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Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash Sunday, and a nation mourned. Kobe had that effect on people. He was basketball holiness to many. But even those who didn’t necessarily worship the Black Mamba were entranced by Kobe.
I learned the news of the crash literally as I was walking into Randall University’s performance hall Sunday. My 13-year-old granddaughter was performing in “Annie.” And for the 15 minutes or so we waited on the curtain to rise, people were transfixed on their phones, reading about Kobe.