Kobe Bryant Charged With Sexual Assault

Kobe Bryant Forum

EAGLE, Colo. - Basketball star Kobe Bryant yesterday was charged with one count of felony sexual assault in an alleged attack on a 19-year-old hotel attendant at a Rocky Mountain resort on June 30.

http://www.philly.com/images/philly/inquirer/6336/40148411480.jpg

Bryant, a 24-year-old all-star guard for the Los Angeles Lakers and a Lower Merion native known for his clean-cut public persona, could face four years to life in prison or 20 years to life on probation. He also could be fined $3,000 to $750,000.

"Basically, it is alleged that he [caused] sexual penetration or intrusion and that he caused submission of the victim through actual physical force," said Eagle County District Attorney Mark D. Hurlbert, announcing the charge at a news conference outside his office yesterday afternoon.

Hours later, Bryant answered back, making his first public statements on the case at a news conference in Los Angeles. He admitted adultery but said it was consensual.

"I'm innocent," he said into a microphone after a long moment spent choking back tears. "I didn't force her to do anything against her will. I'm innocent... . I sit here in front of you guys, furious at myself, disgusted at myself for making a mistake of adultery."

Bryant's wife, Vanessa, sat beside him as he made several apologies to her and vowed that "shoulder to shoulder, we're going to fight this thing through all the way to the end."

NBA commissioner David Stern said only that the league would "await the outcome of a judicial proceeding before taking any action."

Yesterday's developments ended two weeks of speculation after Bryant's July 4 arrest and set the stage for a legal battle. Prosecutors and Bryant agree that sexual activity occurred inside his hotel room that night. The issue is whether it was consensual.

Hurlbert, the first-year district attorney for Colorado's Fifth Judicial District, told reporters yesterday that his office had evidence to prove the anonymous victim's allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.

"As in any sexual assault case, ladies and gentlemen, this did not come easily," Hurlbert said. He said he spent the last two weeks reviewing testimony, physical evidence - presumably the long-awaited DNA tests from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation - studying case law, and consulting with other Colorado prosecutors.

"Then and only then did I make my decision," he said.

Bryant's attorneys, Pamela Mackey and Harold Haddon, described the arrest of Bryant as a "rush to judgment" made by a county sheriff who may have been biased from a prior friendship with the victim when he was a Drug Abuse Resistance Education officer at the local high school.

"We will explore his bias," said Haddon, who did not elaborate on the bias accusation. "... We will look into their motives. The course of the trial will determine that."

The incident occurred late June 30 at the Lodge & Spa at Cordillera, a mountainside resort about 130 miles west of Denver, when the woman was reportedly summoned to Bryant's room, possibly for room service.

The woman, home in Eagle and working a summer job after her freshman year at the University of Northern Colorado, claims Bryant held her against her will and sexually assaulted her.

Reports of the aftermath vary. Some claim a ruckus in the room attracted hotel security and the woman left in hysterics. Others suggest that she returned downstairs on her own, in a shocked stupor. Hurlbert would not say whether anyone witnessed the alleged assault.

While Bryant underwent knee surgery the following day - his reason for coming to Colorado - police investigated the victim's complaint. Bryant was taken to Valley View Hospital to provide DNA samples, and later flew back to Los Angeles.

On July 4, Eagle County Sheriff Joseph D. Hoy issued an arrest warrant for Bryant, who flew back that night to surrender and post $25,000 bail.

Two days later, Hoy announced the arrest, beginning a guessing game that has occupied countless hours on television and marred the reputations of Bryant, his accuser, and even Hoy, who was widely criticized for "jumping the gun" in arresting Bryant before the district attorney had decided to press charges.

Yesterday Hoy stood silently behind the lectern as Hurlbert announced the charges Hoy had pushed for. Later, Hoy released a statement suggesting that reporters go home.

The alleged victim is a former cheerleader and choir singer at Eagle Valley High School. Invariably described as a "good girl" by acquaintances, she is tall, blond, friendly and ambitious enough to have made the trip to Texas last fall to sing in auditions for the television program American Idol.

Her family's hillside home on the edge of town has become a pilgrimage site for visiting reporters, who are politely turned away at the door. For now, she will maintain her anonymity, housebound for the summer. Prosecutors said she had been consulted before the decision to file charges was made.

"It's been very difficult for her," Hurlbert said, "more difficult with all the media attention. But I ask you to respect her privacy in this."

