February 1, 2020

The 24.2 second moment of silence rang echoes of the Dave Foster Wallace piece, “The View from Mrs. Thompson’s”. I sat in a bar with my best friend, unexpectedly watching the memorial portion of the Lakers vs. Trailblazers game. Reverence and respect owned the room. The typical music blaring from the new-aged jukebox replaced with the audio of Usher singing “Amazing Grace” and Ben Hong guiding his bow against the strings of the cello, accompanying a montage of Kobe Bryant speaking about his love and dedication to basketball, interacting with his family, and sharing insights into his desire to be one of the best to ever hold a ball.

The room stills. Appropriate silence given for speeches and emotional pauses. Silent tears holding in the corners of eyes as the bar patrons grieve with those on the screen. LeBron speaking of family and in a collective gathering of strangers that enjoy the spirits and a good sports game, there’s a commonality of respect and mourning. The crowd of the game on screen adorned in 8s and 24s, celebrating Kobe Bryant’s life and legacy. One announcer stating that the sadness was validating what was lost.

For those seconds, the world paused and allowed those grieving to have a moment. And as the players took the court, the moment in the bar returned to its natural, bustling atmosphere. The sound from the Staples Center was muted, and the jukebox music resumed in full swing.