Final buzzer ready to sound for Kobe Bryant

The Lakers kick off the second half of the season tonight, and if it’s anything like the first half, there won’t be a lot for fans to cheer about … that is, unless you like long goodbyes.

Kobe Bryant – the Lakers sure-fire Hall of Famer – is winding down his career with a league-wide victory lap. Interestingly, the farewell has opened cracks in the tough-guy image Bryant has cultivated over the past 20 years.

Bill Reiter is co-host of the “LA Today” show on AM 570 LA Sports. He says Bryant’s realization that the end is nigh is opening up a side of the basketball superstar that we haven’t seen: