Kobe Bryant: Gone, but Never Forgotten

By Bob Phillips

Kobe and daughter Gianna were UConn basketball fans and have rooted
on their Huskies in Connecticut and Los Angeles.
(Photo Courtesy of @UConnWBB)

CALABASIS, Calif.—Yesterday was one of those days you will remember where you were andwhat you were doing for the rest of your lives when you heard the news. I was futzing around the house, cleaning up a little, basically spending a lazy Sunday afternoon with my bestie, my dog Dakota, when a text from my wife disrupted my tranquility.

“Holy crap. Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash!”

Kobe was one of those transcendent sports figures…  One that needed only one name to be identified. Ali. Tiger. Papi. Scooter. Derek. Martina. Chrissie. Kareem. Wilt. Boomer (which could be Esiason or David Wells). Magic. Larry. LeBron. Shaq. It’s a long list, but each member is immortal in his or her own way. And Kobe has been a part of that elite group, pretty much since the day he left high school to join the NBA.

Everyone has heard of Kobe. My wife was with a close friend of ours who couldn’t tell a basketball from a plum tomato. But she knew who Kobe was.

His impact on the game he loved is indisputable. His impact on the world was immense.

“Most people will remember Kobe as the magnificent athlete who inspired a whole generation of basketball players,” tweeted Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, himself a member of the basketball pantheon. 

“But I will always remember him as a man who was much more than an athlete.”

That he died with his beloved daughter, Gianna, or Gigi, at his side while making an 80-mile trek from their home to Kobe’s Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, Calif., for a travel basketball tournament, was appropriate. Kobe not only adored his 13-year-old daughter, but the two shared a passion for the game they both loved so deeply. And it forged a special bond between them.

“The best thing that happens is when we go out and fans come up to me, and [Gigi will] be standing next to me, and be like, ‘You and V [Kobe’s wife, Vanessa] got to have a boy,” Kobe once said on Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show. “You gotta have somebody to carry on the tradition and the legacy. And [Gigi]’s like, ‘We got this!’”

Indeed, Gigi inherited her dad’s athletic gene, was in the process of becoming an elite basketball player, and that’s where the Bryants’ connection to Connecticut comes: They were both huge fans of the Huskies’ women’s basketball team.

“She’s hell-bent on playing for Geno Auriemma at UConn,” Kobe told The Los Angeles Times last year. Indeed, the two spent time with the Huskies in 2017 when they were in Los Angeles to play UCLA. The Huskies defeated the Bruins in that game, 78-60.

“Kobe and Gianna meant a lot to our program,” read the statement on the team’s Twitter account (@UConnWBB). “Our thoughts are with the Bryant family. Mamba Mentality will live on forever, but they are deeply missed.”

Kobe was known for his support of women’s basketball throughout the world. Rebecca Lobo, who starred for UConn in the early days of the team’s dominance, tweeted, “No NBA player supported the WNBA or women’s college basketball more than Kobe. He attended games, watched on TV, coached the next generation. We pray for his family.”

Indeed, Kobe was one of those people who didn’t really need to do much to support women’s basketball. His mere presence at games—and the excitement and exposure that would generate—was enough.

Kobe and Gigi visited Gampel Pavilion two years ago. That day Lobo had her number retired, and seniors Napheesa Collier and Katie Lou Samuelson were honored. Samuelson, a Southern California native, had a close connection with Kobe and Gigi. They returned again last March to root on the Huskies, and also attended several Oregon games when the Ducks traveled to UCLA.

Kobe and Shaquille O'Neal had a sometimes-contentious relationship with
the Lakers, but grew close after their playing days were over.

In all, nine people died in the tragic crash, including John Altobelli, head baseball coach at Orange Coast College, his wife Keri, and their daughter, Alyssa. Another thing that connects this tragedy to Connecticut is the fact that the helicopter was manufactured here in Connecticut—at Stratford-based Sikorsky Aircraft.

While weather conditions (specifically heavy fog) is suspected as a key reason for the crash, a full investigation is underway by the National Transportation Safety Board [NTSB] and the Federal Aviation Administration. The investigation will include a complete review of Sikorsky’s procedures in manufacturing the helicopter as well as weather data, radar information, air traffic control communications, maintenance logs and the pilot’s record, according to NTSB spokesman Keith Holloway.