Under Colorado law, the charge of "Sexual Assault-Overcome Victim's Will" is a third-degree felony carrying a prison term of four years to life or a probation period of 20 years to life.

Bryant was 18 when he entered the NBA four months after graduating from Lower Merion High in 1996. He was 22 when he married 19-year-old Vanessa Laine in 2001. The couple have a daughter, Natalia, born in January.

Considered an heir to Michael Jordan's basketball legacy, Bryant has won three NBA titles in his seven years with the Lakers. Last season, he averaged a career-high 30 points a game. He is a member of the U.S. men's senior national basketball team, expected to compete at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.

In addition to his $70.9 million Lakers contract and a three-year, $55 million extension signable after this season, Bryant holds endorsement contracts with Sprite and McDonald's, and in June signed a $45 million sneaker deal with Nike.

"I have a lot at stake," Bryant said last night. "And that has nothing to do with the game of basketball, nothing to do with endorsements. This is about us. This is about our family.

"I am falsely accused of something," he continued, exhaling. "I'm innocent... . I appreciate everybody out there for your support. We're going to need your support and prayers now more than ever."

In her own statement released beforehand, Vanessa Bryant said: "I will not let him face these accusations alone. I know Kobe better than anyone. The great person you see on the court and in the public is a far greater person off the court."

Lakers fan Joel Mendoza, 26, visiting Colorado from Los Angeles, attended the news conference yesterday wearing a yellow and purple Lakers jersey and hat, hoping to hear Bryant be exonerated. Afterward his support was muted. "I was shocked by how serious the allegations were," he said.

Bryant's next court appearance will be a hearing on Aug. 6 in Eagle, where he will be advised of the charges against him and of his rights. Mackey said he would plead not guilty.

Hurlbert would not speculate whether the trial would occupy Bryant during the coming basketball season.

Hurlbert promised to treat this celebrity case like any other case. He expected any trial would be held in Eagle. "This is a crime that occurred in Eagle, and I think the people of Eagle should hear it," he said.

"Really, the overriding goal in all of this is justice for the victim and for the people of Eagle County."

Bryant's attorneys said they, too, hoped to try the case before a Colorado jury, unless Hoy "continues to make statements and express his opinion."

"We will not try this case in the press," Mackey said. "We will try it before a Colorado jury, and we are confident that a Colorado jury will find Mr. Kobe Bryant innocent."

In the Philadelphia area, reactions ranged from the cynical to the sympathetic.

Matthew Booker, 16, an 11th grader at University City High School, one of four youths riding bicycles yesterday at Schuylkill River Park, said: "He's a goody two-shoes, so people won't believe anything. With A.I. [Allen Iverson] they'd believe anything."

Out on busy Montgomery Avenue in Lower Merion, Chuck Sherman, 51, a custom cabinet business owner said: "It would be a shame if [the charge] proves to be true. I'm hoping like most people I know here that it isn't true. Kobe is like a hero around here."

Stephen Cohen of Lower Merion said: "I think he was set up. If anything happened, it was consensual. He may have had a weak moment, but rape? Nah... . He's a smart guy. I just can't see him doing it."

I think I would not be so forgiving a wife - unless I didn't really care about him and was just soaking up the lavish lifestyle he was providing for me.

Whether this man is guilty of sexual assult, he still committed adultry. I was watching the press release, and his wife was sitting there, holding his hand. He was saying things to her like... "You're the air that I breathe. You're my back bone." I just wanted to puke. He would be apologizing to her... and she wouldn't even know about this if he didn't get caught. I don't understand people who cheat. I don't care if you're a man or a woman. And the spouses just roll over and forgive. Must have something to do with all those millions of dollars that he's got.

I don't think that his wife will saty with him for too long after this is all over. She'll probably hang around through the trial just to save face.

Obviously, you folks don't understand anything at all about forgiveness and giving a person another chance. People are human, even super-hero basketball players. They do make mistakes. People do things out of character, like commit adultery in a one-night stand, and then later are sorry as hell for it. But, I guess none of you ever did anything wrong or anything you regretted in your whole lives.

I feel sorry for people who are so unforgiving and so cynical. You not only don't know him personally, you don't know her. Yet, here you are making all kinds of judgments about her motives for saying she stood by him. It's people like you, not people like her, that make me puke.

If the shoe fits, wear it.

I was disgusted at him trying explain that "he was just a MAN" as if that would explain his adultery. I'm not even going to talk about the rape charges.

Well I'm sorry but I don't buy that - he is NOT a MAN, he is an womanizing JERK.

Why was he talking with his tongue all over his cheeks and sucking in his mouth??? Can't he speak like a normal MAN? Does he have a speech imparement??? Seems to me like he had a difficult time saying what he had to say.

Also talk about his lawyers NOT wanting to "try this case in the media" -- he, the super-hero announces he is innocent for - what? - 5 minutes in front of the whole nation?? While the victim is under house arrest and cannot speak for herself. Bad publicity move - starting the case in this way in the media. He should have just said he is sorry to his wife and left.

All that money he signed up for in June went to his Head obviously and he could not handle it. He is only 24 years old, with a beautiful wife, he has been married only since 2001, has a baby, basically still newly weds on their honeymoon. And he is already dropping his pants at the hotel door???

"And I love my wife with all my heart. She's my backbone. You're a blessing. You're a piece of my heart, you're the air I breath. You're the strongest person I know and I'm so sorry" Obviously she is far stronger than Kobe. How come he did not think of her in his hotel room when a pretty blond comes to his room to do room service?? A real MAN does not drop his pants AND the memory of his wife and child when he checks into a hotel room.

Even if the blond went aggressively after him --- he has no excuse to commit adultery as soon as a pretty young thing knocks at his door. Don't these guys get any common sense training?? He is going to have a steady stream of women tossing themselves at him, and how is he supposed to cope with that? By having a strong wife with a backbone at home, who forgives him because after all he is so wonderful.

Give me a break, I need to puke.

"And I'm a human being. I'm a man just like everybody else. I mourn, I cry just like everybody else. And I sit here before you guys, embarrassed and ashamed for committing adultery. And you know if I could go through the feeling of what was he going to say here???-- if I could just turn back the hands of time -- and I love my wife so much. She's so special to me.

Sure she is special now. I feel really sorry for both of the women here, but at least one of them gets paid for her pain.

A man??? No way, not ready for marriage, not now -- maybe never.

Kobe, bad move, bro, no matter how you did it.

I notice all you guys talking about Kobe....well Im gonna put it this way.....many spouses cheat and are forgiven....but since Im not her...its hard to really see her train of thought on all this...

but here is the bottom line.....and I have seen not one person mention this....

Put aside the cheating for one minute....did it ever occur to anyone that this woman he supposedly raped...might just be doing this for a buck? What about the 911 calls from her house to the police before the incident occurred? Is she a person that calls 911 often?

Im not saying the guy is a saint by all means...but if his wife has forgiven him at this point...why do we care? Its not our life.....I think too much is focused on him being a scumbag, and not enough on wondering about what the victim's real intentions might be......if she wasnt raped.

We dont know this guy is guilty yet.....maybe we need to focus on this woman first....and then focus on his adultery later. And do we really even need to do that? Its none of our business. Maybe we should make him wear a scarlet letter...and let it be already. Geez! Really...who cares? Does his adultery really effect our lives to the point that we should judge him? Are we so perfect ourselves that we have that right?

Helen, you crack me up...again assuming that he is guilty before you even know whats up. Didnt you know she placed two 911 calls to the police before the incident happened? Did it ever occur to you that she might be doing this for money? Does she have mental problems that cause her to call 911 often? The woman is well-known in Eagle as a former high school cheerleader and talented musician who auditioned for "American Idol" last year. Is she looking for quick fame since she was not chosen for A.I.?

Stars are sometimes subjected to false accusations so others can make a quick buck....

Look at the girl that sued Bill Cosby saying that he was her real dad...all for money....and she was never related....

At least wait for the evidence before saying you feel sorry for both woman.....maybe feel sorry for the wife...but dont give this other woman anything until you know for sure..maybe she was raped.....maybe she wasnt. But, who made you judge and jury?

For once...try putting something into perspective.

i think its laughable when a celebrity goes bad that all the spectators all of a sudden become such saints, and elevate themselves as judges of righteousness. the media thought it was all good when bill clinton was in the White House, so why the big fuss now? could it be because Kobe is black?

How I personally view posts by mystic and manewell is that:

Multiple viewpoints and perspectives about an issue are permissible -- according to logic AND the US Constitution.

If I don't agree with you THAT does NOT mean I think you are stupid.

You don't need to preach to other forum members about forgiveness or forcing them to take on other viewpoints just as little as I need to preach to you about stupidity.

