Wow! I don't know what to think. I didn't really think they were going to charge him until a couple people in the media started to speculate that they don't just call a press conference for nothing. I hope it doesn't turn out like the O.J. trial.

GUILTY GUILTY GULITY
 

EAGLE, Colo. (July 19) - The sexual assault charge brought against Kobe Bryant and his admission that he ''made the mistake of adultery'' threaten to spoil his reputation as one of the NBA's classiest role models and cast a cloud over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Bryant appeared at a Los Angeles news conference holding hands with wife Vanessa on Friday and said he was innocent of the criminal charge and insisted the act was consensual.

''I sit here in front of you guys, furious at myself, disgusted at myself for making the mistake of adultery,'' he said.

Bryant, 24, was charged Friday with a single count of felony sexual assault against a 19-year-old woman at an exclusive spa where he was staying when he came to Colorado for knee surgery. If convicted, he faces four years to life in prison or 20 years to life on probation, and a fine of up to $750,000.

Eagle County District Attorney Mark Hurlbert filed the charge after spending two weeks reviewing evidence and consulting with other prosecutors, and said he ''can prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt.''

''Given the seriousness of the crime, and given the type of crime, it's something the prosecutor does not get into lightly,'' Hurlbert said Saturday on NBC's ''Weekend Today'' show.

''It certainly is a possibility that he could go to prison on this,'' Hurlbert told ESPN, also in a Saturday morning interview. He said there had been no talk of a plea bargain, and he didn't know if the victim had been offered a settlement of a potential lawsuit.

Bryant's lawyer, Pamela Mackey, said he will plead innocent.

Even if he is ultimately cleared, the criminal charge and admission of infidelity will almost certainly change the public perception of Bryant.

His squeaky-clean image made him one of the NBA's most recognizable and marketable stars. He recently signed a multimillion-dollar deal with Nike and has endorsement deals with Sprite, McDonald's and Spalding.

A poll last fall by Burns Sports & Celebrities Inc. rated him the third-best product endorser in sports, behind Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan.

Bryant could lose millions of dollars in endorsements.

''The image was of a perfect role model, a superstar athlete who didn't have a parking ticket, the all-American boy and now, well, that image is tarnished,'' said Bob Williams, chief executive of Burns Sports. ''As of today and until the trial, his image is going to take a beating.''

Nike spokesman Nigel Powell said Friday, ''Kobe has stated that he is innocent of the charges today. You will understand that this is a legal matter and we cannot comment further at this time.''

Bryant's team could feel the sting as well.

The Lakers became the favorites to win the NBA championship next season after signing point guard Gary Payton and power forward Karl Malone.

Malone said he doesn't expect Bryant's troubles to be a distraction. But the case is bound to take an emotional toll on Bryant, and a conviction would mean the Lakers would lose one of the league's best players in the prime of his career.

''Naturally, we're disappointed with today's announcement,'' Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said. ''While there are many questions concerning this issue, we will wait for time and the judicial process to answer them.''

Bryant said Friday he was thinking more of his family than his career.

''I have a lot at stake, and it has nothing to do with the game of basketball and it has nothing to do with endorsements,'' said Bryant, who fought back tears several times during the news conference.

''It has to do with my family and being falsely accused. And, I'm innocent. We're going to fight this all the way to the end.''

Mackey criticized the decision to file charges, saying the evidence wasn't strong enough to prove the allegations beyond reasonable doubt.

''The evidence in this case falls far, far short of that standing. The accusations in this case cannot be proven because they are false,'' she said.

Legal experts said that prosecutors have a tough task because the case appears to hinge mainly on Bryant's word against that of the alleged victim.

''He said, she said'' cases can be the toughest for prosecutors, said Steve Cron, a longtime sports criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles.

''How do they prove it's not consensual? It's hard to prove (with) two adults in a room having sex that the sex was not consensual.

''Do you have witnesses or physical evidence? Was she bruised, scratched, injured in some fashion?''

The alleged assault occurred June 30 at the gated Lodge & Spa at Cordillera in nearby Edwards, where the woman worked at the front desk.

Bryant returned to California after undergoing unspecified medical tests in Colorado on July 2 at the request of investigators. He returned to Eagle on July 4, surrendered to authorities and was released an hour later after posting $25,000 bond.

Bryant is scheduled to return to Eagle for a hearing on Aug. 6.

Bryant tearfully addressed his wife at the news conference.

''You're a blessing, you're a piece of my heart, the air I breathe, and you're the strongest person I know and I'm so sorry for having to put you through this, putting my family through this,'' Bryant said, pausing several times as he spoke.

Vanessa Bryant, who gave birth to the couple's first child in January, did not speak at the news conference. In a statement released earlier, she said her husband was not a criminal.

''He is a loving and kind husband and father,'' she said. ''I believe in his innocence. Because I know him to be innocent, I will stand by him and we will face this together.''

Some fans weren't convinced.

