Two years later, it’s hard to believe that Kobe Bryant is really gone.
We lost Kobe Bryant three years ago today. He died with 8 others in a horrific helicopter crash. It was a foggy Sunday morning and the helicopter pilot lost his bearings amid the mountainous area near LA.
Kobe Bean Bryant was known as the "Black Mamba." He entered the NBA straight out of high school. Some forget he was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets before being traded to the LA Lakers soon thereafter. Along the way he won 5 NBA titles. He earned the Finals MVP award twice. The league named him to 16 All-Star games and placed him on the All-NBA team 15 times. However, while many remember Kobe for his scoring ability, he made the NBA All-Defensive team 12 times.
The things I remember most about him are his killer instinct and his continuous work ethic. So, that's why I put him on a short list of athletes who would knock down their own mother if she was in the way of victory. That list, according to me is: Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Kobe Bryant.
Again, we lost Kobe three years ago today. So, on the Shemon and Sheppard Show we will remember him during Wiki-Pete-ia with Lakers trivia. Be caller number 9 at 239-337-ESPN every weekday at 4:45ish for your chance to win. Test your knowledge each and everyday on ESPN Southwest Florida!
1. WHICH LAKER ONCE OUTSCORED AN ENTIRE OPPOSING TEAM THROUGH 3 QUARTERS?
A: KOBE SCORED 62 POINTS VS THE MAVS 61 POINTS IN 2005
2. JOHN KUNDLA WON 6 TITLES AS THE LAKERS COACH. WHO'S NEXT ON THE LIST WITH 5?
A: PHIL JACKSON
3. THE NBA'S TOP 4 ALL-TIME SCORES ALL PLAYED FOR THE LAKERS. 1. KAREEM, 2. LEBRON, 3?, 4. KOBE. WHO'S THIRD?
A: KARL MALONE
4. WHAT PLAYER DID THE LAKERS DRAFT TWICE?
A: ELGIN BAYLOR
5. WHO HOLDS THE LAKERS SINGLE SEASON ASSIST RECORD?
A: MAGIC JOHNSON
6. WHICH HALL OF FAMER AVERAGED JUST 2.1 POINTS PER GAME IN THEIR SHORT STINT WITH THE LAKERS?
A: DENNIS RODMAN
7. WHICH LAKER PLAYED FOR THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS?
A: WILT
8. WHICH LAKER WAS SO DOMINANT THE LEAGUE CREATED A GOALTENDING RULE AND WIDENED THE LANE?
A: GEORGE MIKAN
9. THE FIRST LAKER TO WIN THE LEAGUE MVP?
A: KAREEM
10. NAME 3 OF THE 5 LAKER STARTERS WEDNESDAY VS. THE SPURS?
A: LEBRON JAMES, PATRICK BEVERLY, DENNIS SCHRODER, TROY BROWN JR., THOMAS BRYANT
