it will be remembered through the ages is one of our greatest heroes. he was a giant who inspired amazed and thrilled people everywhere with his incomparable skill on the court and his honest with his intellect and humility as a father, creative genius for the game he loved. christina. >> there's a number of tweets pouring in right now. somebody people sharing their heartbreak and shock. their sadness. the basketball world, the sports world, indeed the entire world. the whole world is in shock that this a basketball superstar, kobe bryant died this morning and a helicopter crash. the mba held a moment of silence before the game between the houston rockets and denver nuggets. it's one of eight games scheduled today. the lakers are off today, and now it is unclear as of now whether games this evening will go on as scheduled. that is how big of a lasting impact kobe bryant had on the entire league. he retired in 2016 after 20 years in the game. drafted right out of high

school and set record after record. in fact he was only just yesterday, eclipsed as number three on the all-time scoring list by lebron james. again reaction pouring in from people who played with him, idolized him, expressing their shock and mourning including president trump. he just tweeted a statement saying quote reports are that basketball greats, cully bryant and three others have been killed in a helicopter crash in california. that is terrible news. from the sports world tristen thompson with the cleveland cavaliers wrote kobe bryant, i can't believe this is true. i am at a loss for words. tom brady quarterback for the noumenon patriots writing we miss you already, kobe. just some of the reactions coming in right now. the former laker was on board when i went down shortly before 10:00 a.m. local time this morning. for other people were also killed. the faa and the ntsb are

investigating the crash. so many questions right now as to how that happens. you can see there on the screen, how this crash site, apparently the fire was isolated to the crash site. the fire did not impact any of the roadways, there aren't any homes around there or structures. but again, so much to investigate with this crash. we know is a very foggy morning, so that likely played a role in this crash. but that is something to be investigated. we are going to have to wait for more answers. before sportscaster and fox contributor spoke to kobe bryant after his final game in 2016 let's have a look at that. >> how do i be remembered? >> i sent one time ago, that when i was 15 years old i made a promise to myself. i said at the end of my career, i want people to think of me as a talented

overachiever. i was blessed with talented, and then i worked. and i want to be remembered that way. that would be good. arthel: while, jim gray is here with me on the set. first of all how do you feel watch that? >> he is going to be remembered better than he things of himself. that is sad for me to it see. i did the first interview he did when he came to the lakers and he stayed in his uniform to the last. so it is a personal time, he is on the mount rushmore of basketball players and one of the great men and competitors to come down the pike in the history of sports. and he will be remembered as a terrific family man camera dedicated to his daughters, and a guy that had a lot more to give. there were a thousand acts of kindness that kobe performed over the course of his life. he was myopic in his pursuit

to win, and that's all that mattered to him was winning. he got those five championships. he did not seek the limelight or the publicity for the things he did to help others. because it might have run -- counter balance the mamba mentality had cultivated. but he was a kind man, he was a wonderful guy. arthel: jim you speak in such heartfelt terms because you didn't just cover kobe bryant, you knew him, you became friends with him off the court as well. he would tell me just a bit ago that the two of you traveled to hong kong. if you could tell me what that trip was about? what it was a light? any funny memorable moments that stand out? >> will believe it or not youtube is what brought that together. they tried to get a hold of kobe and some people in hong kong and they couldn't. they contacted the lakers office but he wasn't a laker

anymore so these things just get lost so somebody called me out of the blue and sent me an e-mail, about six months later we went over and did it. i was on the top of the ritz carlson it was a building that was a hundred 20 stories tall and that nights as part of the appearance for kobe they wanted to spend all private time with him so we went over them or singing karaoke a chinese barr in hong kong. i think we were the only ones who really knew english. and some of the guests as well. but we were singing lots of songs, and my wife fran was very close to kobe. she worked in sports marketing and did kobe's first commercial ever for sprites. and kobe was doing that commercial with tim duncan and grant hill, he was a young man of 17 or 18 years of age. it called for him to take up a shirt, he was too modest and too humble and did not feel

his body was built well enough so he demanded that he not run the lawnmower, which is what he supposed be doing a commercial, he wanted a t-shirt. so they had to stop the shoot, my wife had to run out in the middle of nowhere to find kobe a t-shirt that was acceptable. much to the chagrin and upset nature of david stern who gave my wife a tongue lashing for not have all of your eyes and tease dotted and cross before the did the commercial. but they were very close friends as well. arthel: but that speaks to the nature, the independent nature of kobe. >> i'm sure my wife a correct make sense trade involving nuance correct. arthel: fran thanks don't worry you know jim is upset right now you did awesome doing what you need to do for that commercial. but jim i'm trying to find the personal moments here in this very unbelievable time, it is hard to believe that we are having these conversations about kobe in the past tense.

