My boys grandmother was a lifelong Kobe & Laker hater that used to give me hell.
She shed a tear during the final five minutes of that post-game ceremony. The world literally watched him grow from boy to man, a lone mercenary to a revered general. 'Till this day, I still maintain his flaws not only a basketball player but as a human being is what endeared him so much to fans and detractors alike. He was human, and watching his journey was incredibly personal because of that, even if you had never met him. It felt like you knew him. The rollercoaster of the ups & downs, peaks and valleys. You factor in that journey with the tragedy of his death -- and man. It still hits you like a ton of bricks.