Kobe Bryant Charged with 1 count felony sexual

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Who exactly are the witnesses? Was someone in the room, or did people see Bryant and the girl enter the hotel room together?

There was some blurb about hearing loud noises coming from the room which could mean many things of course. Oh and no need for a witness when it comes to seeing them go into the room together because Kobe already admitted to having sex with her.

A lawyer on ESPN said Bryant's admission of adultery takes the witnesses out of the acquation. Yes, it was adultery but it was consensual.

[Guest razazteca]

But if his in prison for 4 years, who the hell well take his spot?

Luke "Bring It Down" Walton

[Guest MarvinisaLunatic]

Street cred my ass. Rape doesn't fall into the category of street cred. I wouldn't be surprised if Nike, Spalding and Sprite drop him. Rape is a very serious issue. How can a man accused of rape be marketed to the younger demographic of America?

 

Allen Iverson nearly shoots someone while looking for his wife, and an alleged rape is supposedly worse than that? AI still has shoes for sale, and shoes sell based on street cred. Kobe - no street cred - his shoes didn't sell. I seriously doubt Nike will sever ties with Kobe over this.

[Guest Vyce]

I'm really going to enjoy watching people (not necessarily people here on this board - people in the media, fans, etc.) defend someone who could quite possibly be a rapist.

 

Innocent until proven guilty, I know, but there's something about him sitting there grinning at the ESPYs that pisses me off.

Of course you have to defend him until he's proven guilty. Saying shit like that only fuels the fire to people who will defend the guy no matter what even if he is proven guilty. Just see O.J. and Mike Tyson. Yeah okay O.J. didn't get convicted but we all know that story.

True, but as I'm watching some 'man on the street' interviews on the Fox network, there are some people who don't seem to care WHAT he may have done.

 

BTW, how soon do any of you feel the race card will be played?

[Guest Vyce]

Street cred my ass. Rape doesn't fall into the category of street cred. I wouldn't be surprised if Nike, Spalding and Sprite drop him. Rape is a very serious issue. How can a man accused of rape be marketed to the younger demographic of America?

 

Allen Iverson nearly shoots someone while looking for his wife, and an alleged rape is supposedly worse than that?

It is.

 

There are times when you can be perfectly justified in shooting someone.

 

The same can't be said for raping someone.

[Guest Flyboy]

Take this for what it's worth.

what is it, I get an error or something..

It's suppose to be a thread about a picture of Kobe's accuser.

[Bored 0]

Interesting report from ESPN about possibly a large quanity of drugs found in Kobe's hotel room.

[Guest Choken One]

Amazing. Clearly this is the SPORTS story of the year with no question.

 

All these supposed evidence doesn't help KOBE at all here.

 

I can't really tell How I feel...

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

Now drugs are in the mix? Talk about ruining your clean cut image. Rape or no rape, if drugs were found in his room, then that is surely grounds for the NBA to penalize him.

[Guest Choken One]

The pieces are getting clearer...

 

It's either a Case of this Girl flirting with Kobe and having concensual sex or Kobe invitiing the Girl upstairs for Autographs and flirting and Kobe high on Drugs losing his senses and raping the girl...

[Guest Ingram Paladin]

He'll be exonerated.

 

I have no doubt in my mind.

 

Now drugs? Bah.

 

Innocent.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

they might air him out to dry to set an example. I know athletes are "Special," but with all the off court arrest and drug problems this summer, this is getting ridiculous.

[Guest MarvinisaLunatic]

drugs = more street cred

[Guest Choken One]

Will you people shut the fuck up about STREET CRED!

 

That's not even the fucking issue anymore...the joke died a week ago.

 

Sweet Jesus you fucking Cynical Bastards.

[Guest Dangerous A]

Here's my $0.02.

 

About the drugs. What kind of drugs were found? Were they illegal ones? What about prescription drugs? He was there for surgery you know.

 

With his admittance to adultery, it now turns into a "he said, she said" bit. This is the worse kind of case. A lot of the public are going to take Kobe's side unless some real damaging evidence or testimony comes to the forefront. It's because of his image before the incident. If Allen Iverson or any of the Trail Blazers were in this exact same scenario, a lot more people would rush to judgement on them.

 

His wife sticking by him is not a surprise. That is actually a smart move by her. If she wanted to, later on down the line if she were to get divorced, this would make Kobe look like the huge ass because he fornicated just 6 months after the couple's first child was born and less than 2 years into the marriage. She comes out smelling sweet as a rose and says she tried to make things work out, but *insert excuse here*. She could take a lot of his money for alimony and child support. This statement by her for support for Kobe is not surprising at all.

 

Again, it's unfortunate that this is going to be a "he said, she said" affair. I expect things to get ugly very soon. However, if there is some kind of settlement and she later drops charges, I would really be suspicious about this being just a tryst between a basketball star and some "groupie". And I mean that in favor of her. Kobe has enough money to go to trial for this. If he settles, it's because there is damning evidence against him and he's backed into a corner.

 

I will wait for more details to unfold before passing judgement on this, even though I hate the Lakers. This situation has nothing to do with the Lakers. It's a man being accused of a very horrible crime. Let's keep an open mind about things.

[Guest Ronixis]

This is sad.

 

Very Sad.

 

But I am not suprised.