i do want to ask you maybe not initially what he said but you mentioned to me he texted you, because that's how close you were that he sent text message to you just a few days or weeks ago i can't remember. you don't have to tell me exactly what he said if you don't want to, but what was the nature of a? >> i am a year older and it was a milestone birthday, so he text me on my 60th birthday and wanted to wish me a happy day. was sorry he couldn't celebrate with us that evening, he was out of town. but he just wanted to pass on his wishes and said we would celebrate soon and make up for the time. so that was about six weeks ago. arthel: monsieur you will say that. and i want to wish her happy birthday. it's a bittersweet moment, no doubt. i want to go back to hong kong with you and kobe. and they are the karaoke barr. tell me how the people were reacting to kobe bryant?

>> while we all pick songs and i picked a song and he picked the song, my wife picked a song and the others. we were just hanging out and playing pool. then there was a card game where all of these guys could play cards, and phil ivey the great poker player was part of this too. not part of a kobe naiad done but he was there that evening playing cards. all those folks were so happy they left a hand to eydie. kobe got a kick out of that that people were happy losing money to the sky. even if they weren't attempting to lose they would've lost anyway. so kobe just saying, he was a guy who wanted to have a lot of fun. but kobe sacrificed his life for basketball. kobe gave up friends, gave up all of his pursuits, and was myopic in his focus. when he tore his achilles the great doctor, put him back together and a brilliant

fashion. and to have seen the determination and the hard work that he put in at a time in his career where he had already proven everything. the icing was already on the cake. and it was well past baked. what he did to come back so that wasn't the lasting memory of who he was, and how he had performed. doctor ella trust put back together, and kobe did all of the work and we got so many more thrills and great moments that kobe put together on the basketball court. but that just spoke to the type of person he was. that was not the way that he wanted to go out and be remembered. it's also sudden here, 41-year-old man, won an academy award 15 championships won a gold medal, it is so

unforesee unforeseen -- maggots in unbelievable circumstance i don't even have the right words. here somebody still at the peak of his life. forty-one years old is old for an athlete, but is very young. he just had a baby born the summer. arthel: i have this picture my phone it's a picture of kobe and his daughter gianna, that's not his oldest daughter, but it brings to mind she is standing, they are standing back to back in the picture in her head is up to his shoulders. and kobe is tall. you mentioned she is a basketball great basketball player. i want to talk to about kobe the father. what did you see in terms of his interaction with his daughter that speaks to him as a father? >> i just know how dedicated he was.

he was a very private man. kobe bryant was not out in public all of the time, seeking the cameras and seeking any more fame. but what he did with his daughters as he spent a lot of time with them. they obviously interacted with him at the basketball, but he was also involved in their education. they all loved it to travel. iron never seeing many of the instagram shots of the photos that were posted. kobe spent some of his childhood in italy, which is very well-known. he made it a point to before this daughter was born this summer to go with the family on those trips. so, he was very, very close. when he came into professional basketball my heart breaks for them and say send my condolences to them and his sisters who he loved.

they became a complicated relationship. and somewhat estranged. but he lived with his parents when he was 17 or 18 years old and where his parents got a house for the first few years of his basketball career, they all lived together. and then moved on from there. but i know this is a moment that no matter what the circumstance was what had gone on in the past, it will never ever pass through their hearts with any solace. arthel: absolutely family is family. we all have drama and our lives but that does not at all overtake the love that we have for our relatives. your phone is blowing up here as i can understand. i want to give you a chance to look and see what kind of reaction you are getting. not that you want to put

anybody's names live on the air. >> i can't get through it there's 854 messages and there. arthel: without telling me who's texting you i just want to get a sense of what they are saying. not to say what they are saying but the emotional outcry. >> former teammates and owners of closed clubs, superstars and other sports. everyone expressing shock, condolences, sadness. some of kobe friends and mutual friends it's a long list of people whose lives he has touched. and people who are hearing this news in this shocking fashion, who are probably just reaching out to let them know how bad they feel about however i am feeling and however they are feeling, and the public. if you did not know kobe bryant, you had to love the way this guy played basketball. and you had to love his attitude.

