A few final thoughts on Kobe Bryant:
Serious kudos to the Sixers for a touching pre-game tribute to the NBA icon and Lower Merion High grad.
Even Joel Embiid managed to add to the evening, returning from a couple weeks off with a torn ligament in his finger. Embiid scored 24 points - matching Kobe's jersey number - and even yelled "Kobe!" as he launched his final fadeaway.
Embiid even reached out and received permission from Sixers' great Bobby Jones to wear his retired No. 24 jersey as a salute to Bryant. Ironically, Embiid also managed to pull down eight defensive rebounds. Eight happens to be the other jersey number Bryant wore in his stories career.
The Sixers hit the floor in special warmups emblazoned with either the number 8 or 24.
Earlier in the day, Bryant's coach at Lower Merion High, Gregg Downer, held an emotional press conference in which he admitted the depth of the tragedy overwhelmed him when he heard the news on Sunday. "I lost my hero," Downer said.
Finally, on our editorial page, I suggest that this has gone far beyond basketball. It's a warning that life - even for those who seemingly have everything - is fragile. Don't waste a minute of it. Hug those you love. And make sure you tell them the same.
Bryant took a lot of heat for once warning Philly fans that he and the Lakers were coming to his old hometown to "cut our their heart" in the NBA playoffs. Bryant, the ultimate competitor, was a big taken aback and stung when his comments were not well received by Philly nation.
It's ironic that all these years later, he has ripped out our heart again, but in a way no one could imagine.
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