Patricia Brewer, who was at the Staples Center for her daughter's basketball game, was shocked at the news.

''I love him so much and I'll still keep an open mind and hope that this is all a mistake,'' Brewer said. ''But you know, if it's true, then he's just another man masquerading as a family man, fooling us all, and that just makes your heart sink.''

AP-NY-07-19-03 1102EDT

Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.





SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU TRY TO GET SOME OUTSIDE BOOTY. THIS IS WHAT HE GETS FOR CHEATING ON HIS WIFE. AND SHE IS BEAUTIFUL TOO. HOT DAYUM WHAT CAN WOMEN REALLY DO TO KEEP THEIR HUSBANDS privates ;) IN THEIR PANTS. ANYHOO I STILL HOPW HE WINS THE CASE. I HONESTLY DONT THINK HE ASSAULTED HER THOUGH, BUT IF HE HAD BEEN FAITHFUL NONE OF THIS BAD PUBLICITY WOULD HAVE HAPPENED.

NACHURAL

I just want to comment on the Kobe Bryant thing.....for all of you people that are going, you can't believe this...I can. I put nothing past any of these athletes, regardless of how they try act as if their image is really squeaky clean. There was an article in my local sunday paper about this. An 11th grade student was interviewed and I agree with the columnist that stated he hit the nail on the head. He basically said that the media and fans didn't believe Kobe could do something like this because of that "squeaky" clean image he wants to portray. The student compared this mess with Kobe to the mess that went on last summer with A.I. Basically when the story came out that A.I. went out looking for his wife after supposedly throwing her out 'naked' after an argument, he went and threatened folks and what not. Now why was the media so quick to believe this about A.I., but slow on believing that Kobe could do something like this.

In the beginning Kobe was saying that he did nothing at all, now he is saying that he did have sex with the girl, BUT it was consensual. A guy called into the radio station this morning and made a very interesting comment. What he said is that he thinks Kobe fessed up because there would be DNA evidence because ole boy went 'bareback' and this would case him to get caught. All I can say is, when it was reported that he has possible committed some type of sexual crime, I believed it. Now I have no idea if it was rape or not, but I believed that Kobe did something.

Good post. I believe that the media was quick to go after Allen Iverson because A.I. does have the gangsta/thug life image, and Kobe doesn't. And I'm not just saying this because I'm a Laker fan. I also don't know if it is rape.

Kobe...what a disappointment.
 

Can the fact that he was not faithful be enough?!?
For someone to make a big deal about his marriage and how he was such a good guy... the fact that he committed adultery is enough for me to lose respect for him.
Weren’t his parents against his marriage due to his age? If so ... he just proved them right. He wasn't ready.

I'm disappointed too
 

I am disappointed at the fact that he was so easy and quick to say that he committed adultery, like it is no big deal. He says that is his only guilt like he is saying that he is addicted to chocolate. Adultery is serious and shouldn't be trivialized in that manner.

Re: Kobe...what a disappointment.
 

PERFECTLY SAID!!!!

Chile Please!
 

My boyfriend got to watch the full press conference and told me that he had the nerve to say that " He is human and He is a Man"
When did that become an acceptable excuse?!? So because he has somethings i don't and missing others it makes it cool to dibble and dabble in somebody's else sugar dish (my G-ma's saying). Ummmmmm? NO! Try again.

All in all i hope the only stupid thing he did was cheat... i hope he was smart enough not to try to take the poon by force (B-friend's saying)

Now this was this was just reported this morning...see that fool did have sex with that chick 'bareback'....dumbazz!!

"Kobe's 19 year old accuser broke her silence today and gave
the press additional explicit details of her encounter with NBA star
Kobe Bryant.

She said that Bryant forced her to perform oral sex on him and
he later did the same to her. The victim also said that the sex was
unprotected. Semen samples that match those of Bryant were sent to the
Colorado Bureau of Investigations and later determined to be those of Mr.
Bryant.

In other events, one of her closest friends of the accuser reportedly
told "Celebrity Justice" that they were appalled to see Bryant's
tearful news conference. The friend relayed that the alleged victim does
not want any money from Bryant, but rather she wants him to go to jail."

He forced her to let him perform oral sex on her?:confused:

He not only cheated, but he had unprotected sex. Vanessa had better get tested for some random diseases because her husband is careless.... :rolleyes:

Very Careless:mad: :mad: :mad:

I second that. That doesn't make any sense at all. Liar!!!! And who the in the world would have to be forced to receive oral sex??? (JOKE!!!)

But how do you force someone to recieve it. How is that physically possible. It isnt like rape where they can hold you down with their body weight. liar liar. Send him to jail for what? I dont think she said no.....really

nachural

This is a new "rumor" in the Kobe case...
 

Word has it that Kobe, his wife, and the 19 yr old girl were having a threesome. Kobe was showing the girl more attention that he was showing his wife and Vanessa got mad and beat up the 19 year old. Thats why the girl is sueing Kobe.