You can state your own opinions, but can't they stand on their own ground without having to scratch up some dirt to stand on by dragging some else or their posts thru the dirt first???

Why do you ALWAYS make assumptions about other members who you know next to nothing about ,and make assumptions about what is posted that you logically CANNOT make??

Can you NOT keep separate your own thoughts and suspicions WHILE you read a post???? --- - to read a post and see ONLY WHAT IS POSTED --- to see what the person IS ACTUALLY SAYING????

HOW CAN YOU ASSUME TO KNOW ANYTHING about what he or she is NOT SAYING, or EVEN REMOTELY TALKING ABOUT, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS NOT EVEN PART OF THE PERSPECTIVE THEY ARE TALKING FROM????

New perspectives are welcome but why state that the one's posted are not reasonable??? Only yours is???

I am totally lacking for words to understand these posts and I never lack for words, at least some words come to mind from one of the 4 languages that I speak.

I have a feeling that Kobe is guilty, but will not be convicted because he is a professional athlete. He will most likely be aquitted just because he can afford the best attorneys and because he is a superstar in the NBA.

It'll be a classic tale of superstardom saving a guilty man from being convicted. Also known as the O.J. Simpson effect.

Of course, this is only my opinion, as I do not have the proof to back up my statements. I just have a hunch that he might actually be guilty of the sexual assault.

This is a thread for Kobe Bryant. Not a thread for talking about what others have posted in threads that are completely irrelevant to this thread. Please keep your posts to the threads topic. If you want to "flame" each other... go to the Flamers' Ward.

Things like this happen to and between ordinary folks every single day.

- people have consentual sex.
- women are raped.
- women say yes and then change their minds.
- husbands and wives cheat on each other.
- people take advantage of each other.
- people hurt each other.
- men use women.
- women use men.
and so on,
and so on,
and so on,
and so on,

Did anyone here ever cheat ? or do any of the things mentioned above ?

Did it make the 5 o'clock news ?

Kobe got one thing right. It is between him and his wife/family and God.

What a mess !

[QUOTE]Originally posted by helen55
I was disgusted at him trying explain that "he was just a MAN" as if that would explain his adultery. I'm not even going to talk about the rape charges.

Well I'm sorry but I don't buy that - he is NOT a MAN, he is an womanizing JERK.

Why was he talking with his tongue all over his cheeks and sucking in his mouth??? Can't he speak like a normal MAN? Does he have a speech imparement??? Seems to me like he had a difficult time saying what he had to say.

Also talk about his lawyers NOT wanting to "try this case in the media" -- he, the super-hero announces he is innocent for - what? - 5 minutes in front of the whole nation?? While the victim is under house arrest and cannot speak for herself. Bad publicity move - starting the case in this way in the media. He should have just said he is sorry to his wife and left.

All that money he signed up for in June went to his Head obviously and he could not handle it. He is only 24 years old, with a beautiful wife, he has been married only since 2001, has a baby, basically still newly weds on their honeymoon. And he is already dropping his pants at the hotel door???

"And I love my wife with all my heart. She's my backbone. You're a blessing. You're a piece of my heart, you're the air I breath. You're the strongest person I know and I'm so sorry" Obviously she is far stronger than Kobe. How come he did not think of her in his hotel room when a pretty blond comes to his room to do room service?? A real MAN does not drop his pants AND the memory of his wife and child when he checks into a hotel room.

Even if the blond went aggressively after him --- he has no excuse to commit adultery as soon as a pretty young thing knocks at his door. Don't these guys get any common sense training?? He is going to have a steady stream of women tossing themselves at him, and how is he supposed to cope with that? By having a strong wife with a backbone at home, who forgives him because after all he is so wonderful.

Give me a break, I need to puke.

"And I'm a human being. I'm a man just like everybody else. I mourn, I cry just like everybody else. And I sit here before you guys, embarrassed and ashamed for committing adultery. And you know if I could go through the feeling of what was he going to say here???-- if I could just turn back the hands of time -- and I love my wife so much. She's so special to me.

Sure she is special now. I feel really sorry for both of the women here, but at least one of them gets paid for her pain. [/



YES, YES, YES, Helen, Thank you. ""I am just a Man"" What! do I understand that to mean that you can get a little booty anytime you want and the woman understands, it is because ""I am just a Man". The woman that has $$$ in her eyes understands that it is the man's being aggressive toward her will be paid for because ""I am just a Man"". Please, 19 year-old girls, do not go into a mans hotel room alone for ANY reason.






