It's been an odd sports week.
I'm thinking about two guys who have dominated the sports landscape, for circumstances that could not be more different.
Andy Reid & Kobe Bryant.
The sports world is still trying to get its arms around the tragedy that eclipsed Bryant's star, a helicopter crash that took the life of the Lower Merion star and all-time Lakers great, along with his 13-year-old daughter and seven other people.
At the same time we are preparing for that annual sports nirvana known as the Super Bowl. And there is a local interest this year because former longtime Eagles head coach Andy Reid is seeking that elusive rings with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Both men have somewhat complicated relationships with Philly fans.
Bryant, despite his roots here, his dad Joe being a La Salle star who played for the Sixers, was not always embraced by local fans. Some still hold it against him that he once said of coming to Philly in the NBA Finals to play the Sixers: "We're coming to cut their hearts out."
Bryant believed it was something the passionate, rabid Philly fans would understand. Obviously he did not expect the reaction it triggered and was stung by often being booed on his hometown court, including during an appearance at an NBA All-Star Game.
For Reid, he enjoyed a lot of success as coach of Eagles teams that made a habit of winning - winning the NFC East, in fact dominating the division for years.
But fans never forgave Reid for what he did not do. He never won the biggest game, the Super Bowl. He lost several NFC title games, including a couple when the Birds were the clear favorites.
And when he finally got the team to the Super Bowl, he was ridiculed for his clock management habits, consuming much of the 4th quarter on a long, drawn-out drive when the Eagles were down by two scores.
The clip of Patriots coach Bill Belichick openly wondering if he was reading the scoreboard correctly, seemingly perplexed at what Reid and the Eagles were doing, playing as if they were the team that was ahead, will always hang over Reid.
The fans for the most part made their peace with Kobe.
Maybe Sunday they can do the same with Andy Reid.
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