[Guest jimmy no nose]

We don't know much about this so I won't say he's guilty or not guilty, but female lawyer=good move. If it does turn out just to be he said she said and there aren't any real witnesses then there's no way he can be found guilty of something so serious.

[Guest The Electrifyer]

Does this mean that he will get 4 years for sure? When will the time in jail start?

[Guest Choken One]

Only if he even goes to court and that will take a long time...

 

He won't be going to jail for at least a year.

[Guest Dangerous A]

From a Laker fan perspective (and trust me, I'm not one) you have to be concerned how this could prove to be a distraction, especially if this turns out to be a dragged out affair.

 

Think about the stuff that'll be said when he's on the road. Some fans in some cities are really harsh and this is some big ammunition to use. It's one thing to deal with a fan telling you you suck and what not, it's another when they are calling you a sex freak or rapist. Those things could throw Kobe or the team into distraction city. Let's see if the Zen Master will be able to deflect this situation if it goes that far.

[Guest CanadianChris]

I absolutely hate Kobe Bryant but I can't really take any joy in this.

If he didn't cheat on his wife, then he probably wouldn't be in this situation.

I believe Brandon Walsh said it best...

 

"You stray, you pay, my brotha."

[Guest CanadianChris]

Clearly this is the SPORTS story of the year with no question.

And it sucks when times have changed so much that we say this with regularity about stuff off the police blotter, rather than, you know, actual SPORTS stories.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

It'll be really funny when he gets like 2 years probation and a fine.

[Guest The Czech Republic]

It'll be really funny when he gets like 2 years probation and a fine.

Minimum probation is 20 years, and then I think he'll have to have a Registered Sex Offender sign outside his house and all that jazz.

 

I love that you quoted my thing from 1aORaw by the way.

[Rendclaw 0]

If this is a he said, she said kind of case, Kobe should simply play the waiting game and let it drag out.

 

Now if us average guys had consensual sex with a hotel employee, not an eyebrow would be raised. You add money and fame into the mix, and all the girl has to do is cry rape and then everyone is willing to play hardball against the famous person.

 

I love how some of you people are talking about Kobe as if he jumped this girl from a dark alley and forced himself on her. I am not defending him in any way, but I am going to wait until the facts come out (if indeed there are any)before I pass judgement on him. If he did it, then he deserves to go to jail. If not, then he deserves to go free.

 

I love how its about 60/40 in his favor in the court of public opinion. NOTHING HAS BEEN PROVEN YET, I say to BOTH sides. No details of the accusations have been put forth aside from the media circus surrounding the DA's press conference.

 

All I can think of the Mark Chmura case a few years back. He was one of the better and well-liked athletes in the league, and him having sex with a minor destroyed him.

 

If Kobe isn;t guilty he should not give an INCH in this entire affair. And that also means for the inevitable civil suit that will follow after the judge's verdict, be it guilty or not guilty.

 

Was he stupid for screwing around on his wife? Definitely. How many times have we heard about pro athletes (not just in this country, but around the world) committing crimes, drunk on their riches and high on the power that being famous and adored gives? Never mind anything they may be ingesting at the time which would contribute to that "I'm bulletproof" mentality...

 

This is sad, because his career and the NBA are going to suffer for this, whether he is guilty or not.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

I would mark out if they made Kobe a Registered Sex Offender. That would just be oddly hilarious.

 

Anyway, my assumption would be Kobe took the girl to his room for some totally consented verticle tango. But later Kobe -whatever- and the girl got pissed and spilled to the cops. So even if he beats the charges he is a nationally recognized poon hound.

 

again, that's with minimal information about the case, so don't write it in concrete or anything.

[Guest The Grand Pubah of 1620]

This chick is all about some money. They bumped uglys and she figured that she might as well make some cash while she's at it.

 

I'm sure it'll be fine. He'll either cop a plea for a lesser charge, or give the chick what she wants, CA$H.

 

But like Dangerous A said, I think. It will have an effect on Kobes game. The Boston fans will tear him apart.

 

No matter what happens this sucks for Kobe.

[Guest shlidgn90]

this will be a racial case (as with most celebrities), one major part of this case based on public opinion will be based upon the womans race. if the woman is white, most people will judge kobe as guilty. if she is any other race, they will side towards kobe.

 

 

i know most of you posters don't want to believe this. but deep down, we live in an racist society.

[Guest Crazy Dan]

Well I will wait till after Kobe is found guilty/ innocent before I make any judgements. It is disapointing that Kobe did cheat on his wife though. But, being that many of my friends have either cheated on their girlfriends/wives, I am not shocked either. Kobe has just chown he is very much human, with faults and everything. Heck, even Michael Jordon is addicted to gambling and has also cheated on his wife as well.

 

The problem with being accused of rape, is that carries the "guilty until proven innocent" label, which to me is totally unfair, but a fact of life in this day and age. But, we all should put off the name calling and assumptions until the evidence has been presented. Kobe is definately in the biggest fight of his life. Four years in the slammer could derail a awesome career.

 

Man this is not what the NBA needs right now. And if Kobe does go to prison, the Lakers chancees go way, way down.

[Guest jimmy no nose]

I don't understand why the media almost all around said Kobe was innocent up until this point. Last year Jerome Bettis, another guy who is looked at as a very nice guy by the media, was accused of sexual assault and the coverage in the media was some of the most fair I've ever seen, without a lot of leaning one way or the other, just delivering facts. He ended up not even being charged.