All Star Weekend is coming, as is the playoffs/finals.

The tragedy, and their memory, will loom large throughout the rest of this season. Much more will be discussed in the media, in ways that differ from the immediate aftermath.

We've established that Kobe's was a life, career, and death that had a profound impact on this board. Him and AI were the lifeblood of this forum until Brawn came through and crushed the buildings (c).

His life, career, and legacy certainly has unsavory elements, and those are certainly fair to discuss in appropriate ways. But his overall legacy is immense, particularly when we look at the work he was beginning to do in the women's game.

The TMZ death post is not, imo, the best forum to discuss his life and memory going forward, and neither is the official Lakers season thread. I do not think it's inappropriate to have a separate post to begin to digest this loss now that the initial shock has resided, and his legacy begins to take center stage in the second half of this season.

So I propose we have a separate post, this post, as that memorial.