*The Mamba Sports Academy has officially retired “Mamba” from its name out of respect for the late-great Kobe Bryant and his “unparalleled legacy.”
“Mamba” is a reference to Bryant’s famous nickname, the “Black Mamba.”
The Los Angeles Lakers star and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash on January 26 as they were flying to the Mamba Sports Academy where he was to coach her in a tournament game.
In a statement posted to its website on Tuesday, the basketball training facility, which was co-founded by the NBA icon, announced it’s old name, “The Sports Academy,” is its new name, which was changed when the company partnered with Bryant in 2018, per PEOPLE.
“Like tens of millions of fans around the globe, Sports Academy’s world drastically changed on January 26, 2020,” the company said. “Today, with respect for an unparalleled legacy, the Academy will retire the ‘Mamba’ in the Mamba Sports Academy name—to raise it to the rafters, where it belongs,” the statement continued. “In doing so, Sports Academy will carry on the vision it curated during that special partnership.”
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“Sports Academy’s mission remains unchanged,” the company’s statement continued. “Sports Academy is still here to transform the way each of us approach human performance.”
“Sports Academy is still here to support current professionals and guide the next generation of athletes,” the company added. “Sports Academy is still here to provide an integrated and full-circle approach to training. And, above all else, Sports Academy is still here for you.”
In related news, Berge Zobayan, the brother of the pilot involved in the deadly helicopter crash, has noted in a 7-page response to Vanessa Bryant’s wrongful death lawsuit that the passengers on the flight knew the risks involved with flying in weather conditions that were reportedly not ideal on that fateful day.
The helicopter crash occurred on January 26 in Calabasas, California, and claimed the lives of Kobe, 41, and Gianna, 13, as well as John Altobelli, 56, Keri Altobelli, 46, Alyssa Altobelli, 14, Sarah Chester, 45, Payton Chester, 13, Christina Mauser, 38, and pilot Ara George Zobayan.
“Any injuries or damages to plaintiffs and/or their decedent were directly caused in full or in part by the negligence or fault of plaintiffs and/or their decedent, including their knowing and voluntary encounter with the risks involved, and that this negligence was a substantial factor in causing their purported damages, for which this answering defendant bears no responsibility,” Berge’s response said, per TMZ.
The response also requests a jury trial, and argues “any injuries or damages to plaintiffs and/or their decedent were directly caused in full or in part by the negligence, fault or wrongful conduct of third parties, whom this answering defendant neither controlled nor had the right to control, and for which this answering defendant bears no responsibility. Said acts or omissions comparatively reduce the percentage of negligence, fault and/or liability, if any of this answering defendant.”
Kobe’s widow filed the 72-page wrongful death lawsuit on February 24 against the pilot and Island Express, the company he was employed with.
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