Travel Sports and the Kobe Bryant Helicopter Crash

[Anonymous]

Did the excessive demands of travel sports contribute to the death of Kobe, Gigi and their fellow passengers? I am a card-carrying soccer dad with a son who went through travel soccer to an academy program. Over the years I have been to tournaments all over the country and he's played around the world. If I had the means I would have welcomed the use of a helicopter to get to various games and tournaments. Imagine avoiding those long delays on I-95 to get to Richmond for the Jefferson Cup. Or even just avoiding the traffic getting to the Germantown Soccerplex on a weeknight. So, I completely understand Kobe using his resources to get to this basketball tournament without dealing with road traffic.

It seems like Kobe and his fellow parents were in the typical sports parent rush to get to this basketball tournament. Maybe they conveyed the urgency of the situation to the pilot, who felt an obligation to his famous client to get them there despite the bad weather. It appears a landing in Burbank with Kobe and his party driving the rest of the way would have been prudent. But they may have been late or missed a game, which often seems like the end of the world to a sports parent. It’s clearer than ever today that it’s not.

This is just unbelievably sad, and all parents should consider slowing down, so there will be another game.

[Anonymous]

Way to blame the deceased.

[Anonymous]

He used a helicopter to travel most places, so no, I don't blame him for taking it to travel game. I mean honestly, the risk of just driving to any of these tournaments is pretty high.

[Anonymous]

This is such a stupid take. And I say that as someone who takes a lot of issue with travel sports.

[Anonymous]

Read the reports. This had nothing to do with sports. They were traveling to an away game, it sounds like they got special permission to fly when no one else was cleared and got into trouble with the fog/weather. He didn't like to drive more than an hour or two due to previous injuries and health issues.

[Anonymous]

This was one of Kobe's main means of transportation. People also drive in crappy weather when they have to get places. I live somewhere that is snowy and icy all winter but every weekend there are hockey tournaments. If no one went out unless the roads were dry and the sky was sunny, nothing would happen.

On this particular day, it seems the risk was high and a combination of bad weather and pilot error led to a tragic accident. That isn't that different from bad weather and driver error leading to a car accident on snowy or foggy days.

Likely most of the other victims had flown with him many times as this was how he got to and from places.

[Anonymous]

102 people die from car crashes in the US EVERY DAY. So yes, travel anything is risky.

[Anonymous]

I agree that the helicopter was a regular means of transportation for Kobe. But flying into heavy fog that grounded police and sheriff helicopters in the area, was an excessive and unnecessary risk. It just shouldn't have been done for an AAU basketball game. There was a game on Saturday, so they could have stayed in a hotel Saturday night. My point is that all the risks we take in terms of driving in poor conditions; speeding; and texting while driving simply aren't worth it for these travel games.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This was one of Kobe's main means of transportation. People also drive in crappy weather when they have to get places. I live somewhere that is snowy and icy all winter but every weekend there are hockey tournaments. If no one went out unless the roads were dry and the sky was sunny, nothing would happen.

On this particular day, it seems the risk was high and a combination of bad weather and pilot error led to a tragic accident. That isn't that different from bad weather and driver error leading to a car accident on snowy or foggy days.

Likely most of the other victims had flown with him many times as this was how he got to and from places.

Except you probably have a car that can handle most weather conditions. It did seem very risky so it made no sense.

[Anonymous]

Oh FFS. Kobe has said he wanted to be able to work out and train with his team at full steam and be able to do carpool pick up for his kids. So he started commuting by helicopter. Cutting a 90 minute commute (no traffic, ha ha) to 25 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree that the helicopter was a regular means of transportation for Kobe. But flying into heavy fog that grounded police and sheriff helicopters in the area, was an excessive and unnecessary risk. It just shouldn't have been done for an AAU basketball game. There was a game on Saturday, so they could have stayed in a hotel Saturday night. My point is that all the risks we take in terms of driving in poor conditions; speeding; and texting while driving simply aren't worth it for these travel games.

Oh shut up.

Life is full of woulda shoulda couldas.

The pilot, Kobe and the FAA that allowed the flight to take off all wish they had a redo on this. It could have been a wedding he was going to or a work engagement. It is't AAU's fault. All of us at one time or another have over estimated our own skill versus the risk. IT was an error in judgement with tragic results, but really nothing more than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh FFS. Kobe has said he wanted to be able to work out and train with his team at full steam and be able to do carpool pick up for his kids. So he started commuting by helicopter. Cutting a 90 minute commute (no traffic, ha ha) to 25 minutes.

He also said the wear on his body from years of basketball prevented him from being able to sit in a car for 2 hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree that the helicopter was a regular means of transportation for Kobe. But flying into heavy fog that grounded police and sheriff helicopters in the area, was an excessive and unnecessary risk. It just shouldn't have been done for an AAU basketball game. There was a game on Saturday, so they could have stayed in a hotel Saturday night. My point is that all the risks we take in terms of driving in poor conditions; speeding; and texting while driving simply aren't worth it for these travel games.

Oh shut up.

Life is full of woulda shoulda couldas.

The pilot, Kobe and the FAA that allowed the flight to take off all wish they had a redo on this. It could have been a wedding he was going to or a work engagement. It is't AAU's fault. All of us at one time or another have over estimated our own skill versus the risk. IT was an error in judgement with tragic results, but really nothing more than that.

Life is full of lessons too. Perhaps the lesson here is that we need to slow down. Running around to these games just isn't worth it. Same for weddings (See the JFK, Jr. crash) and work engagements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree that the helicopter was a regular means of transportation for Kobe. But flying into heavy fog that grounded police and sheriff helicopters in the area, was an excessive and unnecessary risk. It just shouldn't have been done for an AAU basketball game. There was a game on Saturday, so they could have stayed in a hotel Saturday night. My point is that all the risks we take in terms of driving in poor conditions; speeding; and texting while driving simply aren't worth it for these travel games.

Oh shut up.

Life is full of woulda shoulda couldas.

The pilot, Kobe and the FAA that allowed the flight to take off all wish they had a redo on this. It could have been a wedding he was going to or a work engagement. It is't AAU's fault. All of us at one time or another have over estimated our own skill versus the risk. IT was an error in judgement with tragic results, but really nothing more than that.

Life is full of lessons too. Perhaps the lesson here is that we need to slow down. Running around to these games just isn't worth it. Same for weddings (See the JFK, Jr. crash) and work engagements.

If you think life is better slower good for you but don't begrudge those who want to do as much as they can while they can. Nothing wrong with either but it isn't your place to judge in either event.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree that the helicopter was a regular means of transportation for Kobe. But flying into heavy fog that grounded police and sheriff helicopters in the area, was an excessive and unnecessary risk. It just shouldn't have been done for an AAU basketball game. There was a game on Saturday, so they could have stayed in a hotel Saturday night. My point is that all the risks we take in terms of driving in poor conditions; speeding; and texting while driving simply aren't worth it for these travel games.

Oh shut up.

Life is full of woulda shoulda couldas.

The pilot, Kobe and the FAA that allowed the flight to take off all wish they had a redo on this. It could have been a wedding he was going to or a work engagement. It is't AAU's fault. All of us at one time or another have over estimated our own skill versus the risk. IT was an error in judgement with tragic results, but really nothing more than that.

Life is full of lessons too. Perhaps the lesson here is that we need to slow down. Running around to these games just isn't worth it. Same for weddings (See the JFK, Jr. crash) and work engagements.

FFS.