loved being a father above all else.
New York Yankees' Hall of Famer Derek Jeter penned a touching tribute to Kobe for The Player's Tribune on Sunday night, during which Jeter explained, "He loved his family — he was his family. That’s what was important. And that’s the Kobe I’ll remember."
Kobe just loved being a dad. And when it comes to his legacy, I really hope we’re able to take the time to remember that as an essential part of it.
Rest in peace to Gianna Bryant. Rest in peace to the other passengers on board.
And rest in peace to Kobe Bryant — who knew that his life was only as important as the love he had for the people in it. Who knew that he was born to play basketball. But it was family over everything.
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