re: Kobe Bryant dies in helicopter crash

The Earnhardt/Bryant comparisons are laughable

There was a flight out of somewhere in the midwest, maybe a decade back, that was a commuter type plane, that the investigation concluded was not balanced properly for both passengers and liggage. It was overloaded in the rear of the plane. On takeoff as it climbed the weight apparently slid further to the back, and the plane eventually couldn't climb out of it and stalled.

The most haunting thing was, when the FAA revealed the flight recording of the recorded cockpit conversation, the door to the cockpit was open. It was mostly silent as the young pilot struggled with the plane, and just before the crash, you heard the voice of young girl, probably 10-11-12ish years old, say pleadingly, "Daddy!"

That was so powerful and moving, that voice has haunted me ever since. As a father, and always wanting to protect your children, to know in a split second that you weren't going to be able to save your child, much less your own self, had to be the most horrible few seconds a person's mind can go through.

quote:

---

The Earnhardt/Bryant comparisons are laughable

---

To be fair, a lot of people watched Dale die on live TV. Hell Im not even a nascar fan and I was watching that 500. So there’s an immediacy that’s unique to watching an event where the guy can perish right there.

You know what’s cool? Shaq has always been larger than life to me, especially with the local connection. I watched a lot of finals basketball when he and Kobe were in LA. I sided with Shaq when he left. And to see two people go from “Tell me how my arse tastes” to Shaqs kids calling him “Uncle” tells me what you need to know. Two insanely competitive men that were able to get past their own hubris and really respect each other

It’s really cool that Kobe became such a good dude at the end and after his career was over. He’s had an impact that truly transcends sports and that’s really awesome. That will be his legacy.

have y'all seen this cartoon from 2017 that had Kobe in a helicopter crash?

With that rate of descent it seems like they clipped the mountain first and then tumbled down into the valley

Earnhardt isn't close to Kobe in the South

Another thing about Earnhardt is that he was participating in an incredibly dangerous sport where other people have been killed before.

Kobe being killed out of nowhere has to be more shocking and unexpected.

quote:

---

Kobe Bryant is the black Dale Earnhardt. You aren’t ever going to stop hearing about him

---

Lol. I don’t want to play the game of comparing whose death means more, but Kobe is just a tad bit more important globally than a guy in a niche “sport” in America.

quote:

---

The Earnhardt/Bryant comparisons are laughable

---

The point is not that they are exactly the same in how big they are. The point, at least in my posts, is that, if you're looking for a comparably shocking sports death, Earnhardt's would be one of the closest comparisons.

quote:

---

Another thing about Earnhardt is that he was participating in an incredibly dangerous sport where other people have been killed before.

---

This. In that time period, race car drivers died all the time. Not shocking that Earnhardt would perish in a crash. Sad yes, but not shocking.