QUOTE]

I haven't read all of this thread. Haven't even read through the entire article posted here. I've heard enough about this on the news, and I don't believe my opinion is going to change after reading anyone else's posts, so I'll voice my opinion.

Kobe isn't the only one. In fact, Kobe's probably one of the lesser offenders. Anyone remember R. Kelly and his garbage? I haven't seen any video, but hell, he married Aaliyah when she was like 15...

The thing is that when you are a public figure; a sports superstar, or an actor/singer, President; whatever, people THROW themselves at you CONSTANTLY. Even the most introverted person would find all the attention not only flattering, but EMPOWERING. Eventually, that type of adoration wreaks havoc on the mind's ego, and you get to thinking that the people throwing themselves at you are there for your utilization, at your leisure.

I'm not condoning what was done, but I do want to put it into an understandable perspective. I'm also not trying to change anyone's opinions on the matter; just presenting my own.

When you think about all the money, freedom that wealth can sometimes bring, the constant moving all over the country (whether in-season or off-season...), social engagements, contractually mandatory appearances, expensive toys, high-powered people clamoring at your heels wanting a piece of your empire, groupies following you from city to city, your name in the headlines, etc... How would you think all of that power would affect you? I think that after I came to grips with everything and accepted it as how life is for people in the public eye (which is the process that seems to happen to so many celebrities, and I think is used waaay too much...), I would eventually start picking out some of the groupies to come up to my palatial hotel room, that I'm not paying for (perk for being famous), to spend a quiet evening (or noisy night, depending on my mood...) with me. Where I would differ from some of them, is if I was famous BEFORE I was married, then I probably would remain single. Why marry when I can enjoy the life of a powerful girl-magnet bachelor? Because I would feel that the girls are only using me? Hell, I would be using THEM right back!

Life is a two-way street. I don't condone what Kobe did, and as I am not a public figure, I also don't think that having groupie orgies is the best thing either. Now, if I were to aks myself how I'd be if I WAS as popular as Kobe, and if I gained much of that popularity and power at as young an age as he did? If I'm to be honest with myself, I'd say I don't see how I'd be much different from what I feel to be the majority of celebrities, male or female.

I agree that celebrities have problems as you describe, but everything in life comes with unintended consequences -- especially for the careless. What about the marital problems of men who have been unemployed for months on end today? I can feel sympathy for these common folks before feeling sympathy for a star who has every possible amenity available for him to succeed in his marriage. Why didn't Kobe have a bodyguard if he was not sure of his marital vows??

Also, a person's "higher moral character" is not really tested until the temptation is high enough.

Marriage is a public institution that serves important public functions. Anyone who says that adultery is wrong should NOT be stoned for saying so. The concept of marriage in this country is already so debased, that when a star like Kobe forgets he is married in 20 minutes, I question why so many couples bother to spend all that money on one single day and for a piece of paper? Our children learn by imitating, not by listening.

And some find it their duty to tell us to mind our own business, to look away if some public figure betrays a spouse --- just like was done in the past about spousal abuse - it was a "domestic problem", none of our business.

Looking away quietly when basic moral values are violated makes for a sick country, Nazis come to mind. After some time, you are no longer free to choose nor able to separate right from wrong.

Beating a woman and divorcing her are two different things. If my neighbors are getting a divorce, that ain't my business. If my neighbors are throwing each other against the walls, or if I hear them beating their child, then that is my business - I'll make it my business to stop the violence if possible.

I hear so much boo-hooing about the horrible morals in this country and blah blah blah. Well, guess what? Your morals aren't my morals. My morals aren't your morals. But most importantly, even if everyone in America agreed on what's right and what's wrong, right down to whether or not it's okay to squeeze the toothpaste tube from the midde, we would STILL think our nation was going to hell.

Even adulterers think adultery is wrong, Helen. No one is getting "stoned" for saying so. But the fact is that it is NOT our business. It IS a domestic issue. Violence in any form is not private, but divorce, adultery, swinging, and a ton of other things that people like you say are "immoral" IS private. Ain't our bidness.

Why do some women really want to make us believe that "a real man" is the one that they themselves can define? Myself, a man, sees Kobe as a really man in many ways. HE works hard in what he does, he supports his family, is loving, and ohh yeah, he makes ****ed up mistakes at times, shows he is "just a man".

