I'm still shook over this. 14 year old me cried for hours when Magic announced he was HIV positive, because I thought it was a death sentence and he was the biggest part of my fandom growing up. But I'm a grown man and didn't expect I'd feel like I have today. I was sitting at PF Chang's about to eat some below-average food when someone texted me on the first tweet. I couldn't even process it. And then couldn't process my feelings or begin to explain how I felt to the friend I was with. She knew I was shaken, but I was embarrassed to be so. Got home and cried a bit. Watched a movie. Raged a bit. Watched some tribute videos and interviews, cognizant of not being a grief tourist, but not really knowing what else to do. This shit just hits hard with the mortality we all face. Dude was a living god among not just fans, but his peers. And seemed poised to do more for his family and others post-career than most others.
Too knee jerk imo. I identify with the number 8 way more than 24. 24 makes me think the sluggish end of his career (excluding the 60 points he dropped his last ever game)
I have another health issue I'm dealing with right now and under massive stress. I was being inundated with text messages as I received the ESPN alert. I read it, got lightheaded, and stumbled.
I was hoping it was a crash, going down like that is horrifying. Million x worse having his daughter with him. Plus of course the other 7 involved. Wasn't even a big Kobe fan but doubt I'll sleep well tonight.
Superstars switching numbers is a pet peeve of mine as it’s so transparent that’s it’s only about new jersey sales
dudes policing and bullying women into deleting their accounts when they very well could be sexual assault survivors is pretty fucking gross
Wife and I talked about it over dinner. Hit me hard as a dad and I wasn't even a big Kobe fan. I enjoyed watching him play but rooted more against him than for him. He made watching more fun though. If this was Jeter, I'd miss a few days of work.
What’s weird about this? The guy had two numbers and never played for The Mavericks, only against them. Retiring the number 24 is weird.
you know a lot of women don’t ever stop dudes because they’re worried about the possible ramifications of doing so right? just sit this conversation out
Yes, plenty of times. It's pretty normal when you're not raping anyone these days. Sit this one out please
yes, you absolutely should as someone who’s dating someone who’s been raped before. i’m not saying you should have known this, but you should ask. girls are too afraid to say no and won’t stop you
Yes, thank God. Shit is way to complicated these days, apparently. I just can't imagine asking that seems so awkward.
You all know it's possible for him to sexually assault someone and years later become a better person right? By all accounts he's been a great father and husband the last handful of years. People do have the ability to change you know. Not to minimize what the victim went through. Its shitty. But at least the dude seemed like he grew up as a man and became a great father. More than a lot of people can say.
What exactly do you say? I'm genuinely curious. I know things have changed a lot since I was a kid. This just wasn't something we did or even thought of.
before you go any further than making out, just ask them if they’re comfortable. there’s a chance they might not even be comfortable making out with you, but too afraid to say no. i’ve heard this from multiple girls i know. and if they’re comfortable making out, that doesn’t mean they want to fuck. just ask them if they’re good with it, and if they are, they’ll probably want to fuck you even more because you asked. believe it or not, girls love being shown that respect. they don’t think it’s awkward at all
I’ve always thought that was dumb. They probably wish they hadn’t either considering LeBron with 23 instead of 6 would have been much cooler.
I'm married so I won't be dealing with that but thanks for the post. Things have definitely changed a lot in 20 years.
Retiring the number of the GOAT is a bit of a unique situation. I don't think it would be out of line for everyone to retire Babe's #3, for example, so MJ makes a little sense imo.
I disagree. I’m a “time and place” person for all but the most egregious offenders or if the event is very recent. As a Penn State alum, no one should say shit about Sandusky being a good DC when he dies. He’s lost that right. And had Paterno lived 10 more years before dying I would have argued that people should give it a day or two before bringing up the scandal. But he died so soon after the scandal that it was reasonable to bring it up right away. Kobe is years on from his scandal and was not an evil person. He deserves a day or two of mourning.
While I think jersey sales are part of it, Kobe's was about repairing/changing his image after the rape accusation/case, in my opinion. Either way, RIP.
should add that doesn't just include famous people, kobes victim and all victims right now among others might want to have this discussion about his alleged rape to process all the feelings they're having and in no way is it inappropriate to talk about that or they should be shamed into silence out of "respect" or some inane civility claims
One involves raping little boys and covering it up for decades, the other involves an alleged assault between a guy saying it was consensual and a woman saying it wasn’t happening in the midst of what can safely be seen as a giant cultural awakening to that sort of thing being a problem.
Can you even imagine how difficult it was for him in that moment? The moment he knew that not only his own life was about to end, but that of his daughter...a life he helped create. Can you imagine how he felt as a father knowing he couldn't protect her? Can you imagine him holding her, consoling her, telling her he loved her as that helicopter went down? As a parent, I can tell you, Kobe Bryant's greatest fear was realized today. And it wasn't the fear for his own life, but for that of his beautiful daughter. Because as a parent, your life means nothing in comparison to the lives of your children. We live for our children. We breathe for our children. They are our reason for being. We would also die for them, without hesitation. Without question, without a moments notice, we would lay down our own lives to ensure theirs. Just thinking of his internal struggle in those last moments tears my heart into pieces. He knew his daughter's young life was ending. He knew he was leaving 3 other precious children behind. Oh, how his heart must have ached! Can you even imagine the agony that played out in his mind? Every parents worst nightmare happening to him in real time. He was there when his sweet girl took her first breath, and he was there with her when she took her last. And that's the only solace I can find in this...that he was there. In her final moments, her daddy was there to remind her of his undying love. And with everything in me, I hope that baby felt every ounce of love her daddy had for her. I hope it overwhelmed her, and carried her straight into paradise. Because I know that's all her daddy wanted too. Rest in peace Kobe and Gigi. Our hearts mourn you ❤ Hug your children extra tight tonight, mamas and daddies. Tomorrow is never promised. - Jade North
You make sure it's an enjoyable experience for both parties and ensure they are comfortable with whatever you are doing. People can revoke consent at any time. Employers should really be doing better sexual assault/violence training
Same. Stepped away from social media for a bit after the original news and then learned his daughter died. Then stepped away again and the 4-5 went to 9 victims. Horrible day. All should be treated the same but Kobe's daughter hit me the most.
Haven’t posted in the thread yet and don’t have much to add. This is one of those deaths that’s gonna punch me in the gut tomorrow morning the same as it did when the news popped up on my phone today. Can’t name an athlete’s death when it happens having a bigger impact on the sporting world than Kobe. Lebron, I guess. Maybe Tiger. Didn’t have an NBA team growing up so I followed players and Kobe was at the top of the list. The game was more fun to watch when he was playing. RIP to him, his daughter, and the rest on the helicopter. Horrible day.