Reflection: They Heard Kobe Bryant’s Helicopter Go Down. Then They Prayed.

Original story: 

New York Times, They Heard Kobe Bryant’s Helicopter Go Down. Then They Prayed. 

John Branch’s narrative of the helicopter crash that killed basketball star Kobe Bryant and the church community that witnessed it is a vivid and contemplative piece. It gives a different perspective to a world-changing event and succeeds at combining the religious community with sports fans. 

From the beginning, Branch sets the scene of that day well with a retelling of Elizabeth Howland Forrest, a member of the Church in the Canyon, driving into the city, taking the same path as Bryant’s helicopter along Highway 101. The continuous attention to detail at the church, from what book of the Bible the pastor, Bob Bjerkaas, was teaching in Sunday School to how exactly the helicopter sounded before and as it crashed, makes the story rich and engaging. The imagery continues throughout the entire piece. 

Branch’s juxtaposition of the scene at the church and the one at the Mamba Sports Academy also contributes to how well the story is told. These two very different places, two different reactions to what had happened, two different congregations of people, but everyone prayed. To me, that’s the pivotal point in this story that makes it a perfect blend of a sports story and a religion story, with one aspect not overshadowing the other in a good homage to Bryant. Branch’s ability to show how the community came together in light of such a tragedy is incredible in this piece and does the scene, the people, and the story justice.