How about his wife? Well the likes of Hillary Clinton, you name the rest including some of your neighbors deal with this kind of a predicament on daily basis. This are married people with children, and a lot at stake for that matter, for them to just file divorce, and increase the startistics and scream women power.....

How the wife is dealing with the adulterous husband at this juncture won't make none of us ****, and hoping he apologizes to her infront of the cameras is just one way to make him look dumber, who knows how many times he begged his wife for forgiveness when it was just the two of them. I submit that the hardest apology is the one he endured when it was him and his wife,...and people are just soooooo perveted to demand that he apologizes to his wife infront of the masses like he married all women on earth.........

i THINK kOBE IS INOCCENT AND THA WHITE GURL IS JUS A RACIST

I'm pretty sure Kobe didn't do it, I mean why would he?

I'm just glad we were able to get enough <racist comments>...oy vey!!!

DAVID GOLDBLATT

Wow.... Can we all say, ignore????

I just read about some 10,000 minks being let go homeless by some activists...is this now happening at the insane asylums too, let everyone out?

and one of the formerly heavily sedated ones slipped in here looking for a home?

this one's a real control freak running out of control ...maybe got locked up for trying to run a small country somewhere

I think the alleged victim is after Kobe's money. What other reason is it for you to be in a married man's hotel room? She could have left anytime before they engaged in sex. I think she felt bad afterwards and then starting claiming rape.
When it comes down to it it is all in the jurors hands anway.

What came out of the hearing yesterday made me sick, but i have my doubts about her story.. When the Lakers held camp here in Hawaii, i along with the many others could tell that this case has changed Kobe. He's lost weight and his heart isn't into the game, it's like he's a zombie now

David I like your pink as well as mine it makes me look like Im higher class then everyone else. Anyway back to subject Kobe will be back in the NBA plus he didn't rape no one that girl is just lying for money and publicity. Kobe and the Lakers are going all the way Rape or no rape.

what's up all you Kobe HATERS, did you catch the news this morning where Kobe's very brilliant attorney made it known that there was another guys semen and pubic hair in little Ms. Innocent's panties, see this for what it is another star struck so and so looking for some quick money. I'm sure her family and friends put her up to this, she's not bright enough to think this all up on her own. See you all in court

what's up all you Kobe HATERS, did you catch the news this morning where Kobe's very brilliant attorney made it known that there was another guys semen and pubic hair in little Ms. Innocent's panties, see this for what it is another star struck so and so looking for some quick money. I'm sure her family and friends put her up to this, she's not bright enough to think this all up on her own. See you all in court

Little miss innocent is a slut! She had another *****s semen and pubic hairs in her nasty ass panties that she had on the day after the attack. How in the hell does the semen and pubic hairs from a white guy she had sex with reportedly two days before the alleged attack end up in her panties on the day after the attack???Let me tell you my assumptions She either had sex with the white guy the day after the attack, before she went in to report the rape or her nasty white trash ass put back on the same panties she wore a few days before the attack.

This is all b/c Kobe is black and they want to believe the poor little white girl who claims that Kobe raped her. Just another reason why athletes, singers, entertainers and all these other famous guys can never escape being accused of raping a white woman no matter how rich or famous they are. Just like OJ thought he was good enough to fit into their lifestyle and while the money was good he was the man. It was ok that he beat up on this chick as long as OJ was still supporting the whole Brown family including her crying ass sister Denise then OJ was cool. Once she turn up dead he is a no good father, murderer who does not deserve custody of his kids. Never mind the fact that Nicole Brown Simpson was a drug addict and apparently another slut ****ing a young college boy when she was just about 40 years old if not older.

And another couple of unrelated comments off the topic of Kobe's dumb ass who slept with this ugly chick --

I am so sick of hearing about the supposed American Idol Ugly Ass Clay Aiken; this supposed POW Jessica Lynch or whatever her name is and how this country continues to sensationalize how these white people were exploited and the blacks who were the real winners are not given their just due or proper recognition.

Back to Kobe - he was dumb and ****ed up his life and his marriage over some slutty chick who doesn't change her underwear very often and he had the nerve to stick his **** in her --- YUCK!!!! He does not deserve to go to jail for the rest of his life and if this ***** is proven as a liar she should be prosecuted too!!!

