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Another terrible loss for the Bryant family, sending prayers

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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.

My 40 Year Old Son Hired a Lawyer to Sue Me to Get My House but Karma Stepped in Harshly

It wasn’t always like this. Brian used to be kind, but losing his father changed him. My husband had been ill for some time, and although we knew the end was near, it still shattered both of us when he passed. But instead of leaning on me, Brian withdrew, growing colder by the day. After he left with everything of his father’s, I accepted that he was gone from my life. The house, once filled with memories of my husband, became my refuge. I moved forward, learning to stand on my own.

I wasn’t prepared for Brian to come back into my life, especially not like this.

Yesterday, he showed up at my door. My heart skipped a beat when I saw him, hoping for a moment that he had returned to make amends. But my hope quickly faded when I saw the man standing beside him—a lawyer, with a briefcase and a cold, professional demeanor.

“This is my attorney,” Brian said flatly. “You need to leave this house by tomorrow, or we’re taking this to court.”

At first, I didn’t understand. Leave my house? The home I’d shared with his father, the place I had cared for all these years? I looked at the lawyer, hoping there was some mistake, but the truth was clear. My son was suing me for my own home.

“You’re suing me for the house?” I whispered in disbelief.

“That’s right,” he replied without hesitation. “It belongs to me now.”

The lawyer stood silent, but something about him tugged at my memory. As I glanced at him, he gave me the slightest wink—a gesture only I caught. My heart raced as I realized why he seemed so familiar.

“James?” I asked, my voice trembling.

He smiled softly, nodding. “It’s been a long time, Mary.”

It all came flooding back. James was my high school sweetheart, the boy I once loved before life took us in different directions. And here he was, standing in front of me, working as my son’s lawyer. But there was something in his eyes that told me he wasn’t on Brian’s side.

“I think we should have a private conversation,” James said, turning to Brian. “Just a few minutes to clarify some things.”

Brian shrugged, rolling his eyes as he headed back to his car. “Fine. Make it quick.”

As soon as Brian was out of earshot, James leaned in. “I can’t believe how he’s treating you,” he said, his voice filled with concern. “But don’t worry. We can stop him. He doesn’t know what he’s getting into.”

I shook my head, trying to make sense of it all. “He wants to take my home, James. How did it come to this?”

James sighed. “I know it’s hard. But trust me, he’s in way over his head. Let me handle this. We’ll give him a wake-up call tomorrow.”

The next morning, James returned to my house, this time with a bag of freshly ground coffee beans. “I thought we could start the day with a good cup of coffee,” he said with a grin. We sat in the kitchen, sharing stories and memories as we waited for the moment to confront Brian.

When the time came, James pulled out his phone and dialed Brian’s number. The arrogance in Brian’s voice was unmistakable. “What now?” he asked, sounding impatient.

“Brian, we need to talk,” James said calmly. “I want to explain exactly where you stand in this situation.”

Brian snorted. “I know where I stand.”

“No, you don’t,” James replied evenly. “You’re trying to sue your mother for her house, but you’re standing on shaky ground. What you did after your father’s death—taking his belongings without permission, selling them—that’s theft, Brian.”

There was a long pause. Brian was stunned. “Are you serious?”

“Yes,” James said firmly. “You sold things that didn’t belong to you. If you go through with this lawsuit, we’ll bring everything to light. You could face legal consequences far worse than just losing the case.”

I could almost hear Brian’s panic on the other end of the line. “What do you want me to do?” he asked, his voice quieter now.

“Drop the lawsuit,” James replied. “Walk away before this gets any worse. If you do, we’ll make sure nothing else happens. But if you push forward, you’ll regret it.”

Another long silence followed, and I held my breath, waiting for Brian’s response. Finally, he muttered, “Fine. I’ll drop it.”

As James hung up, I let out a sigh of relief. He smiled at me, his usual easygoing demeanor returning. “Sometimes, all it takes is the truth.”

I shook my head, laughing softly. “You’re something else, you know that?”

“I’ve heard that before,” he said with a wink, reaching for his coffee cup.

In the end, Brian was stopped not by anger or revenge, but by the truth. And maybe that’s how it was always supposed to be. Karma had done its work, and I realized that sometimes, all it takes is a little patience—and an old friend—to set things right.

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