Celebrity changes dynamic of (Kobe Bryant) case

Orange County Register ^ | July 21, 2003 | MARCIA C. SMITH and HEATHER LOURIE

[Recourse]

His money, fame and power place much of the focus on Bryant, not his accuser, whose life has been invaded.

Her privacy, which was nearly impossible to protect in a town of 3,000 residents and one main public high school, is gone.

[nfldgirl]

Somehow, though, I find it very difficult to believe that this guy would have done anything to jeopordize his style of life.

Just allowing her into the room was enough to jeopardize his style of life. He should have never let her in; then there'd be absolutely no question as to her being raped or not. Personally, it doesn't matter to me whether there was consensual sex or not. Kobe is married--he should have honored his marriage vow--being "just a man" or facing a moment of weakness, or whatever, does not excuse his behavior. He was wrong and now he's reaping what he sowed...this horrible allegation against him, all the negative press coverage, and the uncertainty of standing trial, being found guilty and having to go to prison. What an incredible mess to find oneself in...and for what?! A little romp in the hay? It's all so pathetic...isn't it.

[BushCountry]

I said this on anothe thread, but since the Kobe hero worshipers are here, I will say this again. He brought this upon himself, I can not work up the energy to feel sorry for him. Even if he didn't rape her, he is a major league idiot.

1. He had unprotected sex with a stranger he just met. He did this in front of his three body guards. Everything that I read, states that the bodyguards were in the room when room service was called. In fact, room service was for the four of them. They all had to give police statements and provide DNA samples.

2. He possibly exposed his wife to several STDs or maybe even a death sentence through AIDS. For all he knew about her, she could have been a hooker in some large city servicing every man in a twenty block area, then returned to her home town to recuperate.

3. He exposed the girl to a possible pregency. That all the world needs is another forgotten and uncare for bastard child.

4. He gamble his future earnings, just getting caught in the act of infidelity and tarnishing his reputation without the rape allegation could cost him millions of dollars.

Actually the list goes on... Just so you know where I stand, I have a slight feeling that he did rape her, but no proof (his conduct in the cab leaving the hospital and his crying statement on TV rings false).

[HaveGunWillTravel]

All true. I once had a boss of mine tell me that what a man pays for when he does business with a call girl is for her to go away. He said that a man can get sex anywhere, his wife, a girlfriend, a woman he meets in a hotel bar. In each case, there is a price to pay. In the case of a working girl, you know the price up front.

[ProudGOP]

There are a thousand women who would die to sleep with this guy.

How many women were in Kobe's private hotel room at 11:30 pm, a time when Kobe apparently needed a little satisfaction?

[HaveGunWillTravel]

his conduct in the cab leaving the hospital

What conduct was that? I didn't hear about his being at the hospital.

[HaveGunWillTravel]

One, apparently. Though the wrong one.

[Barney Gumble]

The girl is just looking for money. She was a Laker cheerleader and he is Kobe Bryant and married. She probably wanted him in the worst way. She probably tried to blackmail Kobe or try to get him to leave his wife and he said no way. So now she is crying rape. I don't believe her for a second.

If you are a girl, out partying with a celebrity and you go back with him and go inside his hotel room, there should be no doubt what is going to follow, so i don't believe for a second that 'she was raped.' No way a sleazy girl like that changes her mind at the last second and decides that she doesn't want to sleep with Bryant. No way.

[BushCountry]

Are we talking about the same case?

1. No Laker cheerleader is involved.
2. She delivered room service, but since it was after hours I guess she deserves to be raped in your eyes.

[oldcomputerguy]

"but since the Kobe hero worshipers are here,"

Well not exactly but her purported scenario doesn't sound so pat either. It seems to me the biggest thing she has going is the reports by neighbors of a ruckus in Kobe's room.

I am rather surprised he didn't use protection but that is often a judgement call at the time.

As to reputation, it sure didn't seem to hurt Wilt Chamberlains reputation.

I have a strong feeling he did not rape her as he is well aware of what he has to lose by rape, or even getting close to the line, and her reported history smacks of motive or instability.

[oldcomputerguy]

In the case of a working girl, you know the price up front.

Its called capping expenses.