A group of white supremacists have been leaving racist leaflets all over Edwards, Colorado in advance of the Kobe Bryant's trial for sexual assault. Part of me is sick even mentioning this incident, as all this group wants is publicity, and that's what they're getting.
August 13th, 2003
Kobe Central
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August 8th, 2003
Kobe Central
Sorry I didn't update the Kobe Bryant space yesterday, but after posting the wire story on the hearing, there didn't seem to be anything else worthwhile to spotlight. Then, I saw this from Dan Wismar:
In a late breaking development, it was learned late Wednesday afternoon that Kobe Bryant may have farted during his court appearance here to answer sexual abuse charges. Although this story could not be confirmed with absolute certainty, Kobe was seen reaching over to his right, ostensibly for some papers on the other side of the table, in the classic move required for a "leaner".
Just some needed perspective, I guess.
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August 7th, 2003
Kobe Central
Seven minutes in court. Lots of buildup, and all you get is another date to return to court. But if you insist on following a case like this at the micro level, that's the sort of slow, but steady pace you can expect to experience.
Busy here today, so feel free to check out the Bryant links to the left to catch up. I'll probably post a roundup of all the coverage sometime around Noon today.
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August 6th, 2003
Kobe Central
Short on time this morning, so l"ll just deal with the essentials for now.
At 4:00 P.M. MDT today, Kobe Bryant is expected to be in an Eagle County Courtroom for his arraignment on charges of sexual assault. Interested viewers can watch today's proceedings nationwide on CourtTV.
In the latest news from the defense, Bryant's lawyers are claiming that law enforcement has already violated the gag order in the case.
Predictably, NBA Commissioner David Stern issued a sharp statement distancing the rest of the league from Cuban's statement yesterday that the league will probably benefit in the short term from the additional publicity generated by Bryant's trial:
Any suggestion that there will be some economic or promotional benefit to the NBA arising from the charge pending against Kobe Bryant is both misinformed and unseemly," Stern said in a statement issued by the league office.
Over at the New York Times, Richard Sandomir seems a little behind the curve with his discussion of how Bryant's commercial partners might abandon him because of the trial, an idea that's already been beaten to death pretty sufficiently elsewhere.
If you haven't already seen it elsewhere, here's a PDF copy of a timeline produced by the Denver Post and the LA Times detailing Bryant's movements during his time at the resort in Edwards.
As always, updates during the day as they warrant.
UPDATE: From yesterday's New York Times comes this op-ed piece that contends that professional and collegiate athletes are more likely to be charged with rape than the general population, but also more likely to be acquitted. Link thanks to Robert Musil.
ANOTHER UPDATE:We've got a little more than four hours to go till the 4:00 p.m. MDT/6:00 p.m. EDT hearing. Again, most of the coverage we're seeing so far remains of the "small town bracing for media onslaught" variety, so there isn't any breaking news to link to.
However, some media companies are getting more than ready for the trial, with two new special sections coming online in the last 24 hours or so. Over at ESPN.com, they've just unveiled their special section on the case. If you have any burning questions, check out this detailed FAQ from CNN refugee Roger Cossack. If it still doesn't satisfy your curiosity, stop by later today for an online chat with Denver-based defense attorney John Pineau at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
Not suprisingly, CourtTV is putting on the full court press, so to speak, with its own spot for in-depth coverage. Your best bet there is an article by Matt Bean that dives into the area of law where consensual sex becomes rape.
August 5th, 2003
Kobe Central
Hot on the heels of the announcement by Nutella that they won't be renewing their sponsorship deal with embattled NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, Coca-Cola is saying they've phased out Bryant from their television ad campaign touting their new Sprite Remix soda. And, just like the folks at Nutella, Coca-Cola is insisting that the decision had been in the works for months. Byrant remains under contract with Coca-Cola until 2005.
The LA Times has an interesting piece on how prosecutors from all over Colorado are coming to the aid of Eagle County District Attorney Mark Hurlbert. Looks like his team is working overtime in part because certain witnesses they've already interviewed just won't shut up. In court action Monday, the trial judge ruled that cameras will be allowed in the courtroom for tomorrow's arraignment.
Finally, update your links, as the Denver Post has finally added a direct link to its Kobe coverage.
UPDATE: As Michael Kinsley is wont to say, folks are apt to get in the most trouble when they tell the truth.
Looks like Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is about to get fined again for this comment on the Bryant situation:
"From a business perspective, it's great for the NBA," said Cuban. "It's reality TV, people love trainwreck TV, and you hate to admit the facts, but that's reality today. It's just going to be must see TV, people will be excited to see it."
Cuban's Mavericks open the 2003-04 NBA season against Bryant's Lakers. Cuban later elaborated on the comments he made to Pat O'Brien of Access Hollywood to USA Today's Rudy Martzke, and he didn't back off.
On the scene in Edwards, Colorado, is ESPN's Shelley Smith.
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August 4th, 2003
Kobe Central
Two Kobe Bryant-related stories surfaced over the weekend. First, officials in California confirmed that the day before Bryany surrendered to police in Colorado on a sexual assault charge, Bryant made a 911 call and an ambulance was dispatched to his home. On arrival, paramedics treated an unidentified female for an undisclosed illness. In addition, Bryant made a similar call on March 5, where a female was taken to the hospital from his Newport Beach home, treated, and then released.
On Saturday night, Bryant and his wife Vanessa atteneded The Teen Choice Awards, where Bryant was named Favorite Male Athlete.
I'd also like to call you attention to a few new links I've added to the left. First, I've created a link to all of my posts on the Bryant Case. I've also added links to a number of other excellent sources: Kobe Watch, Talk Left, and the Southern California Law Blog.
As always, check back in this space for the latest developments during the day. Nota bene: Bryant is due back in an Eagle County Courthouse on Wednesday for his arraignment.
UPDATE: Some other items of note related to the case:
The LA Times has a profile of Hal Haddon and Pamela Mackey, the lead lawyers on Bryant's defense team.
Nutella, the chocolate spread, has announced that it will not renew its sponsorship agreement with Bryant in 2004, but added that the change had already been planned before the announcement of his prosecution. Something tells me the incident probably sped up the phase out, though.
And in the most interesting piece I found today, the Rocky Mountain News asked a reporter to gauge whether or not the local African-American community in Eagle County thought Bryant could get a fair trial. Opinion was split, but it was this quote from one resident that made me chuckle:
Jessenia Jones, who has a black father and Mexican mother, dropped into Vail four years ago to visit but stuck around after she injured her ankle and had to pay an $8,000 hospital bill.
And you thought your bill collector was tough.
UPDATE: The AP's Beth Harris just pushed a People-like profile of Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, over the wires.
One Response to “Kobe Central”
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kim says:
i hope when kobe is cleared of his charges that they drag the bitch who cried rape “as we all know for the money” over the coals. I hope she lives the rest of her life in regret and as a loser and i hope she does not gain fame. She should go to prision.
I think this is really sad. I do not watch sports but I do know who Kobe is and I do not believe he raped this women. I think this women has made a false claim in order to get money or whatever she feels she may gain from this. I feel for Kobe and his wife and would like to tell his wife to stand strong. Men will be men no matter how much they love you when it is flashed in your face and offerd a man will not turn it down. It is real sad that this women had to do this to Kobe and I pray that he comes out of this free and clear. Also I would like to say to this women why do you not show your face to the public are you ashamed of your lie if I was attacked as you say by Kobe I would not hide what are you hiding from?
God Bless Kobe and his family and God forgive this women and her lie.