My son says "Kobe's a nice guy".

[RAcker]

I'm actually shocked I'm the only one on this board who doesn't think Kobe did it - or at least has the gall to admit it.

For what it's worth I don't have a single friend who believes Kobe actually did do it.  Demographic difference, I suppose.

That said, I got sucked into this nonsense after seeing yet more people hijack threads with stupid one-liners about Kobe being a rapist.  I guess you have to be one of the "in-crowd" around here to get away with that type of thing (and be flowered with TPs for it).

EDIT:

So to be unequivically in support of Kobe in this case seems very strange because none of us were there and there was enough corroberating evidence to prove that it could have happened. Maybe not beyond a reasonable doubt, but definitely that it could have.

I am not supporting Kobe unequivocally.  I'm rather expressing my frustration with internet know-it-alls who find it funny to call people a rapist every time his name is brought up.

The same people who find it "disturbing" the language I use to describe the accuser do not find their own language just as dumbfounded and based in nothing.

/rant

I don't believe Kobe raped that girl...

It is fair to say that you don't believe he did it just because of the circumstances involving her at that time, etc., but you HAVE to admit that Kobe's statements were shady and by giving her the benefit of the doubt he was almost saying, "Well, maybe I did do something wrong to her...maybe I even raped her, but I didn't mean to guys. I thought it was agreed upon. Anyway, I'm sorry."  That to me is what makes me have a lower opinion of him.  Why would he apologize with those qualifiers?  If there was no question in his mind about the rape issue, why not just flatly deny it and go on with apologizing to his wife for the infidelity?  

That's all I'm saying.  None of us know "for 100% sure" but his behavior and his words leave A LOT of questions.

[Champzilla]

You are exactly right RAcker, TP. The whole thing is extremely shady from start to finish.

[crownsy]

I honestly think the hotel should have caught some flak, they pretty much set that situation up for disaster. If you read some of the stuff about the trial, she wanted to meet with him (and yes, mabey even have a one night stand, who knows) because he was famous, and they pushed her to go take care of him, hes a big client for us ect... so pretty much, the hotel set her up to be a hooker, when what she really apperaed to be was a star struck groupie.

And kobe, to be fair to him, probley though "oh wow, the hotel sent up this girl on thier staff to take care of me, so clearly she wants to be here" and things spiraled out of control from there on. mabey she changed her mind when things got heavy, who knows, thats only known by two people.

now obviously i know nothing outside the stuff in the media we've all seen, so thats not a statement of fact or anything, just a theory ive had about the incident since reading the stuff from the trial.

[BrickJames]

C'mon.  Are you guys really that naive?  Kobe was saying what he was being legally advised to say.  Would you have rather him have said, "Man, this chick is scheming me for all I'm worth.  She's a disgusting individual..." or something like that?

[CoachCowens]

This is Kobe's statement following the settlement:

"First, I want to apologize directly to the young woman involved in this incident. I want to apologize to her for my behavior that night and for the consequences she has suffered in the past year. Although this year has been incredibly difficult for me personally, I can only imagine the pain she has had to endure. I also want to apologize to her parents and family members, and to my family and friends and supporters, and to the citizens of Eagle, Colo.

I also want to make it clear that I do not question the motives of this young woman. No money has been paid to this woman. She has agreed that this statement will not be used against me in the civil case. Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did. After months of reviewing discovery, listening to her attorney, and even her testimony in person, I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter.

I issue this statement today fully aware that while one part of this case ends today, another remains. I understand that the civil case against me will go forward. That part of this case will be decided by and between the parties directly involved in the incident and will no longer be a financial or emotional drain on the citizens of the state of Colorado."

It sounds pretty shady to me. Kobe says he now can understand where this woman would view their sex as not consensual. I don't know about any of you, but that sounds like an tacit admission of guilt.

TP, Great find. Funny how these things get lost over time.

If someone accused me of rape and I was innocent, I would never agree to making a statement like that.

[CoachCowens]

C'mon.  Are you guys really that naive?  Kobe was saying what he was being legally advised to say.  Would you have rather him have said, "Man, this chick is scheming me for all I'm worth.  She's a disgusting individual..." or something like that?

An innocent person might

[Champzilla]

Kobe made a horrible choice that night, he should have never put himself in that type of situation to begin with.  Aa very interesting point crownsy about the hotel, nice.

