Friday, 31 January 2020
Trump Administration Adds Six More Countries to Travel Ban
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Thursday, 30 January 2020
Mask Hoarders May Raise Risk of a Coronavirus Outbreak in the U.S.
By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr. from NYT Health https://ift.tt/38QAxky
New on Sports Illustrated: Ohio State's D.J. Carton to 'Temporarily Step Away' From Program, Focus on Mental Health
Ohio State freshman D.J. Carton is focusing on his mental health.
Ohio State will be without D.J. Carton on Saturday when it faces Indiana as the freshman guard has decided to "temporarily step away from the program."
"I have been suffering with mental health issues for a couple years," Carton
said Thursday in a Twitter post announcing his decision. "I have been through a lot. I'm disappointed to say I'm not 100% right now. I am not doing my teammates justice if I don't work on this now."Carton came to Ohio State as the No. 34 overall player and No. 4 guard in his class. He is averaging 10.4 points and 3.0 assists per game this season.
"I am doing everything in my power to strengthen my mental health. I will fight for my team and buckeye nation and I will come back stronger!" he added. "If you are going through mental health issues, I have learned through this you are loved and valued."
“D.J. remains a valued member of our program and we will continue to love and support him," head coach Chris Holtmann said in a statement. "Please respect the family’s privacy in this matter.”
Ohio State (13-7) welcomes Indiana on Saturday before heading on the road to face Michigan and Wisconsin.
New on Sports Illustrated: Wizards' Bradley Beal on All-Star Game Snub: 'It's Disrespectful'
Bradley Beal was surprised he didn't make the 2020 NBA All-Star Game.
On Thursday, Wizards guard Bradley Beal learned he wouldn't be going to the 2020 NBA All-Star Game, despite having played in it each of the past two seasons.
"I'm a little pissed off about it," he said after Washington's 121-107 win over the Hornets. "But I know how I am. I was kinda expecting it honestly.
"It's disrespectful, but the real ones know."
Beal entered Thursday night's action averaging 28.6 points per game, which, according to Elias Sports Bureau, would be the most points per game entering the All-Star break by a player not named an All-Star in 41 years.
Beal scored 34 points and added nine rebounds and nine assists in his team's victory on Thursday. The Florida product's scoring average has increased by more than three points this season.
Six first-timers were named reserves on Thursday night.
The full list reserves is as followed:
- East: Jimmy Butler (Heat), Kyle Lowry (Raptors), Ben Simmons (76ers), Khris Middleton (Bucks), Jayson Tatum (Celtics), Bam Adebayo (Heat), Domas Sabonis (Pacers)
- West: Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers), Donovan Mitchell (Jazz), Nikola Jokic (Nuggets), Rudy Gobert (Jazz), Brandon Ingram (Pelicans), Russell Westbrook (Rockets), Chris Paul (Thunder)
The All-Star draft will then take place on Feb. 6, with LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo drafting the starters and then the reserves. The All-Star Game is Feb. 16 at the United Center in Chicago.
Beal and his Wizards are less than five games out of the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. They are back in action on Thursday when they host the Nets at 8 p.m. ET.
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New on Sports Illustrated: Report: Helicopter in Kobe Bryant Crash Lacked Certification Necessary For Flight
The helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant reportedly did not have the necessary federal certification to fly on Sunday.
The helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people that
crashed into the mountainside in Calabasas, Calif. on Sunday did not have the necessary federal certification to fly, according The New York Times.While the flight's pilot, Ara Zoboyan, was certified to fly using instruments, Island Express Helicopters, which owned the Sikorsky S-76B that crashed, did not have the necessary certification, according to The Times. Because of the company's certification limitations, Zoboyan was required to fly only in conditions of "sufficient visibility" to navigate visually.
According to CNN, Island Express Helicopters is "suspending all flight service for operation reasons," but declined to provide any other details regarding the suspension.
"All services (regular and charter) were immediately suspended following the tragic accident on Sunday, January 26," the company said in a statement to CNN Thursday. "The shock of the accident affected all staff, and management decided that service would be suspended until such time as it was deemed appropriate for staff and customers."
Investigators are still trying to determine what caused the crash and whether Zoboyan should have been granted special permission to fly in foggy conditions on Sunday.
The Long Beach Press-Telegram's Emily Rasmussen cites National Transportation Safety Board records, which showed that the Long Beach-based company that operated the helicopter has had three other accidents dating back to 1985.
The Times notes that details about the company's certification leads to questions about why the pilot did not file an instrument flight plan that would have allowed him to climb above the fog-shrouded hills.
Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his daughter Alyssa and wife Keri were also killed, along with Sarah and Payton Chester, assistant coach Christina Mauser Zobayan, Bryant and Gianna.
More Coverage of Kobe Bryant's Death:
- Kobe Bryant, Daughter Die in California Helicopter Crash
- For the Bryant Family, An Unimaginable Loss
- Kobe Bryant Left His Mark as a Generational Hero
- Sports World Reacts to Kobe Bryant's Sudden Death
- Remembering Kobe Bryant: Sports Illustrated Covers Through the Years
- Spurs-Raptors Open Game With Shot Clock Violations to Honor Kobe
- Shaq Reflects on Kobe's Passing: "There’s No Words to Express the Pain"
New on Sports Illustrated: What the Latest Allegations Mean for the Saints in the Clergy Child Sexual Abuse Case
The Saints allegedly helped the Archdiocese identify which clergy members ought to be named on a so-called “Pedophile List.”
The controversy surrounding the New Orleans Saints advising the Archdiocese of New Orleans in the matter of accused child predator George Brignac escalated this week when attorneys representing an alleged victim claimed the team helped the Archdiocese identify which clergy members ought to be named on a so-called “Pedophile List.” This list reportedly identifies at least 63 clergy members in the New Orleans area who are suspected (not proven) of preying on children during the 20th century.
The Archdiocese faces a high-profile negligence and fraud lawsuit in the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans. The lawsuit is brought by John Doe, the pseudonym of a man who asserts that Brignac assaulted him years ago when Doe was a child. The Archdiocese employed Brignac, now 85, as a deacon and teacher for more than a decade. Brignac was moved around schools despite multiple accusations that he fondled the genitalia of young boys. Last year Brignac was charged with aggravated rape of a boy under the age of 12 during the 1970s.
The Saints aren’t a party to the lawsuit and aren’t accused of any involvement in the management of clergy. The team is nonetheless implicated in the litigation because its officials advised the Archdiocese on media fallout. Team officials could become witnesses should the case go to trial.
