Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, the father of the late Basketball Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, has died at the age of 69, La Salle University’s athletics department reported.
Citing La Salle men’s head basketball coach Fran Dunphy, The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote Joe had recently suffered a stoke. The exact cause of death hasn’t been confirmed yet.
La Salle University, where Joe played and coached, said in a statement that he “was a beloved member of the Explorer family and will be dearly missed.”
Just like his famous son, Joe was a renowned basketball player himself. Drafted by the Golden State Warriors as the 14th overall pick in the 1975 NBA draft, he played for the Philadelphia 76ers for four seasons, the then-San Diego Clippers for three seasons, and the Houston Rockets for one season. He also played in Europe.
The 76ers paid tribute to Joe, calling him “a local basketball icon, whose legacy on the court transcended his journey across Bartram High School, La Salle University, and his first four NBA seasons with the 76ers from 1975-79.”
Joe’s sudden passing comes four years after the tragic death of his son Kobe and his granddaughter Gianna, who were killed in a helicopter crash with seven other people.
Kobe’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, wrote on her Instagram story on Tuesday, “Sending our condolences upon hearing the news of my father-in-law’s passing.
“We hoped things would’ve been different. Although the times we spent together were few, he was always sweet and nice to be around. Kobe loved him very much.”
Former Kobe teammate Doug Young praised Joe as the ideal “role model.”
“Joe was our JV coach at Lower Merion and I could not have asked for a more positive mentor, teacher, and role model,” Young told ESPN. “It’s difficult to overstate how much he influenced me and my teammates. He made basketball fun and made us all want to be better; he believed in us. I’ll never forget his infectious smile, his bear hugs and the incredible bond he shared with Kobe. Growing up in Lower Merion, there was no family we loved and admired more than the Bryants, and that started with Joe.”
Arn Tellem, the vice chairman of the Pistons and formerly Kobe Bryant’s agent, expressed his sadness over the loss of Joe and joined the basketball community in mourning a true Philly hoops legend. “Our friendship opened the door for me to represent Kobe as he entered the NBA, a memory I’ll always cherish. Joe was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, whose warmth touched everyone he met.”
May he rest in peace.
TAYLOR SWIFT’S APPEARANCE AT THE CHIEFS GAME RAISES EYEBROWS – ‘TOO MUCH WEIGHT,’ SAY FANS
TAYLOR SWIFT’S APPEARANCE AT THE CHIEFS GAME RAISES EYEBROWS – ‘TOO MUCH WEIGHT,’ SAY FANS
Taylor Swift got a lot of attention for her look and outfit when she attended the NFL game to support her boyfriend, Travis Kelce.
Taylor was at the Kansas City Chiefs game against the Baltimore Ravens on September 5, 2024. This was the opening night of the NFL season, and she was there to cheer on Travis Kelce, who plays for the Chiefs.
Taylor Swift made a stylish entrance at Arrowhead Stadium, wearing a fashionable Medusa ’95 Versace denim corset top, thigh-high red Giuseppe Zanotti boots, and carrying a sleek Louis Vuitton handbag.
Fans who saw Taylor Swift’s pictures from the game shared their opinions online. One fan even speculated about a possible pregnancy, adding a pregnant emoji, “She’s getting thick …?”
Another fan criticized her outfit, saying, “So tacky! Can she not get a fashion consultant?” Another added, “With all her money, you’d think she could have had her stylist pick out a better outfit.”
However, not everyone shared the negative views. One fan loved the outfit, saying, “Such a cute outfit.” Another defended Taylor, writing, “Can’t believe some people say she ‘put on too much weight.’ She looks better like this than she did as a stick figure.”
Appreciation for Taylor’s appearance continued with one fan praising her transformation: “Definitely find her more attractive with some extra meat on her bones. Never liked the twig physique.” Another fan kept it simple and positive, saying, “She’s beautiful.”
Taylor appeared to have a great time at the game. Once inside the stadium, she took her usual place in Travis Kelce’s luxury suite, sitting comfortably next to his parents, Ed and Donna.
Videos showed Taylor and Ed enjoying each other’s company during the exciting NFL game. They chatted and laughed together, looking very relaxed and happy.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have become a popular couple, and their photos together often go viral. Recently, their date night photos have gotten a lot of attention for several reasons.
People have been closely analyzing the pictures and some have started speculating about Taylor possibly being pregnant, similar to her friend Brittany Mahomes.
On July 16, Taylor and Travis were seen out on the streets of London with their friends. Photos from that night, shared by their loved ones, have sparked a lot of comments and guesses from people on social media.
Summitt recently shared a fun carousel of photos on Instagram from his trip. The pictures show highlights from their time at nature reserves and beaches, as well as a memorable helicopter ride with Patrick.
One of the photos features a group shot of Summitt, his wife Miranda, Brittany, Patrick, and the celebrity couple Travis and Taylor. In the photo, Travis is seen with his arm around Taylor’s shoulders, his hand resting just below her chest.
For the evening event, Taylor Swift wore a beautiful light-blue dress by Vivienne Westwood, called the “Sunday Gathered Cotton Midi Dress.” The dress is priced at $1,010.
Some social media users were uncomfortable with how Travis had his hand placed on Taylor in the photo. One Instagram user commented, “Swifties take a closer look at this guy … Yikes .”
Another person added, “It looks like she was trying to move his hand to her waist. I don’t think it’s cute, I think it’s cringey.”
Some people focused on Taylor’s dress, criticizing her fashion choice. One person remarked, “Why do her dresses always look like a moo moo my grandma would wear?” Another said, “Taylor needs to fire her stylist.”
Others analyzed a photo of Brittany where Travis had one hand on his lower stomach. A social media user wondered, “Travis is cradling his lower abdomen and pointing to himself. What does that mean?” Another person joked, “Travy, get Tay preggers. We need little besties for life.”
While Taylor hasn’t confirmed or denied the pregnancy rumors, her close friend Brittany has confirmed that she will soon be a mom of three.
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