okay? his attitude was he was trying to win that game under the guidelines set by the national basketball association, and he did everything within his wherewithal to be able to win. and to be able to perform excellence. how many people are committed in your life you're committed to excellence? there is a commitment that he had to that. not to money, not to frame, not to glory, to excellence. arthel: you said he wanted to be remembered in the report we did earlier, he wanted to be remembered as a talented overachiever. i am happy to collect all of the personal stories you have, jim, of kobe. i do have to move the story along to, and there is a component of this reports that fox news has not independently confirmed. we are waiting for a press conference that is going to happen at 5:00 o'clock eastern

time. so we don't want to jump the news. but i do want to report what a facts -- and mention that tmz is reporting. tmz is reporting that kobe's daughter, gianna who is known as gg and his 13 years old, was also on board the helicopter. and perished in the crash. this is according to tmz sports. they are claiming that reports -- representatives of kobe are telling them that information. fox news has not independently confirmed. but jim you are getting a text message right now. >> i am not gonna say this on the air i pray to god what i really your text message is not true. this is a big one. this is a hard day for everybody. and like you said jim, you did not have to have known kobe bryant personally, he had a

zest for life. he transcended basketball, he had a drive that was infectious, and you covered him since he joined the mba there at 17 years old. at the lakers first-round draft pick, and i see that, that's good. but there are many stories circulating right now and we want to be very careful what we are reporting. because people are and i want to say this to our viewers, we take a lot of pride in getting the story's rights. we are not racing to get the facts you to be the first one on record. we want to get it right. we also want you to understand that when these types of stories happen, the information is very fluid. we do our best to confirm all of the details and reports the information to you with accuracy.

right now there are so many stories floating around in social media et cetera, so we will do our number one level best to only provide you with the facts that we can confirm. so jim gray if you could stay with us, we are waiting for a press conference that is happening at 5:00 p.m. eastern time here. >> let's talk about how this we perceived around the world. kobe's derby jersey and kobe bryant is by and weigh the most popular player in history when he retired in terms of merchandise sold. he had two jerseys remember he had to have them both. arthel: eight and 24. eric: they are both hanging in the staple center by the lakers. i remember when the great gerry west, who was the

general manager for so long with the lakers, pulled off the trade the sacramento kings swapped positions in the charlotte hornets, and left the lakers and kobe was drafted by them. and he didn't get to play under del harris. he was so frustrated. because he was ready to play and dell and the lakers really weren't quite ready for that. and i just remember how gerry west said at the time, this kid is going to be the greatest ever. and gerry west, gerry west was a close dear personal friend of michael jordan. for him to say that at that time, and to have that foresight, now that's debatable a lot of people say

michael jordan is the greatest basketball player but another thing that is the case after the fact. but they had that much faith in his ability and what they saw. on to live up to everything that was expected of them. you know how sad that was before this story is so hard to report we are going to come back do we have this tragic news at 41 years old, mba super star basketball icon, kobe bryant has perished in a helicopter crash. snacking should be sweet and simple. the delicious taste of glucerna gives you the sweetness you crave while helping you manage your blood sugar. glucerna. everyday progress while helping you manage your blood sugar. i had no idea that my grandfatherfe changing moment for me. was a federal judge in guatemala. he was an advocate for the people...

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eric: we continue the coverage of the death of kobe bryant and a helicopter crash this

afternoon in california. right now we are waiting for l.a. county sheriff's update we expected half an hour. at the top of this hour there'll be more details about this tragic incident. fellow athletes it reacting into this devastating online. tom grady tweeting we miss you already kobe, hockey legend graying whiskey janet and i have no words for tragedy with kobe bryant today. praying for him and his family. tennis great, billie jean king, greatest condolences to the family and friends of kobe bryant into the entire lakers family. this is a horrible lakers family. kobe was one of the best ever to play the game of basketball. may rest in peace. kobe gave an interview to usa today that was published on thursdays", i don't know what you want to do in your tire, but you're going to go through a state of depression, an identity crisis, so you know what he did he start a film and tv studio to make films

for young people. it won an oscar last year for deer basketball reflected on dreams reflecting his own life. he spoke of leaving the office at 130 in the afternoon to pick up his daughters from school. then he would go back to the office. his 13-year-old daughter gianna wanted to get into basketball, they went to the nba league pass almost every evening so she could see some of the greats firsthand. the coach them, saying you are helping the emotional development of young kids. when you do that, we are looking live at that tragic crash site and the recovery teams that are apparently on their way up to the side up that hillside with the wreckage is still smoldering in the dense, foggy early afternoon of california. joe senior nba writer, joe year thoughts and reflections

on the legacy of kobe bryant? >> i was in philadelphia last night covering the lakers and 70 sixers for the athletic on the night lebron james literally pass kobe for third place on the outside mba scoreless. and so kobe was already back in the discussion last night in his career and what he meant not just to the sport, but to the players who came while he was in the league and also after. and obviously to say i am shocked and they don't know what to do or say, join the club. but to be already talking about kobe overnights leading into this, and you just realize to be a winner of five nba championships like he was, and should be third on the all-time scoring list ahead of michael jordan like he was, you know you are talking about one of the all-time greats.

