CORVALLIS — Life goes on even in the face of unspeakable tragedy. Sunday's Civil War still had to be played, despite devastating circumstances.
The unbridled joy of sport was shattered by grief for the UO women's basketball team, less than two hours before tipoff at Oregon State. The Ducks and Beavers played shortly after news broke of the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, the father of four daughters and a spirited advocate of women's athletics who attended UO women's basketball and volleyball games earlier this academic year.
Bryant and one of his daughters, Gianna, were killed in a helicopter crash Sunday morning that also claimed the lives of three family members of former Oregon baseball player JJ Altobelli.