As detailed by The MMQB, attorneys representing Doe
insist that Saints owner Gayle Benson and senior members of her franchise informally, but repeatedly, counseled New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond and other Archdiocese members. Last year the Saints received a subpoena for emails, letters, direct messages, text messages and other correspondences between ownership, management and the Archdiocese. Court filings indicate that the Saints identified 305 relevant documents, of which the team marked 276 as confidential and thus not subject to disclosure.Doe’s attorneys demand complete access to Saints-Archdiocese emails and texts on account of their relevance to Doe’s legal claims. While communications between clients, attorneys and paid consultants are often shielded from pretrial discovery (the process by which parties in a lawsuit are compelled to share evidence), courts are less likely to deem as “privileged” communications between a party and an informal third-party advisor.
On Wednesday, Doe’s attorneys—Soren Gisleson, Richard Trahant, John Denenea, Benjamin Sanders and Matthew Fransen—filed a memorandum in support of a motion by the Associated Press to be heard. The MMQB has obtained the memorandum, which argues that the Associated Press should be able to appear before the court “and present arguments as to whether there should be continued secrecy of documents that establish the collaboration between the Archdiocese and the Saints over certain aspects of the handling of clergy child sexual abuse claims.”
The Associated Press maintains that journalists and the public possess a legitimate interest in reviewing communications between the Saints and the Archdiocese. Those communications concern matters of public interest and public safety. Both the Saints and the Archdiocese oppose the motion.
In their memorandum, Doe’s attorneys assert that the Saints’ involvement in advising Archdiocese was more extensive and pervasive than initially indicated. The attorneys maintain that what began as a “public relations campaign” would later “evolve into something much more.” To that point, Doe’s attorneys contend that the Saints played a transformative role in compiling the Pedophile List. This means, the attorneys maintain, that the Saints:
• Knew of the specific allegations of sexual abuse against a priest.
• Had supporting documentation of the alleged abuse.
• Made a judgment call about whether those allegations by a particular victim against a named priest were, in its opinion, legitimate enough to warrant being mentioned on the Pedophile List.
If Doe’s attorneys are accurate, the Saints’ involvement extended far beyond furnishing public relations advice and dispensing media strategies. This new depiction portrays the Saints as intricately enmeshed in substantive choices related to the identification of clergy suspected of committing sexual abuse.
The attorneys also charge that the Saints have failed to fully comply with the subpoena because, among other things, “not a single text message was produced.” The attorneys likewise maintain that the Saints have misled the public—and perhaps the NFL—as to its role and behavior during the controversy. The Saints issued a statement last week insisting that the Archdiocese had reached out to various community leaders, including the Saints. This narration of past events claimed the Archdiocese solicited advice on how to best handle “the pending media attention that would come with the release of clergy names in November of 2018.” The Saints further stressed that the team advised the Archdiocese to be transparent and open.
According to Doe’s attorneys, the Saints’ statement contains several falsehoods. First, Doe’s attorneys maintain it was the Saints that initiated discussions with the Archdiocese, not the other way around. Second, Doe’s attorneys charge the Saints’ role went far beyond supplying advice to one that involved “actual involvement in the creation of the Pedophile List.” Third, the Saints are accused of “pressuring local news outlets to either run favorable stories about the Archbishop or feed radio programs a stream of Archdiocese favorable remarks.”
Doe’s accusations against the Saints are disturbing, but not yet proven. Attorneys for Benson and team officials will have opportunities to rebut the assertions and introduce favorable evidence. With that in mind, the NFL seems poised to take a wait-and-see approach. According to Daniel Kaplan of The Athletic, the league does not intend launch an investigation unless Saints emails (or texts) raise troubling information.
The “unless” is important, particularly in a litigation where the Saints aren’t in control of either the process or the parties. While the team’s interests generally appear aligned with those of the Archdiocese, attorneys for the Archdiocese are entrusted with defending the Archdiocese and its fiduciary interests—not preventing possible fallout for the Saints with the NFL.
With that in mind, the Saints would probably prefer that the Archdiocese reach a financial settlement with Doe (and with other purported victims) whereby Doe’s claims would be dropped and pretrial discovery would end. A settlement wouldn’t be unprecedented: the Archdiocese deployed that option with Brignac victims before. The longer the litigation goes, the greater the risk for the Saints that (1) sensitive emails and texts find their way into the hands of media and (2) Saints officials are forced to answer difficult questions while under oath about their relationship with the Archdiocese.
The NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell enjoy considerable discretion in deciding whether and when to a punish a team. Under both the personal conduct policy and Article VII of the league constitution, any conduct that undermines the league’s brand and image can trigger a range of punishments, including suspensions and fines of up to $500,000. The league can also elect to impose a punishment at a time of its choosing. In other words, just because the NFL reportedly isn’t investigating the Saints doesn’t mean that is a permanent state of affairs. A lot can change during a litigation.
Michael McCann is SI’s Legal Analyst. He is also an attorney and the Director of the Sports and Entertainment Law Institute at the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law.
Wilbur Ross says Coronavirus could boost US jobs
US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross says firms may bring production back to the US in response to the virus.
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Hostage-taker in India shot dead at fake children’s party
Indian police kill a man who arranged a birthday party for his daughter, then took 20 hostages.
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Australia fires: State of emergency declared for Canberra region
Huge bushfires are raging near Canberra in the worst threat to the region since 2003, officials say.
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New on Sports Illustrated: Report: Red Sox, Dodgers 'Deep Into Talks' About Mookie Betts Trade
The Red Sox are reportedly talking about dealing Mookie Betts to the Dodgers.
The Red Sox and Dodgers are "deep into talks" about a deal involving 2018 AL MVP Mookie Betts,
according to ESPN's Buster Olney.Olney reports that the two sides have talked about possible trade combinations for Betts with and without also including former Cy Young Award winner David Price.
The 27-year-old Betts will be eligible for free agency after the 2020 season and the Red Sox have yet to sign their star outfielder to a long-term deal.
On Tuesday, Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci reported the difficulty some teams are having in evaluating the long term value of Betts, "whose historical uniqueness is astonishing."
"At least one team recently undertook just such an internal study of Betts," Verducci reported. "Nothing relevant came back. Betts is a terrific baserunner, a defensive wizard and a rock of dependability... At this age, Betts is the greatest small power hitter since Mel Ott, who was born in 1909."
Betts' projected performance at his $27 million salary for 2020 is one of the main reasons why teams would be willing to part ways with prospects in exchange for just one year of Betts, according to Verducci.
“Mookie Betts is one of the five best players in the game,” an assistant GM told Verducci . “When you have an opportunity to add a star player for one year, any team could use that kind of player... This is the kind of player you rarely get to acquire. He’s why you consider trading prospects.”
The Dodgers feature an attractive range of young players, including outfielder Alex Verdugo, infielder Gavin Lux and pitcher Dustin May. Los Angeles, however, isn't the only NL West team that seems interested in acquiring Betts.
Earlier this week, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the Padres are "willing to send two young major leaguers and at least one prospect" to Boston with outfielder Wil Myers in exchange for Betts. In order for the Friars to take on Betts' $27 million salary for a one-year rental, the club wants the Red Sox to "come up significantly in the portion of Myers' contract they are willing to pay."
