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.
Unlocking the Mystery: The Significance Behind Black Dots on Your Car’s Windscreen You Need to Understand
Experts praise the black dots on automobile windshields as a technical marvel that are crucial to overall performance while being frequently ignored. These dots are a component of the frit band, a textured enamel paint strip that surrounds the edge of the windshield. This band is essential for improving the grip of the adhesive and glass, which guarantees the windshield is securely attached to the vehicle.
In addition to serving as structural elements, the black dots cover the glue from UV rays that could be harmful. This protection stops extended sun exposure from degrading the adhesive bond over time.
The dot matrix, which is made up of ever smaller dots, helps to ensure that the temperature is distributed evenly across the windshield during the production process. By taking this proactive step, optical distortion or “lensing” is avoided, guaranteeing that straight lines on the glass stay true.
The slow fading of the black dot matrix is responsible for the visually pleasant transition from the transparent glass to the black frit border. Furthermore, by strengthening the windshield’s structural integrity, this design decision reduces the likelihood of damage.
Essentially, those seemingly insignificant black spots on your windshield have a multitude of functions and are essential to the complex machinery of your car.
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