January 26, 2020 was my last day of taking Week 83 off from updating this website (Art Infliction) before returning to do Tats What’s Up! entries and some of my last NFL related blog entries for the 2019-20 NFL season. As a matter of fact, I was finishing editing an entry (I forget which one) for the latter right before one of my roommates called up to me to see the shocking news that hit the airwaves. It was a helicopter crash and based on the shock, I figured that it involved a celebrity. I then set my laptop aside, as I was finished editing the entry anyways to go look at the TV and as soon as I did, my assumption was confirmed. The crash did involve a celebrity and it was one who remained relevant even in retirement, as the celebrity who was tragically killed in that helicopter crash was NBA legend Kobe Bryant. He was among nine in that helicopter crash that tragically claimed his life, the life of his 13-year old daughter Gianna and the lives of seven other people. He was 41.
During the time when I first heard the news of the tragic crash, I found out that it was reported by TMZ, a media outlet that I have a hard time trusting, thus causing me to not believe that it was real. But after the constant coverage of the tragedy on the day of (January, 26, 2020), it was tragically confirmed that it did happen. And just like everyone else on that day and beyond, I was in a state of shock. And even though that it’s been 10 days since that tragedy happened, I still can’t believe that it did.
Tune in tomorrow to part two of my coverage on Kobe Bryant.