I don’t think it’s interesting I was unaware who he was. I am not located in US and Kobe was not an internatinal celebrity before his death. I remebered reading about the accident but could not link the name to the event. I sense he was important to you. We all have to let go of those who leave us behind. Go in peace.
Bryant was, in fact, a major international celebrity. He was among the most popular players in a sport with global reach - his jersey was the highest-selling for many years - and represented the US in 2 Olympic gold medal runs, including when the games were hosted by the nation that represents the largest market for basketball outside the US (China).
I suspect, as is common in the tech and venture capital scene worldwide, his race had something to do with the appraisal a limited number of influential people on HN had of him. What's important to me is that people in this community start to recognize the blindspots and, in unfortunate cases, biases which contribute to the schism between the makers and the people whose lives their creations are supposed to be making better. Step one would be taking this criticism seriously and with humility.
Your analysis of ethnic biases sounds plausible in the general case, but in my specific case I'm fairly ignorant of all athletes and sports - I find them all equally unexciting regardless of ethnicity. I realize this puts me in the minority as rest of humankind is concerned.