Clay Aiken can sing, and Ruben-a black guy- did win

Clay can sing but he did not win the AI contest so stop parading him arund like he did and give Rueben his just rewards

Rueben's just rewards will be in record sales. If people buy his albums, he gets more attention. If his record flops, then he dosen't. And who is parading Clay around???
Maybe Rueben isn't marketing himself as much as Clay is. You should bring up your concerns with Rueben's manager. People will buy what they like.

With all the new revelations coming forward about Little Miss Innocent I am so very confident that Kobe will get out of this mess. His image may be a little tarnished, but he will be the victor. I'm still in shock that Kobe would be attracted to and sleep with such a person. Nevertherless, he will never be convicted of rape. His attorney has enough evidence to plant doubt in the jury's mind, a lot of facts that will prove he is innocent. It's going to be interesting to see what they do with little Miss Innocent, when she is proven to be a nasty ass liar. AND THAT'S MY OPINION AND I REALLY DON'T GIVE A DAMN WHO DOESN'T LIKE IT.

Read the actual court decision at The Smoking Gun and get all the facts straight.



And now a bunny, just because it's sooo cute.

I am going to have to hand it to you all for being so open to your opinions on this website. I enjoyed reading them. I have to hand it to mystic, I honestly enjoyed this person's comment the most. I think that Kobe does have his faults, but the other individual is also someone we cannot forget about. WHat about her role? And, mystic surely identified certain questions that may be relevant to understanding her motives! Keep the posts coming, polly

And for cryin' out loud...all the holier-than-thou 'Sanctity-of-marriage' BS I've read on this thread is soooooo indicative of people who haven't lived much life outside of their strip-mall existence in Iowa...Here's a clue: Let Kobe worry about Kobe, and you worry about getting a broader view of the world, and understand that human sexuality and psychology is more complex, more nuanced than your hometown moralities may have room for. Just about any 20-year-old worth 80 million is going to have tons of sex available. Save your judgement for your cows. G'night, John-boy.

As the old saying goes: If your white your're alright, if your brown stick around, if your black!(and i stress this point) if, you are black then stay back! I mean way, way back. If a black person chooses to operate in the white mainstream, then they must be very careful to watch their backs at all times. Because, all it takes is one mistake and before you know it, the whole white mainstream will throw the book at you. And that will be the end of your career. All you need to do is ask OJ Simpson! But then he couldn't care less anyway!

To be honest i look at suituations from all point of views yes Kobe' was nasty for raw dogging her but also she is a slut that was looking for a way out of her sorry life style sure she wants to live like the Jones' so she looked for an easy way in. Didn't know she was going to have to go through all of this now did she. What Kobe did was doing what any man would do if any thing is free of course men are going to take it but raw dogging it was nasty. I simply think what Kobe did was human nature for the simply fact that everybody isn't perfect and cheating is part of our society human nature. ( #1 :[/i]
EAGLE, Colo. - Basketball star Kobe Bryant yesterday was charged with one count of felony sexual assault in an alleged attack on a 19-year-old hotel attendant at a Rocky Mountain resort on June 30.

http://www.philly.com/images/philly/inquirer/6336/40148411480.jpg

Bryant, a 24-year-old all-star guard for the Los Angeles Lakers and a Lower Merion native known for his clean-cut public persona, could face four years to life in prison or 20 years to life on probation. He also could be fined $3,000 to $750,000.

"Basically, it is alleged that he [caused] sexual penetration or intrusion and that he caused submission of the victim through actual physical force," said Eagle County District Attorney Mark D. Hurlbert, announcing the charge at a news conference outside his office yesterday afternoon.

Hours later, Bryant answered back, making his first public statements on the case at a news conference in Los Angeles. He admitted adultery but said it was consensual.

"I'm innocent," he said into a microphone after a long moment spent choking back tears. "I didn't force her to do anything against her will. I'm innocent... . I sit here in front of you guys, furious at myself, disgusted at myself for making a mistake of adultery."

Bryant's wife, Vanessa, sat beside him as he made several apologies to her and vowed that "shoulder to shoulder, we're going to fight this thing through all the way to the end."

NBA commissioner David Stern said only that the league would "await the outcome of a judicial proceeding before taking any action."

Yesterday's developments ended two weeks of speculation after Bryant's July 4 arrest and set the stage for a legal battle. Prosecutors and Bryant agree that sexual activity occurred inside his hotel room that night. The issue is whether it was consensual.

Hurlbert, the first-year district attorney for Colorado's Fifth Judicial District, told reporters yesterday that his office had evidence to