Multiple people within the Padres organization told the Union-Tribune's Kevin Acee that acquiring Betts is "only marginally possible" due to the Dodgers' interest in the outfielder and the struggles over Myers's contract with the Red Sox. While Betts could walk away after one season, he would drastically improve the Padres' chances of making their first postseason since 2006.
The Dodgers, however, seem as if they in a better position to take on Betts's salary and have a deep farm system of high-level prospects to possibly trade.
Rival executives think it's inevitable that the team will trade Betts before the July 31 deadline, according to Olney. However, it's less certain that a deal will get done before the start of the regular season.
"I think it’s probably not going to happen, just because most deals this big don’t get done," the same assistant GM told Verducci. "And Boston doesn’t have to move him. They can wait until July if they don’t get what they want."
Betts finished last season hitting .295/.391/.524 with 29 home runs and 80 RBI. He was named American League MVP in 2018 after leading Major League Baseball with a .346 batting average and 129 runs.
Trump impeachment: All eyes on moderate Republicans in witnesses battle
Moderate Republican senators are expected to announce their decisions in key witnesses debate.
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Shane Fitzsimmons: 'Tireless' fire chief steering Australians through disaster
Fire chief Shane Fitzsimmons has worked tirelessly and "masterfully" to save lives, close observers say.
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Claudia Andujar: A glimpse of Yanomami life in the jungle
A gallery of Claudia Andujar's photographs of Yanomami tribespeople
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Iowa caucuses: Nine unusual things about the Democratic race
Democrats are deciding who they want to take on Trump - and it can be a noisy, chaotic process.
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Censorship claims emerge as TikTok gets political in India
A TikTok influencer says his videos on Hindu-Muslim unity have triggered censorship on the app.
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Making beautiful colours without toxic chemicals
Dyeing clothes uses a lot of water and chemicals, but new tech is drawing on nature for colours.
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Coronavirus: Why are we catching more diseases from animals?
Climate change is shifting our relationship with the animal kingdom and helping diseases evolve.
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W.H.O. Declares Global Emergency as Wuhan Coronavirus Spreads
By SUI-LEE WEE, DONALD G. McNEIL Jr. and JAVIER C. HERNÁNDEZ from NYT Health https://ift.tt/2U9uuTX
New on Sports Illustrated: WWE Co-Presidents Forced Out in Company Shakeup, Stock Plunges
There has been a shakeup toward the top of WWE.
WWE has replaced its two top executives as George Barrios and Michelle Wilson have been forced out of their roles as co-presidents after 2019 earnings came in at the low end of estimates,
the company announced Thursday. The two will also no longer serve on the company's board of directors effective immediately.Shares of WWE plunged as much as 14% to $53.30 in extended trading after the company announced its high-level personnel decisions.
Frank A. Riddick III, a longtime WWE board member will be the interim Chief Financial Officer and will report to WWE chairman & CEO Vince McMahon.
"I would like to thank George and Michelle for their 10+ years of service and contributions to the organization,”McMahon said in an official release. “I am grateful for all that was accomplished during their tenure, but the Board and I decided a change was necessary as we have different views on how best to achieve our strategic priorities moving forward.
“We have a deep team of talented, experienced and committed executives across the organization, and the Board and I have great confidence in our collective abilities to create compelling content, engage our global fanbase across platforms, increase revenues, and drive shareholder value.”
Variety reported in July 2019 that ratings for WWE's two main shows, "Monday Night Raw" and "SmackDown Live," had fallen around 20% each compared to the beginning of 2018. "SmackDown" moved to FOX in Oct. 2019, the beginning of a five-year deal with the network.
New on Sports Illustrated: Lakers GM Rob Pelinka Releases Statement on Kobe Bryant's Death
Rob Pelinka released a statement on his longtime client Kobe Bryant on Thursday.
On Thursday, Lakers GM and Vice President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka released a statement regarding the death of Lakers legend, and Pelinka's former client, Kobe Bryant.
"On Sunday, I lost my best friend and my sweet goddaughter. With that, there has been an amputation of part of my soul," Pelinka said in a statement. "Kobe was a force of nature, deep and obsessed with excellence. He was wise, determined, passionate. A visionary beyond measure. A dedicated and loving husband, and a "girl-dade" like no other. When he walked into a room, the energy ignited. He was high voltage, with a motor that had no limits. His mind had an infinite capacity to learn. He was, simply put, the most inspirational athlete of our time. What the world may not know, is that he was also the best friend anyone could ever imagine...
"Their lives have shown me that death has no victory. Last Sunday is not the end of the story. It's just a new beginning. Kobe and Gigi's legacies will live on — and gain even more power and influence. All of us touched by them will now try to become torch carriers of their legacies. And, while we do that, we can be certain of this: Kobe and Gigi will continue on, forever, playing a joy-filled game of basketball in heaven above."
Pelinka was Bryant's longtime agent, negotiating his final two-year, $48.5 million contract under which Bryant finished his two-decade career.
The Lakers released their team statement on Wednesday, hours after Kobe's wife Vanessa released her first public comments.
Lakers executives, including Jeanie Buss and Linda Rambis, gathered at the team's facility on Sunday following the news of Bryant's death, according to the LA Times. Pelinka reportedly also spent time on Sunday with Bryant’s widow, Vanessa.
An 18-time All-Star and 11-time All-NBA first-teamer, Bryant led the Lakers to five NBA championships and scored 33,643 points in his 20-year NBA career. He retired after the 2015-16 season, having spent his entire career with the Lakers. The franchise retired his No. 8 and No. 24 jersey numbers in December 2017.
Bryant, his daughter and seven other people died suddenly in a helicopter crash on Sunday. Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his daughter Alyssa and wife Keri were also killed, along with Sarah and Payton Chester, assistant coach Christina Mauser and pilot Ara Zobayan.
Pelinka was promoted to VP of Basketball Operations in early January.
More Coverage of Kobe Bryant's Death:
- Sports World Reacts to Kobe Bryant's Sudden Death
- Remembering Kobe Bryant: Sports Illustrated Covers Through the Years
- Breanna Stewart Mourns One of Her Greatest Supporters: Kobe Bryant
- Spurs-Raptors Open Game With Shot Clock Violations to Honor Kobe
- Shaq Reflects on Kobe's Passing: "There’s No Words to Express the Pain"
New on Sports Illustrated: Jimmy Butler, Damian Lillard Highlight All-Star Reserves
The 2020 NBA All-Star Game reserves have been released.
