Kobe Bryant’s passing is a tough one for the world of sports

Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others were tragically lost in a helicopter crash on Sunday. His death is a tough loss for the world of sports.

Whether you’re a life-long fan of soccer, hockey, football or any other sport you gravitate to, there are a few names that will always strike a chord when you hear them. Kobe Bryant is one of those names and the reality of his death has been difficult to accept.

The impact Kobe had on the game of basketball can be felt across the world. Although he will forever be known and respected for his accomplishments on the court, his daily duties as a husband and father deserve just as much praise and admiration.

Memories will keep them alive

Sunday, January 26, 2020, was one of the most horrific days in recent sports history.

A private helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, two of her teammates Alyssa Altobelli and Payton Chester along with John and Keri Altobelli, Christina Mauser, Sarah Chester, and pilot Ara Zobayan, sustained a fatal accident claiming lives of all passengers on board.

What was supposed to be a routine trip for a basketball game turned deadly approximately 40 minutes after take-off. Weather conditions figure to play a huge role in this tragedy as investigations are on-going.

Nevertheless, so many lives and families have forever been altered due to this unthinkable crisis. As fellow humans and neighbors, there are strength in numbers and with just one prayer per household, it’ll go a long way to helping their healing process.

Many cannot fathom the emotional rollercoaster these families are experiencing right now but, if we can provide any kind of ray of light during their time of need, maybe it’ll give them a little solace as they adjust to life without the physical presence of their loved ones.

As the investigation into what caused this accident continues, there are so many questions surrounding the story. The Sikorsky S-76B helicopter is considered a reliable source for aviation transport.

It’s a twin-engine known for its reliability, capability and overall safety, however, foggy conditions created a difficult flight course for the helicopter. In order to counter the rough flight conditions, the pilot did his best to fly below the clouds in an attempt to avoid the poor weather.

As a 39-year-old man who grew up in a Christian household, we were taught at a young age that the higher power has a much bigger plan for us, and we are NOT supposed to question His Will.

Normally I would do just that and proceed as usual, but then there are moments of pain and disbelief such as this one.

Thank You Kobe

Growing up in the South Bronx, I gravitated to the Nets (New Jersey back then) as a youngster and found myself adapting to the sport of basketball as time passed.

I was fortunate enough to witness some of the world’s most amazing athletes. From street ballers to the pro level, I’ve enjoyed observing these individuals, who actually grind their tails off in order to perfect their craft.

You can always recognize the greats from watching their response to any and all situations.

Regardless of whether their team was dominating the game and winning big or if they found themselves in an insurmountable hole, the greats typically channel that “IT” factor and leave it all in their performance.

I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing such greats like Jerry Rice, Derek Jeter, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, and the list can go on.

As a fan who also plays multiple sports, it’s easy to want to mimic what we see on TV and we oftentimes can’t wait to get to a park or somewhere spacious enough for us to try the new moves.

It’s just something about the greats that fuels our passion for competition and once you get a taste of winning, it becomes woven into your DNA.

That’s one of the most frequent terms used to describe Kobe Bryant — a fierce competitor. He played the game of basketball with such tenacity and love, that it made every game seem like a playoff match.

Kobe is one of those unique beings that had the ability to touch lives without even meeting you. At least that’s how it is for me. After observing his greatness on the professional level for 20 years, his maturation process as a husband and father was equally admirable.

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His growth from a young high school kid who was banging bodies with the pro vets to the five NBA Championships and everything in between has truly been a blessing to witness.

His connection with the Bay Area will never fade as I suspect murals throughout California in the foreseeable future. I cannot begin to express the overwhelming feeling of pain and sorrow for everyone directly affected right now.

I sincerely admired his work ethic he trained with and the ferociousness he played with. It’s always a daunting task to accept the unthinkable tragedies that occur in our lives, but the strength we find to continue moving forward is what makes us unique in our own way.

I wholeheartedly pray for peace and serenity to fall upon all the friends, family and loved ones during your time of need. The thought of losing their physical vessel is incomprehensible and nothing we can ever get used to.

The one certainty we can lean on during these hours of darkness is knowing that we’ll see our loved ones again. Memories transform into energy and energy is eternal, therefore, our loved ones never really die as long as we live.

Peace, Blessings, and Prayers from my family to all of yours. Godspeed.