THE LONG GOODBYE
On the final night of his illustrious career, after what seemed like a year’s worth of farewells and celebrations and congratulatory speeches spanning everyone from Justin Timberlake to Taylor Swift, Kobe Bryant clanked the first four shots he attempted.
Like a bunch of nervous parents watching their kid struggle when they desperately want them to succeed, the soldout crowd at Staples Center moaned and groaned and grimaced with each miss. Through their body language, it was as if they were trying to will the ball into the hoop.
Imagine that, after all those years carrying the Lakers and Los Angeles to five NBA Titles and an infinite loop of highlight reel plays and game-winning shots and legendary moments, it was L.