Loading...
Browsing Tag

Vanessa Bryant

Vanessa Bryant Eulogizes her husband Kobe Bryant and Daughter Gigi

Vanessa Bryant



It was a somber bittersweet day in the Staples Center in Los Angeles when 20,000 mourners packed into the indoor stadium that the late NBA Player Kobe Bryant built to bid him and his 13-year old daughter Gianna farewell.

His widow Vanessa Bryant, a celebrity mom covered often on the blog, gave a heart breaking but still beautiful eulogy of her husband and daughter. As USA Today summarized in its coverage:

She mourned the loss of her “baby girl” Gianna, “a sweet and gentle soul” and preternaturally talented athlete who she said was destined for WNBA greatness. She remembered her husband as a soulful romantic with a “tender heart” and a “doting” father for whom family always came first.

“They were funny, happy, silly, and they loved life,” Vanessa said of Kobe and Gianna, adding: “God knew they couldn’t be on this earth without each other. He had to bring them home to heaven together.”

Beyonce Knowles Carter opened the event performing one of her hits, “XO” which she said was one of Kobe’s favorite song with lyrics that go, “In the darkest hour / I’ll search through the crowd / Your face is all I can see / I’ll give you everything.” She later burst into a soulful rendition of her song, “Halo

Alicia Keys moved the crowd by playing Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata,” a piece she said was favored by Kobe and Vanessa.

Keys had previously paid tribute to Kobe and Gianna on the night they died, performing “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye” alongside Boyz II Men at the Grammy Awards last month.

At various points throughout the event, the crowd broke out in chants of “Kobe! Kobe!”

Retired NBA stars Michael Jordan, Dwyane Wade, and Tim Duncan along with entertainer Jennifer Lopez and her fiance retired baseball player Alex Rodriguez and late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel were all in attendance for the ceremony, along with other celebs like friends of the Bryant family Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West.

The date chosen for the memorial — Feb. 24, or 2/24/20 — is a combination of their jersey numbers. Gianna wore No. 2 and her dad wore No. 24 in the latter part of his 20-season career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Tickets went for variations of 2 and 4, $24.24 or $224 for two.

Several NBA legends like former teammates  Shaquille O’Neal and Jordon gave rousing speeches by my fave was by University of Oregon player Sabrina Ionesco who gave a wonderful speech and tribute to girls sports too in honor of GiGi .

Proceeds will go to the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation which raises money to provide sports education and training services for young women. The foundation was originally established as the Mamba Sports Academy, but Bryant’s widow announced that the name was changed to honor their daughter.

Kobe Bryant gave himself the moniker “Black Mamba” after a character in the Quentin Tarantino film Kill Bill.

“Because there is no #24 without #2, we have updated the Mamba Sports Foundation to now be called the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation,” Vanessa Bryant wrote on her Instagram page announcing the name change.

The two were headed to a game during a basketball tournament at a sports arena in Thousand Oaks, California named for Mamba when the helicopter they were riding in crashed killing them along with Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, 56, his wife Keri Altobelli, 46, and their daughter Alyssa Altobelli, 14; Sarah Chester, 45, and her daughter Payton Chester, 13; as well as Mamba Sports Academy coach Christina Mauser, 38; and pilot Ara Zobayan, 50.

Also from a NBCNews report:

Bryant and his daughter were traveling to Gigi’s basketball game in a Sikorsky S-76B helicopter, when it crashed into a hillside in Calabasas, Calif., on Jan. 26. All eight passengers and the pilot were killed.

The Bryants were laid to rest in a private ceremony in Southern California on Feb. 7.

Before the public ceremony got underway, the Los Angeles Times reported Vanessa Bryant has filed a lawsuit against Island Express Helicopters, the company that operated the chopper. NPR later confirmed the lawsuit with the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board said in its investigative update this month that the chopper’s rotors were both powered and turning at the time of impact, which it said indicates “the engines showed no evidences of uncontained or catastrophic internal failure.”

Photos taken shortly after the crash show conditions were foggy in the hills above Calabasas, but as NPR’s Russell Lewis has reported, the final investigative findings are not expected for at least a year.

photos: Getty

Kobe Bryant and Rising Basketball Star Daughter, Gigi, Perish in Helicopter Crash

Gianna and Kobe Bryant Collage Bellyitchblog.com
Gianna and Kobe Bryant Collage Bellyitchblog.com

Photos: Vanessa Bryant’s Instagram, Getty

Sad news about the family of Vanessa Bryant covered plenty in this blog over the past 10 years: her husband, legendary NBA player Kobe Bryant and their 13 year old daughter Gianna “Gigi” Marie-Onore died along with the pilot of a helicopter they were traveling in this morning and reportedly, another parent Orange  and young player, on their way to a tournament in Thousand Oaks, California.

