KOBE MEMORIAL

I got a call from my son on Sunday morning January 26th telling me he had just seen TMZ post that Lakers Legend Kobe Bryant was dead. I doubted it and got on the computer to try and verify. At that time no other news outlets had anything about it, but soon it was confirmed that Kobe and eight others had died in a helicopter crash.

The atmosphere after Kobe’s death was unlike anything I have ever experienced.  Southern California was in shock and the world was shaken.

Everyone on board the helicopter had lived here in Newport Beach or close by.  I thought back to when Michael Jackson died, his fans were devastated but most the world seemed to comprehend that Michael had lots of problems, so his death wasn’t shocking.  Kobe had a passion for life, he attacked it, he was a leader, he brought people together, he was worldly, and he was so alive.  He was going to accomplish so much in retirement, he was going to raise his girls, he was going to be forever young.  With his death the reality of mortality hit everyone hard, we did not want to believe it.

A small memorial started at LA Live across the street from Staple Center where the Lakers play almost immediately.  It was the only appropriate place for fans to go to deal with the loss, and they came in the hundreds throughout every hour of the day.  I photographed the memorial twice, and the thing I was most impressed by was the demeanor of the crowd. Everyone was solemn, and so respectful of one another.  It showed what a unifying force Kobe had been in his life, it is sad he isn’t here now, I think he would have made our situation today better.