but i feel like the thing that is set kobe apart from some of the greats before him, he has change the way basketball will be going forward is his willingness to mentor later in his career. it was in a way that michael certainly never did. eric: they talked about that in the interview. what were they saying last night, what does he mean to the sport into the players. his last quote last night about that game when lebron passed him to be number three of the all-time scores. kobe waited quote continuing to move the game forward at king james, much respected brother with the biceps arm. numbers that is being retweeted and commented on across the globe. indication of the generosity, the kindness of kobe bryant. >> and lum braun had something

to say about that, he said at school to know the of one of the all-time greats that ever played this game and admired to be like on the floor, you don't have that much time to play this game if you're able to be remembered for the great things you did the positive things you did, making people feel great about the things you did is a pretty cool thing. a lot of people took that quote to say he was comparing kobe to michael. it was just showing the way kobe -- once he realized he lost that he wanted to be that bridge for the next batch of nba players to be great. arthel: . eric: did you deal with him? how often did you deal with him? did you see what he was like on the court but off the court in your personal

interactions? jim has been very emotional this afternoon and spectacular in his remembrances and thoughts of this man who you guys knew personally. >> certainly when i came into the league, it was six years ago and so was definitely towards the end of kobe's career. he had already become the mba elder statesman and was already revered. but either time, was covering the cavaliers so everything was viewed to the prism of kobe and lebron. his kobe, rode off into the sunset. and also the impact he had on irving. he kinda challenged him to be the lightning rod in the locker room and to cause a disturbance if there wasn't one because controversy in here can be beneficial as you get into the playoffs. and so you asked me what my

impressions of kobe were, and i was always amazed at how polished and well thought he was. but also, you could see, listen to this man who could be so calm and measured in his remarks, knowing that he had that killer instinct. that he had the ability to go out there, and take your heart your chest. that was the essence of kobe. eric: you see that flair, you see that drive, you see that dedication drive. he sought in boston and with the mets. is that a lasting legacy? in terms of the way the mechanics and the strategy of approaching that game? >> i think so, i think kobe, and he's not the first player to work hard certainly. but kobe with his mantra the mamba mentality, and that is something that is spread not just to a lot of them and all

through the crop of stars, this idea of wanting the last shah and working so hard for so long to put yourself in a position to want to take that shah. players all over the place right mamba mentality on their shoes. kobe actually had an academy he started inviting these guys to over the summer. players who won finals and won mpp's and they to kobe for guidance. so when you think about a lasting legacy, there can be so many. there could be as titles, his titles with jack, his role as a global ambassador in china and also in the usa, the problem parts of his life and certainly career, but all those things play into it. he was able to do post career.

but i really think it's the mamba mentality part of this is going to be the adoring legacy. and that is michael sort of remember that way in part, kobe was the next guy. he was the killer. in a way that lebron actually they are very different that way. and so i do think 20 years from now but we still talk about kobe that's it will will remember. eric: a man of generosity in carrying that gave of himself. excellence, professionalism on and off the court. joe vartan senior nba writer with the athletic. thank you for being with us on this very sad sunday afternoon and sharing your thoughts of the legacy and life of kobe bryant. from fox 11 news let's dip in join some of the coverage. >> i'm sure the mother's love never stopped and how they must be feeling through all this. so kobe very much did have a

family. i don't know how much they were speaking in these later years. but so much softened with kobe. back to a little bit of that personality. he had that mamba mentality that is difficult personality. you just have to know kobe, this is who he was. when he was in a game and he was playing on a run. he was very matter of fact, he was very short with his statements, he was very quick. he's very intelligent spoke several languages. he never held back. if that's how he felt, but he said it. he said like a snake that tongue came out fast. but when he was a little bit removed from that, a little bit softer personality came through and you saw that. but he did find himself making some very difficult decisions. and this is why, kobe had to make this if occult decisions in his life to be the player he was. to be a player who played for 20 years of the lakers, twin five championships to break scoring records. to run and that arena. his sacrifices were the amount

