I will never forget the fire in Tesia Thompson’s eyes when she told me, “I just want a championship.”

When I heard the news, I didn’t believe it. I couldn’t. I refused. There was just no way that Kobe Bryant was dead.

On the night of April 13, 2016, the Golden State Warriors were one win away from history.

Still, I am in no way shape or form an intellectual in the sports world. Nor could I tell you who played last night or who scored what. But what I can recognize is the love people have for their passions and how people can be so impacted by a hero.

We know only what we know. This, however, does not make what we do not know any less real.

Before I disappoint you, I should preface this column by coming clean. I, Patrick Buck, do not know the secret to a perfect pancake. Nor have I ever knowingly taken part in creating one. But I do believe this is a discussion we need to have. Pancakes may seem simple, but this is not the truth, my friend. In fact, a well-executed triple stack is a highly sophisticated balancing act tying together science, luck, karma and sacrifice.