every day is a gift

basketball was the last of the four major sports that i paid attention to. however, living in southern california, it was hard to ignore the lakers in the 1980's. i had purchased a pack of 1977-78 basketball cards back in the day (and pulled a kareem card), but it didn't stick.  still, i followed along in the los angeles times as the magic era began with a bang and a title in 1980, and then really begin watching during the 1987 run to the nba title. after that, i considered myself a fan.

some fan, though, as i only ever made it to one basketball game at the fabulous forum - just in time to see kareem during his final season. that was the motivation to go, and i was treated to a vintage kareem performance, even if magic only played a few minutes since the opponent was a poor expansion team.  once 1990 rolled around, my college roommates and i were buying basketball cards at a rapid pace. mostly hoops, of course, but soon fleer and then upper deck cards were available, and i made sure to pick up a copy of the 1992-93 topps "the magic is back" card when it was released.  not too long after that, my fandom began to wane as i had started my career and had less time to devote to my hobbies.  still, i was still following enough to be aware of the post-draft trade in 1996 wherein the lakers sent vlade divac to charlotte for a teenager named kobe bryant.

i no longer considered myself a basketball fan, but i was certainly aware of the talent. even as i moved halfway across the country in to kevin garnett territory, i still kept an eye on kobe and shaq out west.  and, although i had curtailed my basketball card collecting by then, i did seek out a card of bryant's a couple of years later, picking up this 1998-99 ud choice preview card showing him about to throw down a dunk

tomorrow is the public memorial service for kobe and his daughter, and i know it will be a difficult day for the many fans who will attend, as well as those who will be there in spirit. i cannot comprehend what the past few weeks have been like for his family and friends, and i know there are some fervent fans who are still struggling with the reality of his passing.

every day is a gift.