of practice, the amount of time, there are legendary stories about kobe how he woke up at three in the morning and practice. because that's what he does. and that's what it took to get, whatever it took, he once dislocated shoulder, and i think in the same game did not asked to come out. and when the trainer asked them to come out, he said will god gave his two shoulders. that was kobe bryant's personality and it carried through. he does have a family. item course there's vanessa and the girls. but a mom and dad into sisters as well. i just thought that is important for everyone to remember as well. christine and alex. >> enlisted that points about his competitive street, i put on my twitter page at alex underscore michelson for people to share their favorite points of kobe. and after hitting three free

throws after tearing his achilles. so kobe was such a competitor that he literally couldn't stand out because his achilles was torn, which is one of the most painful injuries and all of basketball. and still shah free throws. that's how much he cared. another viewer that he named his youngest son after kobe. made a huge impact on his life in so many people were impacted by kobe in such a profound way. one of the things happening right now at staples center, it which is why people are being encouraged not to go to staples center, even that would be a natural gathering place to go in front of the statues. that's not open right now because the grammys are happening today. that's why the lakers are on the road. my colleague rita garcia is on the grammies red carpet, i'm not sure if she's ready for us to talk to her yet, but from what we are starting to see, this kobe bryant discussion dominating the scene there as

well. his rita prepared to talk with a check? read it we throw things to you and if you give us some sense of how that is starting to change the makeup of what's supposed to be a joyous day for everyone there, kobe is such an important player. in the music world he is someone who had music experience himself. >> he definitely had a close connection to the music industry. the staples center just put out a tweet in your reading tweets earlier et cetera thoughts and prayers are with the bryant family and are lakey's family the los angeles family really around the world. alex ending that's overseeing tonight at the grammy awards are people from all over, musicians even if they weren't basketball fans there talk about kobe bryant. at a lot of them they are learning about as they are literally pulling into the staples center. i talked to group earlier, an italian group and they said we are really big fans of football but kobe bryant is an icon, global superstar.

everybody has the same remarks because their hearts are certain with the family. you can feel it in the energy as well. it is very somber. all the background we had mariachi groups coming through hear from mexico saying hey we are up for nomination and we are excited but in our hearts and minds we are thinking about kobe bryant. like i said whether not they are fans. so you can see here on the carpet, it just opened up, and open up at about noon so we are in our half in and the carpet closes at 4:00 o'clock just to give you perspective. so a lot of the big major artist start to ride closer closing time which we expect about 3:34 o'clock. so for the most part, here's the other thing i've noticed that a lot of people are looking at their phones. i think everybody all around los angeles is just hitting refresh waiting for more details. wanting to know more and asking themselves why and certainly their heart is heavy thinking about kobe bryant. as we stand around and want to show you many of these are showing up.

a lot have a smile on their face all say how are you and then they say they're excited but the men i say kobe their facial expressions change. a lot of them saying look, we followed his career and are huge fans. some of them, one of the latest in the mariachi band said you know it's just a beautiful tribute tonight that i am here at kobe's home at the staples center. talking about his career 20 years with the los angeles lakers, winning mvp multiple championships and the rings. be interesting to see with the grammies do tonight and i am sure they are changing things last minute. we will send it back to you guys as we continue to take a live look. >> we think about kobe and we think he was actually a rapper to towards the beginning of his career he worked with tyra banks. i think that's how he met his wife vanessa. i think she was a background dancer for one of the early parts of kobe's rap career. she was a teenager at the time

and i believe that is how they got together. >> that is absolutely the story. kobe actually had a smile when i watch the music coverage there because it took me back to the time when kobe tried to be a rapper for just a second period yes vanessa was in one of the music videos they would go on to break and go for lunch and get a bite to eat. i met with us a story that vanessa was walking with two of the other girls in the video and he wanted to know about vanessa. apparently he couldn't take his eyes off vanessa. he talks about actually knowing vanessa before he was big, but kobe bryant we know as the icon kobe bryant. said vanessa really knew him and she was in high school the time. she knew him before he was a big superstar that we know kobe to have become. he sickle pickup in high school, kind of controversial because he was out of high school. >> and of course he started just 17 years old when he started the mba. best that even legal anymore now you have to go to college

