R.I.P Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant and his 13 year old daughter and others passed away in a tragic helicopter crash yesterday. Today the Basketball Hall of Fame said he was joining them this year. I thought I would pay tribute to him on my blog.

According to ESPN Kobe Bryant is the fourth highest scoring player in NBA history with 33643 which ranks him ahead of Michael Jordan and below Lebron James.

Kobe was an 18 time All-Star. He was the MVP in four of those games.

He won five championships, was the Finals MVP twice, and the leagues MVP once.

Kobe Bryant scored 81 points in one game...

Kobe Bryant was one of the greatest basketball players in history. Outside of the game he wrote a book, was active in the music business. He died to soon at the age of 41. The loss of his daughter is perhaps a bigger tragedy as she was just 13 and had her whole life ahead of her. The story is the same for the others in the helicopter.

9/11 Remembering

I was working in the Crystal City area of Arlington, Virginia on September 11, 2001. Not far from the Pentagon at all. I had taken the day off from work. When I heard the first plane had crashed into the World Trade Center, I did not belief it. The same feeling I had when the first Space Shuttle blew up. Sure, enough it was all over the news. Then I watched as the second plane crashed into the building. Two more planes crashed that day, one in the Pentagon. I was living in Hagerstown at the time, so a plane crashes an hour and a half away from me in one direction, then the other plane crashes an hour and half away from me in the other direction in Bedford County, PA. I may have been in shock of the whole ordeal, however nothing brought it home like my pre-dawn commute the next day. The smell of the burning crash hit me as soon as I parked my car close to National Airport and started walking toward my office. The horrific stench is something I will always remember. To those who perished on that day, you are remembered. For all who helped, I am grateful for what you did. It is something no one should ever forget.