Dearly Beloved,
We are gathered here today to say goodbye not to a departed friend and loved one, but to an enemy and an adversary. And even enemies and nemeses deserve a decent burial.
Say what you will about our deceased antagonist, but every one of us who calls themselves an NBA fan has been affected by the impact this daunting competitor has had on the sport. Perhaps it was just in a small way; or maybe it was in some transformative way. Maybe your team even blew itself up and began a total rebuild just to try to keep up with this fallen foe.