for a year after that the guy started. >> though such an interesting arrow with kobe doing the wrap song shack doing some as well. i think kobe decide to sick the basketball. >> we want to bring into our coverage of marcus johnson a great basketball player in his own right. he acted ucla five-time nba all-star, is now one of the commentators for the milwaukee bucks. but maintains a close relationship with los angeles. marcus thank you for calling in, thank you for sharing your thoughts and first up your view is a great basketball player tube kobe's basketball legacy. >> i just want to say that when my son chris, who is also a ucla template at crenshaw high school like i did, when he first text me this morning that kobe had died, i thought chris was talking about one of his animals. he has for five different animals and want his name kobe. and then i said which one and

he said no kobe bryant died in a helicopter crash. it just hit me like a ton of bricks. this young man has meant so much to the l.a. basketball community, and speaking of chris, we first got los angeles has a 17-year-old, straight from italy drafted out of high school to marilyn pennsylvania as you mention, he was playing against chris at the men's gym on the campus of ucla. chris is a real fiery type of player, they got into it over foul call that kobe made, and they squared off like they were gonna fight. i was sitting there watching this thinking to myself chris please do not do anything to this young 17-year-old. chris was about 20 years old at a time. the manager had to come over and intercede. christine got a stop come on kobe you guys break the set. but i was impressed of the fact that kobe knew to los angeles, 17 years old, there is no back down in him whatsoever. he was standing toe to toe with chris, i've not point on, just from that itself i had a

total amount of respect for him and his toughness. and until watch how he developed as a player over the years, i'm just really, really saddened by the events that happened earlier today. >> i think all of los angeles in the world is shocked by this. we are looking at a live shah of the helicopter crash, i've got to ask you. kobe, 41 years old for any player to transition from basketball to this next chapter of his life, he was just really getting started with the filmmaking, obviously he was in the business world quite early on. such a tragic loss as a human being and what he could contribute in some many other ways. would you say? >> without question. inez data to family guy. i had the good fortune to be around kobe when he was with gg at basketball tournaments just three or four months ago in the fall. as a matter fact my daughter

shiloh's ten years old on solomon and jim in orange county and his daughter was about to play a few minutes from that point. fifty-one of the coping had my daughter with me he was so gracious and before her game and rubbed his shoulders and said this is what i want you to do i want you to be aggressive, look for the shah. and alan shiloh's teammates they just couldn't believe it. that was kobe bryant and she's like get my dad knows him. he was so gracious. to the point that the family has lost the father figure and the head of that family. that's the thing that really saddens me because being a dad myself with a daughter that plays, you see them in tournaments and games, at the staples center and other venues around the country. just the love he had for his wife and his family, his daughters, that's what really tears me up as much as anything. and to take a step further, me personally being at with the milwaukee bucks, kobe mentored

the greek freak who last year kobe had these challenges that he gives to great players around the league. in his challenge was to make yourself a better all-around player the become of us value for player in the league. he took that to heart and work on his game going into last season. but in of last year he was mvp. i know for fact he is going to be tort because he had the opportunity come out and spend some time and be mentored by kobe. it was a tremendous work ethic that mamba mentality brought to the court was something that we have not seen ever in the history of this game. a couple of quick stories if i may. one was kobe was working out with phil weber he was renowned in the mba they worked out with him one summer, kobe solheim next year end i said he still working with phil weber he said no i'm doing this on my own now.

i said to myself what a big mistake. look kobe end up averaging about 25 points a game that year than 29 the next year than 30, 35. he knew what he was doing he talked of making 2500 shots today. that's hard to take 2500 shots a day let alone make 2500. so i was kind of skeptical about that. but then i saw them play the following season and he was not missing. he was treating his word he was making 2500 shots today. so those kind of stories are what embodies cody kobe bryant is a player. makes us as players and athletes really respect how he approached the game of basketball. >> we have a photo of your daughter i believe with kobe, so let's go ahead and look at that. and i think all of us who had a chance to meet kobe bryant or work with him on any fashion we are all looking for photos for that memory to hang onto. can you talk about this photo on this day?