Our thoughts are with Vanessa and their other three surviving daughters 17-year old Natalia, 3-year old Bianka and 7-month old Capri, and the friends and family of all who perished.

While Kobe was known for being a 20-year vet, the third highest scoring player in NBA history, a 5-time NBA champ, MVP Award winner and 18-times All-Star player, Gigi was coming into her own in the sport.

At just 13-years old, she stood pretty tall at 5 feet 10 inches and playe for an AAU team, the  Los Angeles Lady Mamba girls basketball team, which Kobe coached.

Before her untimely death, Gigi  dreamed of one day playing for legendary coach Geno Auriemma at Connecticut and to eventually join the WNBA.

According to a recent Los Angeles Times report, Kobe recently took her to see Los Angeles Sparks ,Phoenix Mercury, and Las Vegas Aces games.

Mom was also a fan, naturally, of her budding basketball star daughter and her personal Instagram feed featured lots of photos and videos of Gigi at play.

vanessa bryant inst of gigi

credit: Vanessa Bryant

A video posted by Baller TV via ESPN showed Gianna knocking down a stepback jumper during an AAU game with her club team which drew comparison to her dad, also her trainer and coach, obviously.

 

Kobe admitted that since retiring in 2016, he only re-started watching basketball because of Gigi’s love of the sport.

“Before Gigi got into basketball I hardly watched it, but now that’s she’s into basketball, we watch every night,” Kobe told former NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson on the Showtime Basketball podcast All the Smoke.

Since his Jersey was retired in 2017, he had not been seen courtside at a Lakers game until recently with his daughter.

“We just had so much fun because it was the first time I was seeing the game through her eyes,” the five-time NBA champion said of sharing the experience with his daughter.

“It wasn’t me sitting there, you know, as an athlete or a player or something like that, and you know it’s like about me, and I don’t like that,” he added. “It was her, she was having such a good time.”

RIP to both. What a tragic loss for the sports world and the family.

Vanessa and Kobe Bryant Welcome 4th Daughter, Capri

vanessa bryant and fam

Congrats to Vanessa Bryant on the birth of her fourth child, another baby girl.

The wife to NBA star Kobe Bryant shared the news on Friday, June 21 via Instagram though she actually gave birth to a baby girl on Thursday, June 20, US Weekly reports.

“Our baby girl is here!!!!!!” Vanessa wrote on Friday, June 21, via Instagram. “Capri Kobe Bryant. So thankful for our newest baby blessing.”

The former Los Angeles, Lakers star and his wife announced on New Year’s Day on January 1 that they had another baby on the way with an enthusiastic Instagram reveal.

“Vanessa and I are beyond excited to announce that we are expecting another #mambacita to go along with Natalia, Gianna and Bianca,” the athlete wrote at the time. “New Year, New Baby! Baby Mamba on the Way 2019.”

The couple are parents to daughters 16-year old Natalia Diamante, 13-year old Gianna Maria-Onore and 2-year old Bianka Bella,.

The baby’s middle and last name is the same as dad’s!

It is reminiscent of Serena Williams‘ daughter who shares the same firs and last name as her dad, Alexis Olympia Ohanian, and Teyana Taylor‘s daughter Imani Shumpert Jr. who shares the same first and last name as her dad. Is this a new celebrity trend or what?

Kim Kardashian-West and Vanessa Bryant Both Expecting 4th Child

The year has started out with new celebrity baby news. Kim Kardashian West and her husband rapper/designer Kanye West confirmed that they are expecting their fourth child via surrogate. 

The baby on the way will join big siblings 1-year old Chicago, 3-year old Saint and 5 1/2 year old North, PEOPLE confirmed.

Also, former NBA star turned Oscar-winner Kobe Bryant announced via Instagram that he and his wife since 2001, Vanessa Bryant are expecting their fourth child as well.

“Vanessa and I are beyond excited to announce that we are expecting another #mambacita to go along with Natalia, Gianna and Bianka,”  the Academy Award-winning Dear Basketball animated short producer shared, revealing the sex of the child. 

We Can’t Believe How Big These Kids of Celebs Have Gotten!

You know you’re getting older when you see some your kids’ friends on Facebook and social media celebrating a birthday and you think, “my where has the time gone?” or “boy have those kids gotten big!

I think the same can be said of a few of the celeb parents we’ve followed when they first had children compared to now.

