For many, sports act as a salve against the wound that is a world increasingly devoid of empathy and kindness. Never is this idea more clear than when Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, coach Brad Stevens, and the Boston Celtics visited the Boston Children's Hospital on Tuesday to sing carols, say hello and get into an intense debate about Duke basketball, courtesy of pseudo alum, Irving (he only appeared in 11 games before going No. 1 in the NBA Draft).
One kid, who we already love, rankled Irving when he put Duke on blast for...being Duke. He reminded Irving his beloved Blue Devils lost to Gonzaga in the Maui Invitational earlier this year, despite having the top three recruits on their team and the consensus No. 1 pick in this June's draft, Zion Williamson.
Brad Stevens eventually chimed in and got the kid to admit that, bias aside, this Duke team is pretty freakin' good. Irvin also led the squad in a sing-along of Jingle Bells:
While the Duke debate gets the headlines, because editors love alliteration as much as everyone else loathes Duke, Kyrie gifted one fan a sneakerhead's dream: an exclusive pair of his signature kicks. So exclusive, they're 1 of 1; the only pair of their kind in the whole world.
If this doesn't bring a smile to your face, nothing will. Big ups to the C's and Irving for making Tuesday night so special for kids that could really use it. And props to the little man who gave it to Kyrie about his Duke squad.