[crownsy]

C'mon.  Are you guys really that naive?  Kobe was saying what he was being legally advised to say.  Would you have rather him have said, "Man, this chick is scheming me for all I'm worth.  She's a disgusting individual..." or something like that?

if they had the proof they said they had that she was a lair, then i would have expected them to take her to court and expose her for the fraud the defense lawyers claimed she was all the way up until the hush money and non-disclouser form she signed.

If you have the kind of proof of your clients innocence and accuser's false statements the defense team claimed they did as damage control, no way do you pay her a cool mill (reportedly anyway, we can't know for sure as part of the NDA) to drop the suit and go away.

you go to trial and destroy her story instead. remeber, his reputation at that point was already shattered, the NDA did nothing at that point. Since then his massive "im a good guy!" pr campaing has restored alot of his pull, as has winning and being the face of a franchise, but no, im sorry, i don't belive he's some pure hearted guy who got caught by an evil harpy.

EDIT: on second thought, the NDA allows the PR build up to go on with no possable counterclaim, so that was actualy a pretty clutch move on his PR people's part.

And, to be clear, i don't think he's 100% at fault either, her character and motives can and should be questioned, but im sorry, i don't buy that you pay her off and hush her up if there wasen't something more than a one night stand going on, something went drasticly wrong.

[Champzilla]

Someone should track down the individual transcript between Kobe and the detective and post it. I've read it before and it is really good information, but some parts are pretty graphic.

[Champzilla]

Again I gree with crownsy 100%, if she was lying why pay her off outside of court, why not prove she is a liar.

[Roy Hobbs]

Someone should track down the individual transcript between Kobe and the detective and post it. I've read it before and it is really good information, but some parts are pretty graphic.

No, I don't think that would be appropriate for the blog.  The language and content is too vulgar for CB.

[Champzilla]

Yeah it would def have to be edited a ton RH.

[Champzilla]

the transcript doesn't prove if Kobe is guilty or not, but it does show that the girl does have some credibility, and Kobe could have misunderstood the situation.

[KungPoweChicken]

I'm of the opinion that something other than consensual sex happened in Colorado that night. However, I also believe that the girl was incredibly promiscuous. Was it true that they found multiple semen traces from different people? I've always thought of this Colorado girl as an escort. Nonetheless, That still doesn't make non consensual sex okay.

The lifestyle most professional athletes live beckon for this kind of encounter to happen. I'm skeptical to think Kobe was pacing in his hotel room with great forethought and calculation on whether he should welcome the girl into his room. It was probably something he'd done before at hundreds of hotel rooms with hundreds of different girls, if not thousands. (complete speculation)

Who knows what exactly happened when they had what Kobe thought was consensual sex. Yes, I do believe there is a good chance that Kobe thought he was having consensual sex. Kobe Bryant definitely did not savagely rape the woman. This is why there was so many gray areas in the case. It seems shortsighted to reach a verdict when the facts of the case are not prevalent.

Speculation and hearsay is always fun. But some of you guys are adamantly saying "NO, Kobe did not rape that GIRL!" and YES! YES! Kobe did do it!!."

[CDawg834]

C'mon.  Are you guys really that naive?  Kobe was saying what he was being legally advised to say.  Would you have rather him have said, "Man, this chick is scheming me for all I'm worth.  She's a disgusting individual..." or something like that?

if they had the proof they said they had that she was a lair, then i would have expected them to take her to court and expose her for the fraud the defense lawyers claimed she was all the way up until the hush money and non-disclouser form she signed.

If you have the kind of proof of your clients innocence and accuser's false statements the defense team claimed they did as damage control, no way do you pay her a cool mill (reportedly anyway, we can't know for sure as part of the NDA) to drop the suit and go away.

you go to trial and destroy her story instead. remeber, his reputation at that point was already shattered, the NDA did nothing at that point. Since then his massive "im a good guy!" pr campaing has restored alot of his pull, as has winning and being the face of a franchise, but no, im sorry, i don't belive he's some pure hearted guy who got caught by an evil harpy.

It is possible that he chose to settle just to put it behind him.  1) Kobe can afford an out of court settlement, and 2) I strongly doubt he wanted to go through a long and potentially damaging trial (if the trial took place during the season or dragged on, he would definitely have to take a leave of absence from the team).  Even if he is innocent I could see him paying her just to move on...