The NBA's All-Star reserves were announced Thursday as Jimmy Butler, Damian Lillard and Chris Paul highlight the list, joining six first-timers off the bench. The full reserve list is followed:
- East: Jimmy Butler (Heat), Kyle Lowry (Raptors), Ben Simmons (76ers), Khris Middleton (Bucks), Jayson Tatum (Celtics), Bam Adebayo (Heat), Domas Sabonis (Pacers)
- West: Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers), Donovan Mitchell (Jazz), Nikola Jokic (Nuggets), Rudy Gobert (Jazz), Brandon Ingram (Pelicans), Russell Westbrook (Rockets), Chris Paul (Thunder)
The aforementioned 14 players will be joined by the
10 starters that were announced last Thursday. The starters are as followed: Trae Young, Kemba Walker, Pascal Siakam, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid. In the West, the starters will be Luka Doncic, James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James and Anthony Davis.On Thursday, the league announced that the format of the All-Star will be different this year. The league has turned every every quarter into a mini-game for charity before an untimed final quarter with a target score will decide which teams wins.
The team that is victorious All-Star Game will be the first to reach a target score determined by the total points the team in the lead scored in the first three quarters combined—plus 24, an homage to Kobe Bryant.
The All-Star draft will then take place on Feb. 6, with James and Antetokounmpo drafting the starters and then the reserves. The All-Star Game is Feb. 16 at the United Center in Chicago.
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Amazon Christmas sales soar as rivals struggle
Sales were up 20% over the festive season in sharp contrast to weakness at other retailers.
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Wednesday, 29 January 2020
New on Sports Illustrated: Lakers Release Statement on Kobe Bryant's Sudden Death
The statement read that "words cannot express what Kobe means to the Los Angeles Lakers, our fans, and our city."
The
Los Angeles Lakers took to Instagram on Wednesday to release a statement following the death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna."We are devastated and have been forever changed by the sudden loss of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna," the post reads. "We send our love to Vanessa, the Bryant family, and to the families of the other passengers. Words cannot express what Kobe means to the Los Angeles Lakers, our fans, and our city. More than a basketball player, he was a beloved father, husband, and teammate. Their love and light will remain in our hearts forever.
"The Mamba Sports Foundation has set up the MambaOnThree Fund to support the families affected by this tragedy. To help, please visit MambaOnThree.org. For those who are inspired to continue Kobe and Gianna’s legacy in youth sports, please visit MambaSportsFoundation.org."
Bryant's widow, Vanessa Bryant, also released her first public comments on the tragedy on Wednesday.
The Lakers organization has been greatly impacted by the Kobe and Gianna's deaths, with Tuesday's game against the Clippers postponed to allow more time for players and the front office to grieve.
Lakers executives, including Jeanie Buss and Linda Rambis, gathered at the team's facility on Sunday following the news, according to the LA Times. General manager Rob Pelinka, who was Bryant’s agent and a close family friend, reportedly also spent time on Sunday with Bryant’s widow, Vanessa.
An 18-time All-Star and 11-time All-NBA first-teamer, Bryant led the Lakers to five NBA championships and scored 33,643 points in his 20-year NBA career. He retired after the 2015-16 season, having spent his entire career with the Lakers. The franchise retired his No. 8 and No. 24 jersey numbers in December 2017.
He was 17 when he was selected with the No. 13 pick in the 1996 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets before being traded to the Lakers. He went on to become the Lakers' franchise leader in points, games played, three-pointers, steals and free throws.
One of his most iconic games was an 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors in 2006, which ranks as the second-most points scored in an NBA game, behind Wilt Chamberlain's 100 on March 2, 1962. Bryant scored 60 points in his final game when the Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz 101–96 on April 13, 2016.
Countless other Lakers honored Bryant on Sunday. Magic Johnson called Bryant "the great Laker of all-time." Shaquille O'Neal said that there were "no words to express the pain" he was feeling. Phil Jackson said that Bryant "transcended the norm." Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said he was "much more than an athlete."
Others from around the sports world also paid their respects to Bryant.
The 2020 Grammy Awards took place in Staples Center on Sunday night, and host Alicia Keys framed the event by acknowledging Bryant's death in her opening remarks.
Earlier in the day, fans started gathering outside Staples Center to honor the late Lakers legend following the news off his death.
Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his daughter Alyssa and wife Keri were also aboard the helicopter and killed, along with Sarah and Payton Chester, assistant coach Christina Mauser and pilot Ara Zobayan.
More Coverage of Kobe Bryant's Death:
- Kobe Bryant, Daughter Die in California Helicopter Crash
- For the Bryant Family, An Unimaginable Loss
- Kobe Bryant Left His Mark as a Generational Hero
- Sports World Reacts to Kobe Bryant's Sudden Death
- Remembering Kobe Bryant: Sports Illustrated Covers Through the Years
- Spurs-Raptors Open Game With Shot Clock Violations to Honor Kobe
- Shaq Reflects on Kobe's Passing: "There’s No Words to Express the Pain"
US-Mexico border: 'Longest ever' smuggling tunnel discovered
The tunnel had rail track, drainage and air ventilation systems, and stretched for 4,309ft (1,313m).
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Coronavirus: Death toll rises as virus spreads to every Chinese region
With one of the 7,711 confirmed cases reported in Tibet, the virus is now in every region of China.
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Sun's surface seen in remarkable new detail
A telescope positioned atop a Hawaiian volcano acquires remarkable pictures of our convulsing star.
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Я/МЫ: Why are Russians using this symbol?
The phrase means "it's all of us" and is being used to rally support against the Russian government.
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Venezuela crisis forced José abroad to access HIV drugs
José Tovar is an HIV-positive refugee, forced to choose between staying in Venezuela or leaving home.
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New on Sports Illustrated: Kawhi Leonard Says He Uses Same Helicopter Program as Kobe Bryant
Kawhi Leonard said Ara Zobayan, who died in Sunday's helicopter crash, was often his pilot.
Kawhi Leonard is uncertain about using helicopters as a mode of transportation after
Kobe Bryant's tragic crash.Leonard has used helicopters to commute to Los Angeles since he joined the Clippers in the offseason. In a conversation during the summer, Bryant mentioned his use of helicopters throughout his time in California.
"I talked to him about it before our transition to playing in L.A.," Leonard said on Wednesday to ESPN. "Just seeing how [he] got back and forth from Newport, and he said he was doing it for about 17 years or so."
While Leonard has a home close to Staples Center in Los Angeles, he often stays in San Diego. Leonard is a California native and spent two years at San Diego State before being drafted in 2011.
To get to and from, Leonard said he adopted the same helicopter program as Bryant.
"Yeah, same pilot, everything," Leonard said. "The whole situation, this whole program, the setup, how [Bryant] was traveling back and forth was the same way I was getting here from San Diego."
The pilot, Ara Zobayan, was amongst the nine that died in Sunday's crash in Calabasas, Calif. Leonard called Zobayan "one of the best pilots," and that he sometimes would fly both Leonard and Kobe in the same day.
"He will drop me off and say he is about go pick up Kobe, [and] Kobe said hello," Leonard said. "Or he'll just be like, 'I just dropped Kobe off, and he said hello.' Vice versa. So, it's a crazy interaction. He's a good dude, and I'm sorry for everybody."