A report in The Los Angeles Times said that the fog was so dense that the Los Angeles Police Department had grounded its helicopters. “The weather situation did not meet our minimum standards for flying,” said LAPD spokesperson Josh Rubenstein.

While it’s imperative to find the cause of the tragedy, nothing will bring back Kobe, his beloved daughter, and the seven others who died in the crash.

LeBron James passed Kobe as the NBA's No. 3 all-time scoring leader
the night before Kobe passed away.

One legend who mourned Kobe’s passing was Shaquille O’Neal. The two had an often contentious relationship during their run of three championships with the Lakers, as alpha dogs are wont to do while sharing the same space. Those feelings had softened over the years, however, and the two had become close friends.

“There’s no words to express the pain Im going through with this tragedy of losing my niece Gigi & ,u brother http://@kobebryant,” tweeted Shaq. “I love u and u will be missed. My condolences goes out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board. IM SICK RIGHT NOW”

In another twist of irony, LeBron James passed Kobe the night before his death as the No. 3 all-time scorer in NBA history. “Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother. #33644” read Kobe’s last tweet.

At the time of his death, Kobe Bryant—the only player in NBA history to have two numbers (8 and 24) retired by the same team—was just 41. To say that he will be missed is an understatement of mythic proportions. The pain will ultimately subside, and the game will recover. And his spirit will live on forevermore.

—with staff reports

#kobebryant #nba #lakers #kobe #k #mvp #shaq #blackmamba #mambamentality

Huskies Trounce East Carolina

Christyn Williams scored 26 points, including this one in transition, to
lead the No. 3 UConn Huskies over the East Carolina Pirates, 98-42,
on Saturday. Next up will be an exhibition game vs. Team USA featuring
several former Huskies at the XL Center on Monday night.

GREENVILLE, NC—Christyn Williams led all scorers with 26 points, while Megan Walker chipped in with a double-double (15 points, 12 rebounds) and the No. 3 University of Connecticut Huskies pulled away after a challenging first quarter to easily defeat the East Carolina University Pirates, 98-42, before 2,241 fans at Minges Coliseum on Saturday. The Huskies had their long-range radar on, going 15-for-25 from beyond the arc (60 percent), including an 8-for-10 show by freshman sharpshooter Anna Makurat, who finished with 24 points.

The Pirates were led by Lashonda Monk with 17 points including a highlight-reel bucket from well beyond the half-court line to end the first quarter.

Two days after renewing a long-standing rivalry with Tennessee, the Huskies withstood a frenetic early effort by the Pirates, who trailed by only six points, 22-16, at the first turn. Connecticut took control in the second stanza behind the play of Crystal Dangerfield, as well as well as Makurat leading the transition game. Dangerfield’s quickness and push led to plenty of open shots for Walker and Williams.

After ECU scored the first two of the second quarter, the Huskies when on a 16-1 run and never looked back. Consecutive treys by Walker and Makurat made it 38-19 Huskies with 4:17 remaining until halftime. Walker posted all of her points and 11 of her 12 rebounds in the first half as the Huskies led by 29 points, 50-21, at intermission. The Big Blue Wave continued to roll in the third period as the Huskies opened up a 53-point advantage, at the third turn.

Diana Taurasi

Sue Bird

 

With the win, UConn improves to 18-1 overall, 8-0 in American Athletic Conference play. The Huskies are now 128-0 all-time in AAC play, including regular season and postseason championship tournament play. ECU fell to 3-16 overall, 0-6 in The American. The Pirates are 5-100 all-time vs. ranked opponents.

The Huskies now continue a stretch of five games in 12 days when they return home to host the U.S. National Women’s Team on Monday at the XL Center. The USA roster includes former UConn stars Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Breanna Stewart and Katie Lou Sameuelson. Tip-off is at 7 p.m., and the game will be televised live on ESPN2.

