We finish today as we started it.

Here is a selection of the sport and music royalty who were courtside to see Kobe Bryant's 60-point send off with the LA Lakers.

Good afternoon.

Image source, NBAE

Image source, NBAE

Image source, NBAE

Image source, Getty

Minnesota's legendary defensive end Jared Allen has signed a one-day contract, external so that he can retire as a Viking.

The 34-year-old, who played the past two seasons with the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers after five years in Minneapolis, will spend just tomorrow as a Vikings employee once again.

Image source, Get

Mind you, it was quite an important game - The European Cup Winners Cup final. Dortmund won 2-1 50 years ago. Since then it's been one win and two draws for the Merseysiders. 

Dan Walker and guests Jason Roberts and Matt Elliott look ahead to Thursday's Europa League quarter-final second-leg between Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund at Anfield, with the scores tied at 1-1.

Chris Goreham
BBC Radio Norfolk sport

Image source, BBC Sport

Just been down to Norwich City... 3,000 inflatable canaries will be handed out to young fans on Saturday.

Image source, Pa

Midfielder Jonas Gutierrez was dropped by Newcastle United because of his cancer diagnosis, an employment tribunal has found.

The 32-year-old was suing the Magpies for in the region of £2m on the grounds of disability discrimination.

The tribunal also ruled the club made it impossible for Gutierrez to trigger a further deal through appearances.

The two sides last played each other at Anfield in the group stage of the Champions League in October 2001. 

Vladimir Smicer put the Reds ahead before a young Stephen Wright made it 2-0. Oh, and look who was in goal for Dortmund that evening...

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Beckie Middleton

What's it like to narrowly miss out on selection for three Olympic Games?

This poignant piece, external by hockey player Beckie Middleton explains...

Manager Jurgen Klopp says he has to make a big decision about his attacking line-up. 

Divock Origi scored the away goal in Dortmund, while Daniel Sturridge started Sunday's 4-1 league win over Stoke City.

"It is not about how many strikers we have on the pitch," said Klopp.

"It is not about a formation. We have a few different possibilities to find the line-up and there is no final decision."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty

Batsman Ian Bell insists his 174 for Warwickshire in their opening County Championship game was not meant to make a point to England's selectors.

"No, not at all.  For me, it doesn't do me any good thinking about England," the 34-year-old Bears skipper, who was dropped for last winter's tour to South Africa, told BBC WM.

"My everything at the moment - one hundred and 10 per cent - is thinking about Warwickshire, winning games of cricket and contributing to the team."

Make of this what you will...

Image source, Rex Features

The love-in between Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund fans continues.

The German fans and their host joined in on a rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone, external - an anthem for both clubs - in the city centre ahead of their meeting in the Europa League quarter-finals.

Someone is going to end the evening disappointed however.

Image source, AS

Liverpool fans used to sing that "his armband proved he was a Red". Then Fernando Torres demanded a move to Chelsea to rather disprove that theory.

The striker is very much at Atletico Madrid fan, though. The 32-year-old, suspended from Wednesday's second leg after being sent off in the first, was not shy in his celebrations as his team saw off Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Spanish newspaper AS, external had a camera trained on Torres in the Calderon stands and he was living every second.

BBC North West Tonight

Virgin Trains warn that - due to planned work on the line - there will be no trains from London to Liverpool and Manchester after FA Cup semi-final on Saturday, 23 April between Everton and Manchester United. 

That's helpful, eh...

Image source, Getty Images

Manager Mark Hughes believes that Stoke will take heart from fighting back from two goals down to secure a point in the reverse fixture against Tottenham in August.

"We showed a lot of character at their place earlier in the season to come back from two behind, so we know we can go up against them and do well," he said.

So you're Livingston, a Scottish Championship club, and find yourself at a loose end on Saturday because of scheduled opponents' Rangers' Scottish Cup commitments. So what do you do instead?  

Arrange a friendly with the team's supporters club's..., external   

Nick Barnes
BBC Newcastle's Sunderland commentator

“The lads have got to keep their nerves,” says Sam Allardyce of Sunderland’s crucial match at Norwich. “If we stick to our game plan to the best of our ability we’ve already proven we can match anybody”.  

Allardyce says Duncan Watmore won't start after his ankle injury but he “may come off the subs bench”.