July 24, 2003

Parden me if I cut right through the chase. It kills me how the media can systematically build up the image of a superstar athlete and then just tear down, just like that. It was just a little while ago I was applauding Kobe Bryant for the heart he displayed in a losing effort to the San Antonio Spurs in the semi-finals of the Western Conference NBA Play-offs. Now here I am talking about whether Kobe is guilty of sexual assault on a 19 year Colorado girl.

Look how the media built up O.J. Simpson to bring him down, Michael Jordan and his gambling, Julius Erving and his illegitmate child, and not to mention Mike Tyson.

Kobe has admitted that he is guilty of sleeping with the girl, but it was consentual. This draws a parallel to Mike Tyson in his rape conviction back in 1991. First of all in both senarios, who doesn't know Mike Tyson and Kobe Bryant. They are two of the most highly profile athletes in sports. Kobe and Mike are on the opposite side of the spectrum when it comes to lifestyle. Kobe is a clean cut, polished, refined, & well mannered. Mike is crude, obnoxious, and thuggish.

It's hard to believe Kobe could be guilty.

As I thought back in 1991, when Mike was convicted for rape with the Indiana Beauty Pagent contestant, is knowing Mike's reputation why would she go to Mike Tyson's hotel room at 2 o'clock at night if she didn't know what was up. She went to the bathroom to remove a panty liner, consented to 20 minutes worth of oral sex, but Mike forced himself on her. I smell some trickery.

Kobe finds himself in a simular situation. This hotel clerk comes to Kobe's room after hours for what, room service? I think not. Kobe's has always walked a straight and narrow path, often passing up late night rendevous with Laker teammates to the gentlemen's club, to just a simple, stable home life environment.

It's too many things out of the norm for me to believe Kobe is guilty of sexual assault. Why in the world would Kobe risk his entire career, his image and everything his worked for all these years to just lay this one girl. He is Kobe Bryant, superstar NBA basketball player. He attractive, charming, famous and rich. He could have the pick of the litter with women who would want to be with him, but he's going to jeopardize his whole career, on one girl that wasn't willing. I smell some trickery.

This girl probably smelled dollar signs. She had already been rejected for her shot of fame and fortune when she didn't make the cut in her audition for American Idol. Now here comes 95 million dollar Kobe Bryant, who is showing her some attention.

Only Kobe and the girl knows what actually happened. I might end up having to recant my statement. But it is hard to believe that Kobe could be capable of this. Far too many times I see celebrities exploited and falsely accused, Kobe, Jordan, R. Kelly, & Michael Jackson to name of few. It's hard for me to believe that these men are dumb enough to risk everything they have worked for, over something like this. These are celeb's with long dollars, and some people will do anything to get hat almighty dollar.

I hope for Kobe's sake he didn't do it, but forever his image will be ruined be cause of this scandal.