Talk » Its really about the spirit.

Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan?were uniquely linked on the court, as their respective five-title careers intersected and often ran through each others. Duncans retirement announcement on Monday means both icons will be gone next year, a generations two biggest stars concurrently saying farewell.Consider how they ruled from separate kingdoms: From 1999 to 2014, either Bryant or Duncan played in the NBA Finals in all but three years. (Dwyane Wade played in each of the other three.)?Both are staples in the modern-era NBA Mount Rushmore. Along with John Stockton, they played the longest for a single team.?But comparing them head-to-head wholly and objectively is tricky. Kobe is one of the games most polarizing players ever. He never had Duncans organizational stability. Duncan, the humble craftsman, was never reliably marketable, nor overwhelmingly popular.So you tell us: Whose legacy is better? Below the poll is a little more info to help you make your decision.A case for Kobe:The edge in career scoring, assists, steals, 3s and free-throw percentageTwo Olympic gold medalsA global impact culturally and economicallyAn unquantifiable ruthlessness18-12 record against Duncan in the playoffsMore All-Defensive First Teams; more All-NBA First Teams; more All-Star Game MVPsSuccessfully defended a title three times81-point gameTim on Kobe: He was someone you had to keep an eye on, you had to worry about, you had to fear, because he was going to bring it.A case for Tim:The edge in career rebounds, blocks, win share, VORP and PERMore MVPs; more Finals MVPsNever missed the playoffs in 19 seasonsStarted and played more games despite four years in college31-21 record against Bryant in the regular season#NBARank No. 1 all-time power forward ever; #NBARank No. 8 all-time NBA playerWon titles across three decades21/20/10/8 in a title close-out gameKobe on Tim: More cutthroat than people give him credit for. I loved everything about him on the court.A complete breakdown of their career statistics can be found here.[Credit: All photos Getty] Colorado Avalanche Store . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. Avalanche Jerseys 2021 . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night. https://www.cheapavalanche.com/ . The Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers all won on Sunday meaning the Rangers will host the Rays in a play-in game on Monday. Wholesale Avalanche Jerseys .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. Colorado Avalanche Pro Shop . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. Have you ever found yourself feverishly flipping through a fashion publication, from cover to cover, searching for your likeness, only to be met with disappointment?The majority of women have.Despite being 67 percent of the market, plus-size (U.S. size 14 and up) women make up less than 2 percent of the images we see in publications, retail stores or advertising campaigns. This is a startling and indefensible statistic that Refinery29, an online destination for how to live a stylish, well-rounded life, is tackling head-on via its newly launched initiative, the 67 Percent Project. It aims to amplify the conversation around societys definition, views and acceptance of diverse beauty.On Wednesday, R29 hosted Every Beautiful Body in partnership with retailers Lane Bryant and Aerie. Held in lower Manhattan, the symposium united fashion industry thought leaders, influencers and celebrities for a day of thought-provoking panels. Orange is the New Black star Danielle Brooks (and now model) stepped in as the keynote speaker for one of the sessions.After Brooks addressed the room of 100-plus women, espnW had a conversation with the Tony-nominated actress about embracing her curves and why Serena Williams represents her ultimate #bodygoal.This interview has been modified for length.?espnW: What is your favorite part of your body and why?Danielle Brooks:?I like my thighs a lot. Theyre smooth and thick. I mean solid. I feel like an Amazonian woman because of my thighs. In a healthy way, of course.espnW: What about your favorite curve?DB: My butt. [Because] its bubbly and also firm. Just round and big. I like that its big. I like that its mine. I like that it carries me around. I like that in my head, it looks like Serena Williamss [butt]. Shes the definition of ?body goals.espnW: What makes you feel sexy?DB: When I am fully confident, I feel sexy. Theres something attractive about a woman regardless of how big or small she is. When she walks into a room, and she loves herself ... that is just attractive. She can be wearing a trash bag, but if shes feeling herself, shes sexy.espnW: Have you always been confident about your body?DB: I think what makes us all human is the fact that we are inconsistent. One day, I am feeling very confident and the next day ... ugh, I shouldnt have eaten that pizza. Its just who we are as people. Im constantly trying to change my mindset on how I look at my body. Sometimes I have to be conscious of what my brain is taking in. Maybe its because I was on Instagram too long? That might be why I feel some type of way. So, I have to change what Im taking in -- what Im reading, and what Im looking at. Because this is what the conversation is all about.espnW: What makes you feel fierce?DB: Doing what I love. Acting. Like right now, Im in The Color Purple on Broadway and when I get on that stage, and at the end of the two-and-a-half-hour show -- just giving 150 percent of myself -- and hearing that applause at the end of the night. I feel like yeah, Danii you did that!Or, working on Orange is the New Black.dddddddddddd Getting up early. Just being a hard worker. And doing it with a peace of mind. Staying sane and grounded. All of that makes me feel fierce.espnW: How did you learn to embrace your body?DB:?Im still trying to navigate that. Growing up I wasnt that girl that all of the guys wanted. I have natural hair, dark skin, and being a big girl ... wasnt always in. Ive had to reprogram my mind. I have to know that Im worthy.espnW:?Do you think the fashion industry is evolving to be more size-inclusive?DB: Slowly. Its like a turtle right now, but were getting somewhere. As they say: slow and steady wins the race. I think we still have a long way to go when it comes to fashion. Its very upsetting to me when I open up a magazine and dont see myself.espnW: Why is every body beautiful?DB:?Every body is beautiful because you only get one. And the thing is ... this is flesh. This goes. Its really about the spirit. Because we are blessed to have this body that reflects our spirit, we have to take care of it, and we have to embrace it. Because once its gone; its gone.espnW: Curvy vs. plus-size: do you prefer a specific term?DB: I prefer curvy because it gives me the fluidity to live freely in my own body. For example, I might have a kid and gain a bunch of weight, or have a kid and lose a bunch of weight. Its a reminder to women that your body can be whatever you want it to be.Regarding the term plus-size, I understand why it bothers some women. But it doesnt bother me. To be honest, the word fat is more troubling, because it implies that you dont take care of yourself, or that youre unhealthy. But plus-size --- yes, Im a 14. Im not a size 6, and Im healthy. I never looked at the term plus-size as a negative thing.espnW: Criticisms such as: youre too curvy, too dark, or your natural hair is too distracting, are often said to women of color. How does it feel to be handpicked by Lane Bryant to be their visual representative of womanhood?DB: Overwhelming, in the best sense of the word. It feels good. Im making my people proud. Yesterday I was on stage [at The Color Purple] and as I took my final bow, this 40-something black woman in the crowd mouthed the words, Im proud of you. And thats what I feel from my community.And I feel that from people that look like me ... and that dont look like me. I am a representation of women that I follow, and that I model myself after -- Oprah Winfrey, Ava DuVernay, Uzo Aduba and Serena --- and I want to stay. I dont want to let my ancestors down, because they just worked so hard for me to be in this position. I dont want to take it lightly, and I want to continue to make them proud.Shana Renee is the founder and editor-in-chief of All Sports Everything and a passionate New York Jets, Knicks and Yankees fan. Follow her sports talk on Twitter at @ItsShanaRenee. ' ' '