>> that was that the maps sports facility in orange county we are about to play in a turn immense and i saw kobe across the gymnasium. it's just a jampacked full of girls. it was like a girls tournament. maybe 40 or 50 teams down there. he wasn't behind any bodyguards or security, he was just kobe standing up watching a girls game. i have approached in because i've known them for years since he came to los angeles, i brought my daughter over and she was a little bit reluctant. she was dead that's kobe bryant is a kobe okay. so i introduced them he asked her a few questions gave a few pointers, and graciously took the picture. so that's just how kobe was. and just a great, great, great person. he had his focus, and he would give it to his -- he was so intent on winning every time he walked on the floor.

but in terms of the daughters of his losing that kind of father figure, it really saddens me. >> and you talk about is an analyst for the box. you around the mba guys from ontime. not only did you play against it in the era of kareem, magic, and others. you've seen yana's and kobe spending so much time mentoring the great players of the day. he did didn't like to coach a lot but he did cope some great players of the game. can you tell us the crop of the new guys the guys who are dominate in the league these days, how do they feel about kobe and kind of the unique role that he has in their basketball development? >> the best way for me to it but that is cut historic. when you go to the 60s for me the young basketball player growing up in los angeles gerry west they were my idols. the kids a grip in the 70s early '80s doctor jay was

the guy, then it was magic johnson and larry bird. and the 80s late '80s '90s it was michael jordan who is the guy everybody kind of emulated and kobe even watched all of his tapes when he was in italy and had a lot of michael jordan's tendencies as a player. but about 2000 on, it was all kobe bryant. and that's with this whole generation, the current crop of young superstars if you ask them who their big influence is in terms of players they watch and idolize, it's kobe bryant. and it's well-deserved because you look at the amount of points he scored in the that he was a 15 time all-star five-time nba champs four-time all star mvp. you look at what he did on the floor to play with one team for 20 years. and not only did they win five championships produced two different generations. it was a shack 3p and then after a couple of years rejiggering the team in the lineup, then it is two

consecutive championships. so just a remarkable, remarkable competitor. his fire, his passion for the game, again is unparalleled. as an older guy looking at him, you can't do anything but respect how he approached the game and the results speak for themselves. >> that work ethic we always heard about that work ethic or he would be the first when there and he would be taking those extras practice shots. he just set the barr so high for other players. so it's so hard to think of us remembering kobe bryant but if there are some lessons for future players, what would you tell them? kobe did this kobe was this, this is how you play the game, this is the take away. again, so hard to think that we are remembering kobe bryant today. >> here are some of the

takeaways renders first year his rookie year against utah he was put in the game by darrell harris and some tough circumstances. he shoots two air balls in a row. he comes back to your two later he sees one of the best players in the league. also he's going in the situation in colorado, not to bring that up, but he would spend all day in colorado depositions in courtrooms, he would get in a plane to the staples center get off the plane, come to the staples center straight from the airport and go out and play and score 40 points. his ability to compartmentalize and focus, most guys myself included window to pull that off. but kobe bryant, that's what separates him from everybody else. and it's kind of a bitter irony is that he gets nominated for the hall of fame this year, i am also a nominee my thoughts are like those three gape players or shoe instigate them. my chances are little less certain than that. but the point is, is just bitter irony that he is going

to be inducted into the hall of fame positively because he is not to be here to accept it. it's just sad, sad all the way around for his family his wife his mom his dad's daughters, it's a really sad day for me, just a tough tough pill to swallow. >> you mention sort of the generational challenge of this. i am similar in age to lebron james. we got to the tail end of michael jordan's career. but kobe became the guys for most the guys in their 20s. kobe was always the guy. they never got to see michael jordan played when they're old enough to know the difference. for you marcus, somebody who knew magic pretty well imparted that air as well, does this remind you in some ways of that moment when magic announced he had hiv and just the complete total shock in the sports world of a player who was an nba finals guy, all of a sudden had to leave with

the uncertainty of what his future would be like? >> you said it, the uncertainty. at that time in the history of hiv, when you hear the announcement you think it's destin. we did know how much longer magic would be with us. and thank god that through medicine and everything else he is still here and is healthy. he was able to overcome it. but i was at the new york athletic club the day that that announcement was made. i believe we were just getting kicked off with the athletic club so we had a joint event at the new york athletic club and the whole event just stopped, screeched to a halt because they made the announcement at a press conference that magic talked about attaining the hiv virus. and for me sitting at home, we were just with the box yesterday, my wife's shirer, my daughter had a great, great

time they got in late last night, i'm sitting home this morning after church, and i'm just about to relax for the day and unwinds, few days off before my next game. and my son chris texting about colby died. and again the reality of it, just did not set in. when he told me kobe bryant was killed in a helicopter crash i made calls to my wife and didn't say thing for a couple of minutes because i wanted to look at twitter and some other news outlets on myself own and saw the news was confirmed so i finally told her. and she just immediately broke out into tears. it was just devastating way to start your day. but man i don't know what to say. we have to process this. but the bottom line is kobe bryant was such unique individual and his legacy is in place in basketball, history, and los angeles, is 20 years with this team, five championships as big a fan