There’s Chris Tucker and his son Destin is 19 and is a spitting image of his famous comedian dad.

Demi Moore and her three daughters are are now 23 (Tallulah), 25 (Scout) and 28 (Rumer)! wow!

Kobi Bryant’s daughters are 14 (Natalia), 11, (Gianna) and 8 months (baby Bianka), seen with mom Vanessa.

Madonna‘s son David is and daughter Mercy are both now 11-years old.

Mel B stepped out with her daughters 10-year old Angel and 5-year old Madison earlier in the Spring and I didn’t realize they had grown so much.

Russell Simmons‘ daughters, almost 15-year old Aoki and 17-year old Ming stepped out at a charity event looking so adult as they did with their mom and half brothers 8-year old Kenzo (with Djimon Honsou) and 2-year old Wolfe Lee (with hubby Tim Leissner)

Kelly Ripa has a 19-year old!! Her son Michaeal and also a 15-year-old daughter Lola, and 13-year-old son Joaquin with hubby Mark Consuelos.

Nia Long  took her 16-year old son  Massai Zhivago Dorsey II on a humanitarian trip to Africa. Look how much taller he is than she is!

Reese Witherspoon’s kids with Ryan Phillipe , Ava are 14 and 17 -year old, respectively.

Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith’s son Trey (with Will’s ex Sheree Zampani) is 24!

Down to the younger ones who have grown up is Tia Mowry whose son Cree is now 6.

Finally, Jennifer Hudson’s son David Otunga, Jr. is almost 8-years old. His birthday is today! Happy Birthday, David Jr!

 

Photos: Instagram, Getty

Vanessa and Kobe Bryant Welcomed Their Third Daughter

vanessa-bryant-new-baby

When you’ve already given birth but you want to share with the world your totally gorgeous maternity portrait with all that shiny and healthy pregnancy hair and your man giving off all the feels vibes…was totally what Vanessa Bryant’s latest Instagram post was telling me.

Mrs. Vanessa Bryant and her husband veteran retired NBA star of the Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant welcomed their third daughter last week, TMZ Sports reported.

The new arrival joins their daughters 13-year old Diamante and 10-year old Gianna Marie-Onore.

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant at the 2016 ESPY Awards in July.

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant at the 2016 ESPY Awards in July.

We see RED is the philanthropist mom’s fave color. She looks good in it and wore it often this pregnancy, during the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards and the ESPYs this year in July, shortly after announcing the pregnancy and that they were having a baby girl.

vanessa-kobe-bryant-look-stunning

She also looked great in a red mini dress when in this 2011 archival photo at the Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion.

photo: Getty, Starcast, Screengrab

The Bryants Take in a Lakers Game Courtside

vanessa bryant and fam

Third-time mom-to-be Vanessa Bryant took in a game with her girls (in belly and out) and her husband, retired NBA veteran Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers. She posted a photo of her brood enjoying a Lakers game court side and apparently, all of the activity and action had her soon-to-born daughter excited as well.

“My baby girl kept kicking me????,” the philanthropist captioned a photo she shared on Instagram.  “and Gigi (her daughter) looks like she’s ready to go in and play.”

Nice! You know how the saying goes: a family that has court side seats together…stays together. Ok. Maybe, that’s not precisely how the saying goes but you get the drift. It was a very adorable family fun moment captured.

Pregnant Vanessa Bryant Enjoys Perks of Not Having to Share Kobe with NBA

kobe bryant


Third-time mom-to-be Vanessa Bryant is enjoying the perks of having her husband, retired NBA veteran Kobe Bryant, home more often. The couple is currently baby-mooning in Hawaii.



Bryant shared photos of some of the sights that she is enjoying on the big island.

And a couple of weeks ago, on the way home from the Adele concert at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, she enjoyed a nice foot massage to soothe her achy pregnancy ankles.

“#Adele #Concert #Prego#TinyAnkles #BigBelly #PregoProblems#AcidReflux #SpriteBurp #FootMassageThx baby! ” she captioned the photo of Kobe rivaling Jay-Z for the best celeb hubby.

She also shared photos from the concert.

vanessa-bryant-i-kobe-bryant-1-e1470477114424

The former high school sweethearts are parents to 10-year old daughter Gianna and 13-year old daughter Natalia. Baby #3 is certainly a blessing because Vanessa suffered a miscarriage loss in between giving birth to her two daughters when she had an ecoptic pregnancy in 2005.

 

Vanessa Bryant Bumps it Up in Crimson at The 2016 Espys

 

bryant
Vanessa Bryant bumped it up in crimson at the 2016 ESPN ESPY Awards held Wednesday, July 13 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California.

