From hero to villain and back again, Kobe Bryant took us all on a journey that ended much too soon

"I'm going to my agent's in Santa Monica," he replied to me that day. "I can give you a ride to your hotel (the Marina Del Rey Marriott, right next to Santa Monica), but that's about it." It took maybe 25-30 minutes, first on the 405, then on Highway 10 toward-the-beach traffic. He pulled out of the parking lot in a jet-black BMW 740iL.