eyes i'm of gerry west and magic and cream, he have to almost give it up to kobe as being the guy who sits at the top of that throne in terms of basketball legacy in los angeles. >> i just want to share with you how i feel about the family as well. because i think you and i are of the generation where we did events, projects, obviously you and the basketball world being much more closer to him than my work with community service and wednesday's child. but it's the same thing of feeling the loss of a father and his children, and his place in our hearts. his place in our hearts. i will never tie my husband as well, we got the word kobe bryant might have been on board that helicopter that crashed, my husband did not want to believe it. let's assume it didn't happen. i said i work in the news business if i get a call to come into work we have some kind of insider information. so i'm sharing with him that heartbreak that we all got the

call. i just literally was just shaking. eric: you been watching and los angeles on kt tv. we are now waiting on a news conference and look him up at the top of the allergist about five minutes from now. that's from the l.a. county police. the sheriffs office's office. they will be detailing the confirmation is likely of the victims of this crash and detailing what happened. anthony joins us he is ceo of the spire sports group. anthony, devastating loss to not just the where the basketball, but to the nation. fans around the globe as well. what did kobe bryant mean to the sport into the way way one behaves as a sportsman? >> well, this is one of the saddest days that i have ever seen in l.a. everyone in this town is totally shaken up. kobe bryant's legacy in this

town, he came and brought hollywood back to hollywood. he brought basketball, and made these guys -- made basketball players hollywood stars. that's the light he was sitting in. after the 80s, lakers were gone. when kobe came and i saw kobe wanted his first exhibition games down in san diego. everyone thought he was going to be a really, really great player. that nobody knew he would take the lead by storm like you did. eric: so when he came out and sign for the first time how to feel? >> i still remember, he was back when he had the afro, and he just looks so young. there were so much hype around him. so much talk about him. and i was just to visit young kid, and they said he was from philadelphia. he spoke three languages and he had lived in italy. he seemed amazing at that time. he came out of the camera brownie points he scored best night but there was something about him. this was an exhibition game

that told me he was taken this l.a. lakers franchise back to glory. he basically did. what he means to the league and the players is memorable and we can't measure it right now. everybody is trying to put everything in perspective. there the whole incident in colorado, the way he was able to reestablish his brands and get beyond that in move beyond that. he started going out more he said he just got a get out there and talk to people. before the incident colorado he was not known to be a person who is kind of just out there. after that you would see kobe at the promenade you'd see them at the ocean with his daughters. he would just be out there just walking around. eric: and he started coaching his daughter's basketball team and will been shown reports that his daughter gigi was on board. they were going down to a basketball game or tournament

it's the mambo mentality that he had. and this is just crushing for us and for all who follow him. crushing news of the personal loss of young people. talk about the mambo mentality for mama. why was he so different? >> hassan and interview one time he said at age seven, i knew what i was going to do for the rest of my life. so the mambo mentality i had everyone else beat. because everything i do, every mile i walk every time i go to the gym every book i read, is going to be geared towards me being the greatest basketball player ever. so that is the mamba mentality, this is what he's gonna do is be the greatest basketball player ever. and if you look at his work

ethic, and knowing that, think about that, think about that for a second period if any person says i've already got you beat because i know what i am going to be doing it 18, 20, 25. and everything else is going to be directed, energies can be put into that situation. you think about that, that's the mamba mentality that is the mentality he brought to the lakers, and the energy that he brought to the city. the work ethic and the demand. he never demanded anything less than perfection. he was known to be tough and hard at other players, but so is michael jordan. but that's how you get five championships. so the mamba mentality was a killer instinct. i want the ball with five seconds left on the clock. i went the ball in my hands for that last shah. that's the mamba mentality. eric: thank you for your thoughts as we are never kobe bryant this afternoon. ensuring your thoughts on kobe

bryant, and his family, there are no words. 's. arthel: this is surreal day our coverage continues stay right here in fox news channel, kobe bryant unfortunately dead at 41. >> fox news alert we are waiting update from l.a. sheriff's department on the helicopter crashed it is killed five people today including basketball legend, kobe bryant. that news conference expected to begin any moments, we will bring that to you as soon as it gets underway. the basketball world, the nation and fans around the globe in shock and in sorrow with news that nba superstar kobe bryant has been killed in a helicopter crash in california. good evening i am jon scott and this is a special edition of the fox report. the 41 euros former los angeles laker was among the five people on the chopper when he went down the hills of