Since the crash, Leonard said he has not had time to think about whether he will stop using helicopters to commute between San Diego and Los Angeles.
"I feel like that ... I mean ... the things that you hear, you don't know what's real yet," Leonard said. "I can't really speak on it. I don't know. I don't know yet. It's a lot of thoughts in my head."
Leonard added that Bryant was his motivation during the Toronto Raptors' 2019 championship-winning season. The two had known each other personally for the last seven years.
"It's sad every day," Leonard said. "You know, you kind of feel like life isn't real once you start seeing these little monuments or the pictures that people are putting up with his face and the year he was born and the year he died. It's not all come together yet."
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New on Sports Illustrated: Why Martin Brodeur's Wins Record Is One of the NHL's Unbreakable Marks
It's been five years since Martin Brodeur retired, and the approach to modern goaltending makes it seem increasingly unlikely the NHL will ever see anyone tackle his all-time wins record.
Five years ago on this very date, the winningest goaltender in NHL history decided he was done adding to his league-record total. After a seven-game stint with the St. Louis Blues, a tenure that will become useless trivia some years from now when his stay in the Show Me State is all but forgotten, Martin Brodeur announced his retirement.
When he called it a career, Brodeur did so in ownership of his fair share of NHL marks. He held the shutout record, games-played record and minutes record. He was also atop the all-time list of post-season shutouts and starts. Add to it the second-most wins in playoff history, four Vezina Trophies, the Calder Trophy and, later, entrance into the Hockey Hall of Fame, and Brodeur left the game as arguably the most decorated netminder in NHL history. But when asked about the one individual accomplishment that stood out upon his retirement, Brodeur didn’t hum and haw.
“If you play hockey, you might as well win,”
he told reporters. “The most important record is the wins record that I have.”And at 691 wins, there’s reason to believe that’s not only a record with which Brodeur retired, but one that will forever remain unbroken.
It’s a mark that makes Brodeur not only the first goaltender to reach the 650-win milestone, but the only keeper to eclipse 600 career victories. His all-time mark also puts him so far ahead of the rest of the pack that it borders on ludicrous. Don’t believe it? How about this: Brodeur has won 140 games more than the second-winningest goaltender, Patrick Roy. Of the 808 goaltenders to play at least one game in NHL history, 665 have won fewer games than that spread between Brodeur’s league record and Roy’s 551 career victories.
To be sure, a few netminders have scaled the record book since Brodeur’s retirement. Notably, Marc-Andre Fleury has moved into fifth on the all-time list, where, as of this writing, he sits tied with Henrik Lundqvist. But neither is a threat to surpass the legendary New Jersey Devils netminder, not with both on the back nine of their respective careers and some 230-plus wins behind Brodeur. Much more likely is that Fleury hunts down and passes Roy, and some even consider that a 50-50 proposition.
That no true modern-day challenger has arisen and that those who at one point or another looked like potential pursuers of Brodeur’s record have since settled into a chase for second place are only two reasons why the legendary keeper is almost assuredly anchored into top spot in the record book. Mind you, neither reason precludes an up-and-comer from throwing his hat into the ring, but there are four factors that make it near impossible to fathom a scenario in which another keeper climbs the list and reaches quite the heights of Brodeur.
First and foremost, there’s a matter of longevity. Brodeur’s career spanned parts of 22 seasons, and Brodeur was the No. 1 netminder or split-time starter in 20 of those campaigns. In part, what allowed Brodeur to play as long as he did was that he was given the reigns at an early age by the Devils. He first played in the NHL as a 19-year-old, appearing in four games, and was a full-time keeper in New Jersey by the time he was a 21-year-old. In the modern era, when goaltenders are often left to marinate in the minors for a few seasons, such instances of a fresh-faced keeper earning a split-starter role or more are an extreme rarity.
Only five times in the post-lockout era has a goaltender played more than 35 games in a single season prior to his age 22 season. Those seasons belong to Fleury (2005-06), Carey Price (2007-08, 2008-09) and Steve Mason (2008-09, 2009-10). By the same token, only five goaltenders have played more than 80 total games in the post-lockout era before the culmination of their age 22 campaign, a list that includes the three aforementioned netminders, as well as Cam Ward and Andrei Vasilevskiy. Thus, if the trend of the past decade-plus is to be believed, there will be few goaltenders who get a start as young.
Factoring into Brodeur’s longevity, of course, is that he also remained the starter in New Jersey well into his late-30s and was part of a platoon until his final season with the Devils at 41. That is also an incredibly rare feat, as Brodeur is one of only five goaltenders in NHL history to appear in more than 180 games from the beginning of their respective age 38 seasons and beyond.
What can’t be overlooked, either, is durability. That Brodeur remained in good health throughout his career – he missed more than 10 games in a single season due to injury just once – and that he was able to avoid succumbing to the tweaks and strains and pulls that have put other goaltenders on the injured list for long stretches played a big part in his ability to play into his late-30s and early-40s. And that durability allowed Brodeur to shoulder a workload that no other keeper in NHL history ever has.
By his third full season with the Devils, Brodeur had his first season of 70-plus appearances under his belt, a campaign that was subsequently followed by another 11 campaigns in which he played at least 67 games and a streak of 10 consecutive seasons with at least 70 games played. By the conclusion of his career, Brodeur had played 65 or more games in 13 NHL campaigns. To put that into context, no other netminder in league history is in double digits – Glenn Hall had nine seasons of 65 games or more – and no modern goaltender comes even close. Longtime Calgary Flames netminder Miikka Kiprusoff’s seven 65-plus game seasons is the best of any netminder who was a contemporary of Brodeur’s.
It’s not just that no other netminder has had that workload that stands to separate Brodeur from the pack for what could be eternity, though. It’s that the trend has been and continues to be an increased focus on resting top keepers and decreasing the number of starts a No. 1 has in a given season. All but gone are the days of the 70-game goaltender and with it any likelihood that a keeper will have as many opportunities to pile up wins. That makes the margin for error slimmer. Even the best goaltenders of this era and eras to come will have difficulty compiling the equivalent of 20 seasons of at least 30 wins if those campaigns are spent playing 50-or-so games each season.
And speaking of wins, it’s prolonged consistency that might be the most difficult feat of Brodeur’s to replicate. At a time when keepers are playing fewer games and the NHL is more parity driven than ever, it seems difficult to fathom any goaltender matching Brodeur’s record of 14 30-win campaigns. It seems even more unreasonable, possibly even laughable, to expect any netminder to match his mark of eight 40-win seasons. There are six keepers with three such seasons – Braden Holtby recently joined the club – but not a single netminder other than Brodeur with more.
Does that mean no one will ever come close to Brodeur? Not necessarily. Fleury’s certainly taking his shot. If the 35-year-old maintains his current winning pace, he’ll end this campaign 82 wins behind Roy’s second-place mark. It seems well within reason, particularly if Fleury plays another three or four seasons, that he could move into second on the all-time list. But the moment he pulls level with Roy and gets that one win to take sole possession of second, Fleury will still remain 139 wins back of Brodeur. That’s not an easy gap to close. That’s a chasm. So chances are as close as Fleury comes is as close as anyone will well into the future – quite possibly ever.
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New on Sports Illustrated: Patrick Kane and the Blackhawks Ready to Play 'Meaningful Games' Down the Stretch
To the surprise of many, the Blackhawks find themselves in the wild-card race exiting the All-Star break and believe they can punch a ticket back into the postseason.
The Chicago Blackhawks come out of the all-star break in a position almost nobody thought they would occupy this late in the season. They’re three points out of the final wild-card spot and they’re trending upward. Prior to losing the last game before the break, they had won five in a row.
But if there’s a team that has a tougher month of February, feel free to let us know. Of the 14 games the Blackhawks play in the month, all but three are on the road. On the other, hand, the Blackhawks have actually been better away from the United Center this season, so you never know…
The Blackhawks are one of the more intriguing teams in the NHL this season, and will continue to be. Dominik Kubalik has been a revelation. The Ryan Strome-for-Nick Schmaltz trade is evening out after Strome’s performance last season gave the Hawks a clear win. A move to the right side has made Slater Koekkoek an essential part of the team’s blueline corps. And then there’s the goaltending situation, with both Robin Lehner and Corey Crawford approaching unrestricted free agency, with the former having no interest in taking another discount and the latter having no interest in returning as a backup goalie.
So what exactly are the Blackhawks? Are they a good, but not great team that is destined to miss the playoffs again? Or are they a contender in waiting? With all of their playoff experience, it’s not outlandish to suggest this group could put together some kind of special run, is it?
“Well, I think it will be interesting,” said Hawks superstar Patrick Kane during all-star weekend. “I think probably how we do over the next few weeks and leading up to the trade deadline will probably determine what we do. It would be nice going into a nice position going into March.”
The Blackhawks have been improved on the defensive side of the puck this season, but not much. They’re actually giving up 35.2 shots per game this season, which is the worst in the NHL, but their penalty killing has gone from worst in the league to seventh-best this season. They’re down more than a quarter of a goal per game against this season, owing in large part to Lehner’s .934 save percentage on the penalty kill, which is best in the league. Alex DeBrincat is starting to show signs of life after falling off the map in the first half of the season and Jonathan Toews is heating up with five goals and 16 points in 10 games in January. Kubalik has eclipsed the 20-goal mark and will almost certainly lead all rookies in goals this season.
“I think we have a pretty dangerous team, to be honest with you,” Kane said. “Some teams might look at us and think we’re easy to play against, but I think we’re kind of changing that. I think we’re playing a more controlled game and a better team game lately. We have a lot of experience, but we haven’t been in the playoffs for a little bit, so it would be nice to get back there and feel that pressure of playing some meaningful games and playoff hockey. I think that would be huge for our team.”
Kubalik, who was chosen in the seventh round by the Los Angeles Kings in 2013, was acquired for fifth-round pick a year ago and, after coming over from the Swiss League last season, has progressively had more of an impact with the Blackhawks. After being a healthy scratch twice in November, Kubalik has seen more ice time with better players and is beginning to show his worth as an impact player in the NHL. Like his linemate Toews, Kubalik has been one of the hottest players in the league of late with 10 goals in 10 games in January.
“He’s been great,” Kane said. “He actually was a healthy scratch a couple of times and started playing well again. He’s been playing really well for us. Good skater, physical to a point and gets to the front of the net and scores some dirty goals in that area. He and Johnny (Toews) have been playing really well together and they have a lot of chemistry. They’ve been really good for us.”
As for Kane, he’s pretty much his usual self, scoring points at a prodigious pace and proving to be one of the most valuable players in the league. After recently passing the 1,000-point mark, he goes into the Blackhawks first game after the break on Saturday in Arizona riding an 11-game point streak in which he has five goals and 11 points. No matter what happens with the Hawks this season, you know there won’t be any let up in his game. Perhaps there are still a few more heartbreaker goal celebrations in him yet.
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New on Sports Illustrated: Vanessa Bryant Addresses Losing Kobe, Gianna: 'It’s Impossible to Imagine Life Without Them'
Vanessa Bryant, the widow of Kobe Bryant, made her first public statement on Wednesday since the deaths of her husband and daughter, Gianna.
Vanessa Bryant, the widow of
Kobe Bryant, took to Instagram on Wednesday to make her first public statement since the deaths of her husband and daughter, Gianna."My girls and I want to thank the millions of people who’ve shown support and love during this horrific time," Bryant wrote. "Thank you for all the prayers. We definitely need them."
Bryant posted the message alongside a photo of herself with Kobe and their four daughters, Natalia, Gianna, Bianka and Capri. She had been married to Kobe since 2001.
"We are completely devastated by the sudden loss of my adoring husband, Kobe — the amazing father of our children; and my beautiful, sweet Gianna — a loving, thoughtful, and wonderful daughter, and amazing sister to Natalia, Bianka, and Capri," Bryant wrote. "We are also devastated for the families who lost their loved ones on Sunday, and we share in their grief intimately."
Kobe, 41, and Gianna, 13, died on Sunday in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif., in which none of the nine passengers survived. The group was on its way to a game at the Mamba Sports Academy. Two of Gianna's teammates were on board, along with three parents, an assistant coach and the pilot.
"There aren’t enough words to describe our pain right now," Bryant added. "I take comfort in knowing that Kobe and Gigi both knew that they were so deeply loved. We were so incredibly blessed to have them in our lives. I wish they were here with us forever. They were our beautiful blessings taken from us too soon."
Many tributes have been made across the world for Kobe and Gigi, from NBA players changing their jersey numbers to sneaker messages, memorials and murals.
Bryant went on to describe the family's new reality.
"I’m not sure what our lives hold beyond today, and it’s impossible to imagine life without them," Bryant said. "But we wake up each day, trying to keep pushing because Kobe, and our baby girl, Gigi, are shining on us to light the way. Our love for them is endless — and that’s to say, immeasurable. I just wish I could hug them, kiss them and bless them. Have them here with us, forever."
To end her post, Bryant announced that the Mamba Sports Foundation has set up a fund to help support the other families affected by the tragedy, called the "MambaOnThree Fund." Those interested in donating can visit MambaSportsFoundation.org.
"Thank you so much for lifting us up in your prayers, and for loving Kobe, Gigi, Natalia, Bianka, Capri and me," Bryant wrote.
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New on Sports Illustrated: Is It Fair To Ask the Lakers to Grieve Publicly?
It may help grieving fans of Kobe Bryant to hear players like LeBron James talk about losing an icon. But is that asking too much of those who knew him?
