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Los Angeles Laker star Kobe Bryant was charged with a flagrant foul off the court during this off season. I’m not a big fan of the National Basketball Association (NBA) because it is irritating to see a bunch of guys showing off and the referees being blind to fouls when they occur on the court but this is serious!

On July 22, Bryant was charged with a single count of felony sexual assault against a 19-year old employee at the Lodge & Spa at Cordillera near Edwards, Co. He made an initial court appearance on Aug 6, where Judge Frederick Gannett set a preliminary hearing for Oct. 9.

Bryant claims that the sex was consensual while the girl claims that he blocked the door and forced her into it on June 30. Since this issue is almost impossible to avoid because of the media, I’m sure everyone knows the basics of the case, but does anyone know what really happened that night?

To put it in basketball terms, what the public is eager to know is whether or not Bryant illegally scored! Sexual assault cases are always publicized extensively when it comes to celebrities and often times those cases are more scrutinized because of the infamy of the cases.

There have been past cases where celebrities have been accused of flagrant fouls but the charges dropped because the accuser is seen as trying to make a steal of the basket full of money from those who have nothing but net profit. Is this the case with Bryant?

As a 19-year-old girl myself, I know what a lot of females my age are like. Most are absolutely head-over-heels for celebrities. Movie stars, rock stars, and athletes all have their groupies that would probably do just about anything to meet them. I suppose what I’m suggesting here is that this girl is a typical teenager who is all about a particular athlete or maybe just famous people in general.

Facts have been presented on the issue that state they are both from completely different backgrounds. It has been revealed that she’s not of clear mind having attempted suicide in the past. When the tables are turned and Bryant is examined, it’s a little different. He’s a young guy who dribbled himself into a lot of fame at an early age by being a star player on the court for one of the top NBA teams. He has been a role model off the court too with many endorsements. I think all of this definitely has some weight on the trial.

I would personally like to believe that he didn’t score illegally. He seems happily married and he has a lot of things going for him. Sure the girl got injured from that night but who is to say she did not have them before or they weren’t caused by something else?

I don’t want to sound condescending towards groupies my age but if it is a trumped up charge, this girl could win by getting really wealthy. In the process, she could ruin Bryant’s reputation by giving him the worst loss in his career. I don’t want to see that happen to him. It is just difficult for me to believe that Bryant, one of the league’s most famous players would have to force himself on any girl even one who might be a little unstable.

On the other hand, if Bryant is found guilty he should be penalized by being ejected permanently into a locker room with bars for an illegal block turning into a flagrant foul just so he could score!

Jaclynn Hoteck is the Sports Editor for the Pittsburgh Standard and can be reached at jackie@www.pittsburghstandard.com

Ramesh C. Reddy contributed to the article and can be reached at rcrst6@pitt.edu

AUGUST 2003

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