Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, the father of the late Basketball Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, has passed away at 69, as reported by La Salle University’s athletics department.
According to La Salle men’s head basketball coach Fran Dunphy, The Philadelphia Inquirer noted that Joe had recently suffered a stroke, although the exact cause of death has not been confirmed.
La Salle University, where Joe both played and coached, released a statement saying he “was a beloved member of the Explorer family and will be dearly missed.”
Joe was an accomplished basketball player in his own right, having been drafted as the 14th overall pick by the Golden State Warriors in the 1975 NBA draft. He played four seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, three seasons with the San Diego Clippers, and one season with the Houston Rockets, in addition to his time playing in Europe.
The 76ers honored Joe as “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.”
His sudden passing comes four years after the tragic deaths of his son Kobe and granddaughter Gianna, who were killed in a helicopter crash alongside seven others.
Kobe’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, shared her condolences on Instagram, saying, “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.”
Doug Young, a former teammate of Kobe, praised Joe as the perfect 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 inspired us all 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, vice chairman of the Pistons and formerly Kobe’s agent, expressed his sorrow over Joe’s passing and joined the basketball community in mourning a true Philadelphia 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.
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Footage Of Demi Moore Kissing 15-Year-Old Boy Leaves People Cringing
People have cringed at footage of Demi Moore kissing a 15-year-old boy.
Resurfaced on social media, the event features the 19-year-old actress from Indecent Proposal attending her co-star Philip Tanzini’s 15th birthday party from General Hospital.
In the enduring American soap opera, Moore portrayed Jackie Templeton from 1982 to 1984, and Tanzini, Jeremy Hewitt, from 1979 to 1982.
According to the MailOnline, the video was purportedly shot in 1982 and first broadcast on Entertainment Tonight.
Since its January 2012 upload on YouTube, it has racked up an incredible 8.7 million views.
Throughout the evening, Moore can be seen kissing Tanzini three times throughout the entire clip.
Moore, who at the time was married to Freddy Moore, is heard in the tape praising her co-star and calling him one of her “favorite people.”
“I love Philip, and he’s the only one I love,” she declares. He is one of my most favorite persons, and I adore him so much.I adore him and he’s very wonderful.
“We’re going to get married, by the way. Don’t let her husband find out,” Tanzini continues.
Then Moore yells, “I can’t wait.”
People have been calling the footage “weird” and “disturbing” on social media since it was discovered.
“This kiss wasn’t a quick peck on the cheek or even the lips,” wrote one observer. Nor was it an isolated incident.Furthermore, I could really care less that it came from a woman—especially Demi Moore. It’s unsettling, or at the very least quite uneasy.
Another commenter said, “There’s still something a little strange about this. This fifteen-year-old appears much younger. Who knows, though?
“Of course, young men dream about older women—even me at that age—but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s an adult kissing a child.”Those aren’t just fast kisses; those are genuine kisses. Too strange. Always ask questions.
A third added their thoughts, saying, “I thought that kiss was way too long and intimate.” made me feel uneasy.
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