El Segundo, Calif. — The last time the Lakers’ practice facility was close to being as crowded as it was Wednesday—the team’s first public practice since
Kobe Bryant’s death—was Media Day, when the organization was filled with excitement and promise before the start of what’s become, in terms of the on-court product, a wildly successful season. The emotions were a little different this time, as a horde of media from around the world waited for the Lakers’ first public comments since Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash.The mood was somewhere between somber and angsty. Reporters and camerapeople piled on top of each other in preparation for what was a tightly packed scrum around a small backdrop where Frank Vogel, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis were all expected to speak publicly for the first time. In the end, only Vogel addressed the media, describing the Lakers’ predicament as “extremely emotional.”
“We want to represent what Kobe was about more than anything,” Vogel said. “We’ve always wanted to make him proud. And that’s not going to be any different here.”
The decision for LeBron and AD not to speak was confusing—or even frustrating—to some. They’re inarguably the faces of the franchise. And James is even bigger, a globally respected NBA icon who had a personal connection to Bryant. But the decisions of James, Davis and every other player not to speak make sense in the wake of the massive void Kobe’s death has left in Los Angeles.
You can’t escape Kobe right now. There are memorials all over the city. The area around Staples Center is constantly filled with fans leaving messages and flowers even days later. Some city buses even flash “RIP KOBE” across the front in between the route number. That’s simply the impact Bryant has had on the people who didn’t know him—so what are the people who were actually his peers or teammates going through?
We’ve seen people like Jerry West and Shaquille O’Neal grieve publicly for Bryant. Their teary-eyed stories about Kobe during TNT’s tribute show from inside Staples were raw, compelling and heart-wrenching. But just because it was great television doesn’t necessarily mean anyone was owed that level of emotion.
I honestly don’t know when it will feel appropriate for the Lakers’ players to answer questions about Bryant. It was obviously difficult enough for Vogel, and he only ever coached against Kobe. The strangeness of the death of a widely loved public figure means not only an outpouring of support, but an expectation that the public figures who knew him help put everything into perspective.
I cringe a little bit at the thought of the questions we would have asked LeBron on Wednesday. Are we entitled to know exactly what he was doing the moment he found out about Kobe? Is it fair to ask how he felt in the moments, hours, and days following? It may help fans of Bryant or the Lakers move to the other side of grief to hear one symbol speak up after the loss of another, but it’s only human for players not to be ready to discuss a personal tragedy with a massive audience while they’re still processing it.
Of course, James, Davis and everyone else will eventually speak about their connection to Bryant. That’s the nature of the beast. The Lakers’ next practice is scheduled for Thursday. The crowd will be immense and the mood will be strange. Los Angeles and Kobe Bryant will be intertwined for the foreseeable future. For better or worse, no one will be able to escape Kobe’s presence, especially the people who actually knew him.
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Homero Gómez: Missing Mexican butterfly activist found dead
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New on Sports Illustrated: Suspect Surrenders $500K Worth of Allen Iverson's Jewelry
Iverson's backpack was allegedly stolen from a Philadelphia hotel on Monday morning.
Christopher Daniel, 20, turned himself in to Philadelphia police on Tuesday morning after a backpack belonging to Allen Iverson went missing at the Sofitel Hotel, according to
FOX 29 Philadelphia.Iverson's backpack reportedly contained $500,000 worth of jewelry, per Philadelphia PD.
"An incident was reported in the hotel lobby, which the local authorities are handling with full cooperation from the hotel," the Sofitel Hotel said in a statement.
Iverson attended the Sixers' win over the Lakers in Los Angeles on Jan. 25. LeBron James passed Kobe Bryant for No. 3 on the all-time scoring list in Los Angeles' loss just one day before Bryant's tragic death.
The former Sixers point guard paid tribute to Bryant on Instagram Monday.
"Words cannot express how I'm feeling today. The only 2 words that ring in my head - devastated and heartbroken," Iverson wrote. "I cannot seem to shake this feeling no matter what I've tried to do since hearing this yesterday."
Iverson is the 76ers' all-time leader in threes. He ranks second in points, only trailing Hal Greer.
New on Sports Illustrated: USWNT Pulls Away From Haiti in Olympic Qualifying Opener
The U.S. didn't have its sharpest match, but it did enough to secure three points on the first step on the road to Tokyo.
The U.S. women's national team didn't have the sharpest
first match of 2020 Olympic qualifying, but it was at the very least a three-point start.Christen Press's second-minute goal stood up for over an hour, until headers from Lynn Williams in the 67th minute, Lindsey Horan in the 73rd and Carli Lloyd in stoppage-time let the Americans pull away with a 4-0 win in Houston in Vlatko Andonovski's first competitive match as U.S. manager. The relatively modest scoreline keeps the U.S. in second place in its group after the first set of matches, with Costa Rica's 6-1 thrashing of Panama enough to lift the Costa Ricans into first on goal differential.
It looked like it would be a cakewalk for the reigning Women's World Cup champions against the 68th-ranked team in the world when Press volleyed home after Williams–who had lost a shoe in the process–crossed from the right soon after the opening whistle.
The lopsided rout that may have been expected never unfolded until late, though. Haiti appeared to wrongfully have a would-be equalizer disallowed in the 19th minute when Roseline Eloissaint's flicked-on header at the near post off a corner kick trickled into the far corner of the goal.
The assistant referee's flag went up to signal that Eloissaint was offside when the kick was taken, and while she was in an offside position, the rule does not apply on the kick itself. There was no handball, nor was there a foul, nor did the ball curl out of bounds on the set piece, leaving little in the way of proper reasoning for the nullified goal.
The U.S. certainly didn't complain about the call, and it bossed the possession throughout the match, though it was wasteful with its chances. Lloyd uncharacteristically missed a numbed of gilt-edged opportunities after scoring three goals in her first two appearances under Andonovski, and it wasn't until the dying moments of the match that she finally got on the board.
Press had a bid at a second goal denied by a diving Kerly Theus in the 59th minute, her last meaningful action before coming out for Megan Rapinoe. It didn't take the reigning Ballon d'Or and SI Sportsperson of the Year winner to make an impact. Just over four minutes after her entrance, her corner kick found Williams for an insurance goal, making it 2-0 in the 67th minute.
Six minutes after that, Rapinoe served up a cross for another substitute, Horan, whose header was parried by Theus off a defender and crossed the goal line before being cleared away.
Lloyd put the finishing touches on the match with a diving header from the center of the box, with Rapinoe playing it to Julie Ertz, who teed up Lloyd for the header in her former home NWSL stadium.
The U.S. trotted out eight of the 11 players who started in the Women's World Cup final, with the only differences being the front line of Press, Lloyd and Williams starting instead of Tobin Heath, Alex Morgan and Rapinoe.
How much rotation there is going forward remains to be seen, with matches coming at a rapid-fire pace to close group play. The Americans will face Panama on Friday before finishing up vs. Costa Rica next Monday.
