Journalism of Courage
Basketball icon Kobe Bryant died Sunday in a helicopter crash in Southern California. He was 41. Chief Daryl Osby of the Los Angeles County Fire Department said nobody survived the crash into a hill in Calabasas, which is approximately 30 miles west of Los Angeles. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said nine people were on the helicopter - a pilot and eight passengers. (Source: Reuters)
Bryant's 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, also died in the crash. The two were travelling for Gianna's game in Bryant's boyhood academy. (Source: AP)
Kobe will be remembered most for inspiring people around the world to pick up a basketball and compete to the very best of their ability. (Source: AP)
Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant jumps over a row of fans after saving the ball from going out of bounds in the second half of the Lakers 107-101 win over the Houston Rockets in Houston, Dec. 20, 2001. (Source: AP)
He was generous with the wisdom he acquired and saw it as his mission to share it with future generations of players, taking special delight in passing down his love of the game to Gianna. (Source: AP)
Bryant won five NBA championships for the Lakers and amassed a number of accolades. He was the NBA's Most Valuable Player in 2007-08, a 15-time All-NBA selection, 18-time All-Star and 12-time All-Defensive team member. He twice was named MVP of the NBA Finals and was the All-Star Game MVP four times. (Source: AP)
Bryant is survived by his wife, Vanessa, and three daughters, Natalia, Bianca and Capri. (Source: AP)
Kobe will be remembered most for inspiring people around the world to pick up a basketball and compete to the very best of their ability. (Source: AP)
Bryant played in 1,346 career games and retired as the third-leading scorer in NBA history with 33,643 points. (Source: AP)
Bryant 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. (Source: AP)