—Staff Reports

#uconn / #uconnwbb / #uconnhuskies / #UConnNation / @uconnwbb / #piratenation

Huskies Vanquish Lady Vols, 60-45

And They’re Off!: UConn and Tennessee renewed their storied rivalry
last night. It was the first meeting between the two teams since the
2006-07 season.

By Bob Phillips

Photos by Stephen Slade

HARTFORD—It was 13 years in the making—far, far too long for true fans of women’s college hoops. But in the end, it was arguably worth waiting as two of the signature programs finally took the court to face each other. And so it was that behind 14 points from Crystal Dangerfield, the No. 3 UConn Huskies rode a dominant third quarter to vanquish the No. 23 Tennessee Lady Volunteers, 60-45, before 13,659 partisan fans at the XL Center on Thursday night. Freshman Aubrey Griffin came off the bench to pop in 13 and grab seven rebounds for the Huskies, while Olivia Nelson-Ododa added 10 and seven boards.

The game was televised nationally on ESPN and streamed on ESPN3.

Tennessee’s Rennia Davis led all scorers with 16 points and grabbed eight boards, while Jazmine Massengill (11 points) was the only other Lady Vol to score in double digits.

After Tennessee raced out to a 10-0 lead to open the contest, UConn clawed its way back and trailed by just two, 16-14, at the first turn. The Lady Vols regained control in the second quarter, opening up an eight-point lead, before Connecticut came back and trailed by three, 31-28, at intermission. To say the first half wasn’t pretty is an understatement. The two teams combined for 24 turnovers in the first two periods.

Not sure what UConn head coach told his troops at half-time, but whatever he said sure worked as the Huskies came out of the locker room with purpose burning in their eyes. Opening the third period with a 17-2 run. Now that’s making a statement! When Dangerfield banged in a trey with 1:45 remaining in the third, Connecticut had opened a 12-point advantage, 45-33, and led by 11 at the third turn.

And that was as close as the Lady Vols would get the rest of the way.

UConn forced Tennessee into 27 turnovers—their second most of the season—and dominated down low, out rebounding Tennessee 47-45, out-scoring the Lady Vols in the paint 24-20 and, most importantly, converting 11 second-chance points to Tennessee’s 4. The Huskies also dominated in transition, scoring 21 points on the fast break to Tennesee’s 6.

This was a renewal of a classic rivalry. The two hallowed programs first met in 1995 and played 22 times over the next 11 years. It came to an end after the 2006-07 campaign when the late Pat Summitt pulled the plug on it. She never revealed why she was ending the series and passed away in 2016 of Alzheimer’s at the age of 64. The Huskies went 13-9 in those first 22 meetings—including 4-0 vs. Tennessee in national championship games. That may have played a part in Summitt’s decision to hit the “pause” button on the rivalry.

“It wasn’t the same,” said UConn head coach Geno Auriemma. “I miss having her hear. I miss looking forward to having her there. I don’t miss having to coach against her.”

The game was part of the We Back Pat week in honor of Summitt. Both teams wore shirts honoring her.

“Hopefully it continues,” said Dangerfield, who grew up in Tennessee before choosing UConn, about the rivalry. “I think this game was a good spark to get [our mojo]—bodies flying everywhere, yelling, screaming. It was a pretty good game.”

In addition to her 13 points and seven boards, Griffin added five steals to her bottom line, giving the Huskies a gigantic lift off the bench.

“Aubrey was unbelievable,” said Auriemma of his budding freshman star. “She really changed the complexion of the game.”

With the win, Connecticut improves to 17-1, while Tennessee falls to 15-4.

THE SKINNY

The Huskies now head to Greenville, NC, where they will take on the East Carolina Pirates on Saturday in American Athletic Conference play. Tip-off is at 1 p.m., and the game will be televised on SNY, streamed on ESPN3, and broadcast on the UConn Radio Network (ESPN Radio 97.9 in Connecticut). Then comes the exhibition match-up between the Huskies and Team USA featuring Breanna Stewart, Sue Bird, Tina Charles, Diana Taurasi and Katie Lou Samuelson, among others. That game will be televised on ESPN2 starting at 7 p.m. from the XL Center.

—with staff reports

#uconn #uconnwbb @UconnWBB @UconnHuskies #BleedBlue