The top two in Concacaf's Group A will advance to the semifinal round, where the two winners clinch the region's berths at the 2020 Olympics. Canada, Mexico, Jamaica and Saint Kitts and Nevis are in Group B.
New on Sports Illustrated: Los Angeles County Coroner's Office Identifies Bodies of Kobe Bryant, Three Others
Bryant and the three other bodies were identified in the Los Angeles hillside on Tuesday morning.
LOS ANGELES — The bodies of Kobe Bryant and three other people killed
when a helicopter crashed into a foggy Los Angeles-hillside on Sunday have been identified, the Los Angeles County coroner's office said Tuesday.Fingerprints were used to confirm the identity of Bryant, 41, along with John Altobelli, 56, Sarah Chester, 45, and the pilot, 50-year-old Ara Zobayan, the Medical Examiner-Coroner reported.
While the department had not yet formally identified five other victims, relatives and acquaintances have identified them as Bryant's 13-year-old daughter, Gianna; Chester's 13-year-old daughter, Payton; Altobelli's wife, Keri, and daughter Alyssa; and Christina Mauser, a girls' basketball coach at a Southern California elementary school.
The last of the bodies and the wreckage were recovered from the Calabasas hillside on Tuesday, authorities said.
Determining what caused the crash will take months, federal investigators said at an afternoon news conference.
The helicopter descended for about a minute before crashing. It was traveling at more than 2,000 feet per minute when it hit the ground, "so we know that this was a high-energy impact crash," but it appeared that the aircraft was in one piece when it struck the ground, the National Transportation Safety Board's Jennifer Homendy said.
However, it is too soon to determine whether the pilot was still in control of the aircraft during that descent, she said.
The pilot was well-acquainted with the skies over Los Angeles.
Zobayan had spent thousands of hours ferrying passengers through one of the nation's busiest air spaces and training students how to fly a helicopter. Friends and colleagues described him as skilled, cool and collected.
The decision to proceed in deteriorating visibility was questioned by some experts and fellow pilots.
Jerry Kidrick, a retired Army colonel who flew helicopters in Iraq and now teaches at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona, said there can be pressure to fly VIPs despite poor conditions, a situation he experienced when flying military brass in bad weather.
"The perceived pressure is, 'Man, if I don't go, they're going to find somebody who will fly this thing,' '' Kidrick said.
The chartered Sikorsky S-76B crashed into a cloud-shrouded hillside as the retired NBA star was on his way to a youth basketball basketball tournament in which Gianna was playing. The last of the nine bodies was recovered Tuesday.
NTSB investigators said Zobayan asked for and received permission from air traffic controllers to proceed in the fog. In his last radio transmission before the helicopter went down, he reported that he was climbing to avoid a cloud layer.
Investigators have yet to establish the cause of the crash and have not faulted his decision to press on or explained why he chose to do so.
Randy Waldman, a Los Angeles helicopter flight instructor who viewed tracking data of the flight's path and saw a photo of the dense fog in the area at the time, speculated that Zobayan got disoriented in the clouds, a common danger for pilots.
He said Zobayan should have turned around or landed but may have felt the pressure to reach his destination, an occupational hazard for pilots often referred to as "got-to-get-there-itis" or "get-home-itis."
"Somebody who's a wealthy celebrity who can afford a helicopter to go places, the reason they take the helicopter is so they can get from A to B quickly with no hassle,'' Waldman said. ``Anybody that flies for a living there's sort of an inherent pressure to get the job done because if too many times they go, `No, I don't think I can fly, the weather's getting bad or it's too windy,' ... they're going to lose their job.''
Helicopter pilot Kurt Deetz said he flew Bryant dozens of times over a two-year period ending in 2017, often to games at Staples Center, and never remembered the Lakers star or his assistants pressing him to fly in bad weather.
"There was never any pressure Kobe put on any pilot to get somewhere -- never, never,'' Deetz said. "I think he really understood professionalism. 'You do your job. I trust you.' ''
Deetz said that he flew with Zobayan a half-dozen times and that he was familiar with airspace and terrain around Los Angeles and knew "the back doors" -- alternative routes in case of trouble, such as changes in the weather.
Others who knew Zobayan praised him as unflappable and skilled at the controls.
"Helicopters are scary machines, but he really knew what he was doing,'' said Gary Johnson, vice president of airplane parts manufacturer Ace Clearwater Enterprises, who had flown with Zobayan about 30 times in roughly eight years. "I wouldn't do it unless he was the pilot."
Homendy said investigators in the crash that killed Bryant will be looking at everything, from the pilot's history and actions to the condition of the helicopter. ``We look at man, machine and the environment,'' she said. ``And weather is just a small portion of that.''
Zobayan was chief pilot for the craft's owner, Island Express Helicopters. He also was a flight instructor, had more than 8,000 hours of flight time and had flown Bryant and other celebrities several times before, including Kylie Jenner.
He even had a bit TV part when he and actor Lorenzo Lamas, a fellow pilot, flew the ex-girlfriend of comedian Andy Dick around in a chopper for an episode of "Celebrity Wife Swap."
Island Express has had three previous helicopter crashes since 1985, two of them fatal, according to the NTSB's accident database. All involved flights to or from the company's main destination of Santa Catalina Island, about 20 miles off the Southern California coast.
In 2008, three people were killed and three injured when an Island Express helicopter was destroyed as it came in for a landing on the island. Investigators said the chopper lost power, probably as a result of cracking in turbine blades inside the engine.
In 1985, an Island Express helicopter returning from the island collided with another chopper near a landing pad in Los Angeles. One person died and 11 were injured.
Fatal helicopter accidents have fluctuated between 17 and 30 a year since 2013, according to a safety group that includes representatives of the helicopter industry and the Federal Aviation Administration. The rate of accidents per hours flown has declined slightly over that time.
The Federal Aviation Administration warns helicopter pilots that it is their job to decide whether to cancel a flight because of bad weather or other risks, and to have a backup plan in case weather worsens during the flight.
Inclement weather has been cited as a cause of other deadly celebrity helicopter crashes.
Grammy-winning blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan was among five people killed in 1990 when their helicopter slammed into a hill in dense fog after leaving a concert in Wisconsin. Music promoter Bill Graham and two others, including the pilot, were killed when the pilot ignored warnings not to fly in rain and fog and flew into power lines outside San Francisco in 1991.
Bret Mosher, a commercial jet pilot in the Los Angeles area, said some plane owners pressure him to fly solo rather than with the added expense of another pilot.
"Typically these owners, they are successful people in business, they're type-A personalities. They are make-it-happen, get-it-done personalities,'' Mosher said. "A couple of them have said half-joking and half-serious -- well, probably more than half-serious -- 'Aren't you tough enough?' or 'Aren't you trained well enough?' or 'Aren't you good enough?'"
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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