Accompanying her husband veteran retired NBA player Kobe Bryant, the third-time mom-to-be looked absolutely radiant in a red low cut wrap dress that revealed a tiny bump.  We are loving her blush colored nails and butterfly ring.

It was only this week that the couple announced they were expecting after a pretty long lapse. Their current youngest daughter, Gianna, just turned 10 but is about got be de-throned when daughter number 3 arrives later this year. In red carpet interviews, the couple gushed that they are“very excited” about their third child on the way!

GET THE LOOK!

 

Holiday Cards: Your Celebrity Kid Fashion Muses

It’s December 1st and many parents will be taking the time to get professional end-of-the year Holiday cards portraits taken or may be attending Christmas and other holiday parties. They can be casual, semi-casual or formal. If the event calls for formal dress, take some cues from some of our fave celeb kids as your fashion muse. 
You cannot go wrong with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West‘s daughter  North West, who posed for Chanel baby earlier this year; or  Suri Cruise in that widely circulated red coat and formal dress and kitten heels when she was about 6-years old or so; Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick‘s suave son Mason Disick  or for that tween in your life, Vanessa and Kobi Bryant‘s 11-year old statuesque daughter Natalia Bryant.
Make it work! Here are where you can get similar looks powered by our partners at Shopstyle!

!function(doc,s,id){ var e, p; if(!doc.getElementById(id)) { e     = doc.createElement(s); e.id  = id; p = ‘//shopsensewidget.shopstyle.com/widget-script.js’; var cb = new Date().getTime(); p += ‘?cb=’ + cb; e.src = p; doc.body.appendChild(e); } if(typeof window.ss_shopsense === ‘object’){ if(doc.readyState === ‘complete’){ window.ss_shopsense.init(); } } }(document, ‘script’, ‘shopsensewidget-script’);
!function(doc,s,id){ var e, p; if(!doc.getElementById(id)) { e     = doc.createElement(s); e.id  = id; p = ‘//shopsensewidget.shopstyle.com/widget-script.js’; var cb = new Date().getTime(); p += ‘?cb=’ + cb; e.src = p; doc.body.appendChild(e); } if(typeof window.ss_shopsense === ‘object’){ if(doc.readyState === ‘complete’){ window.ss_shopsense.init(); } } }(document, ‘script’, ‘shopsensewidget-script’);
!function(doc,s,id){ var e, p; if(!doc.getElementById(id)) { e     = doc.createElement(s); e.id  = id; p = ‘//shopsensewidget.shopstyle.com/widget-script.js’; var cb = new Date().getTime(); p += ‘?cb=’ + cb; e.src = p; doc.body.appendChild(e); } if(typeof window.ss_shopsense === ‘object’){ if(doc.readyState === ‘complete’){ window.ss_shopsense.init(); } } }(document, ‘script’, ‘shopsensewidget-script’);
!function(doc,s,id){ var e, p; if(!doc.getElementById(id)) { e     = doc.createElement(s); e.id  = id; p = ‘//shopsensewidget.shopstyle.com/widget-script.js’; var cb = new Date().getTime(); p += ‘?cb=’ + cb; e.src = p; doc.body.appendChild(e); } if(typeof window.ss_shopsense === ‘object’){ if(doc.readyState === ‘complete’){ window.ss_shopsense.init(); } } }(document, ‘script’, ‘shopsensewidget-script’);

post signature

Batman138 Bro138 Dolar138 Gas138 Gudang138 Hoki99 Ligaciputra Panen77 Zeus138 Kilat77 Planet88 Gaspol168 Sikat88 Rupiah138 Garuda138 Gacor77 Roma77 Sensa138 Panen138 Slot138 Gaco88 Elanggame Candy99 Cair77 Max7 Best188 Space77 Sky77 Luxury777 Maxwin138 Bosswin168 Cocol88 Slot5000 Babe138 Luxury138 Jet77 Bonanza138 Bos88 Aquaslot Taktik88 Lord88 Indobet Slot69 Paus138 Tiktok88 Panengg Bingo4d Stars77 77dragon Warung168 Receh88 Online138 Tambang88 Asia77 Klik4d Bdslot88 Gajah138 Bigwin138 Markas138 Yuk69 Emas168 Key4d Harta138  Gopek178 Imbaslot Imbajp Deluna4d Luxury333 Pentaslot Luxury111 Cair77 Gboslot Pandora188 Olxtoto Slotvip Eslot Kuy138 Imbagacor Bimabet