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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Doctors never put milk in their coffee for a surprising reason.
Coffee: A Beneficial Morning Energy Boost
Every morning, coffee faithfully follows us, providing the much-needed energy boost to get our day started. To enhance the flavor and attractiveness of this natural energy booster, many people add milk and sweets to their coffee.
Adding milk to coffee, however, may “dilute” the antioxidants in a freshly prepared cup.
Drinking black coffee without milk, sugar, or honey has a number of health advantages. By doing this, the coffee’s antioxidants—which have been shown to assist with a number of medical conditions—can be absorbed by the body.
Moreover, dietitians usually recommend against adding milk, sugar, or cream to coffee for anyone following a diet.
Coffee has advantages beyond just giving you a boost in energy. Let’s examine two noteworthy benefits:
One of coffee’s main ingredients, caffeine, is a natural stimulant that awakens the body from sleep and improves attention span and response time.
The effects of caffeine are amplified when combined with sugar, leaving you feeling energized and content all day long.
Coffee Guards Against Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease: Research has demonstrated that coffee can help prevent both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This may be connected to the caffeine and chlorogenic acid content of the drink.
Coffee has also been demonstrated to improve liver function, and its strong antioxidant content helps to prevent cell damage and shield the heart from possible harm.
Including coffee in our everyday routines brings both happiness and significant health advantages.
We may completely utilize the antioxidants in black coffee if we accept its inherent bitterness and refrain from adding milk, sugar, or cream.
Therefore, the next time you brew coffee, consider tasting it unadulterated and recognizing its health benefits.
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