04/18/24
August 05, 2003
A bellman at the Colorado lodge told police that Kobe Bryant's alleged rape victim was "visibly upset, disheveled and had red marks on her neck and face" shortly after she left his room, according to an ESPN report. In other news related to the case, Bryant has lost a sponsor.
posted by rcade to basketball at 08:52 AM - 30 comments
I hope not, but I think big developments are worth noting. To my knowledge, this is the first time a name has been associated with any of the eyewitness reports floating around the media.
posted by rcade at 11:08 AM on August 05, 2003
Dropped by Nutella. Man, how many double entendres can YOu come up with?
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:57 AM on August 05, 2003
The Kobe posts are obviously popular so I don't see a problem with the posts. Alternatively, we could agree to keep one Kobe thread alive and post to developments to that thread instead of multiple front page posts.
posted by Mike McD at 12:29 PM on August 05, 2003
unless we start getting 25 posts a day and a hugely long front page, I really don't think it matters. It's not like this place is as crowded as metafilter.
posted by Bernreuther at 01:27 PM on August 05, 2003
Meta-what? Uh, Meta-who? </ bad Jay-Z impression >
posted by lilnemo at 04:05 PM on August 05, 2003
what what ...
posted by worldcup2002 at 04:48 PM on August 05, 2003
I just have this pet peeve about big media cases that get blown out of all proportion--OJ, JonBenet Ramsey, that kind of thing--and can't imagine how we can have interesting discussions about news items such as this. What is it we're supposed to discuss about this article?
posted by billsaysthis at 05:12 PM on August 05, 2003
We're supposed to speculate and gossip, then choose a side, jump sides and in a year or so, riot in LA. Duh!
posted by dusted at 05:25 PM on August 05, 2003
I had zero interest in OJ Simpson or Jon Bennet or Lacey Peterson. I do have interest in the Kobe case because it can swing the balance of power in NBA, something I do care about. I'd like to hear more speculation about what impact this will have on the Lakers and their chances of contending for the championship this year. I'll take insights on the legal mechanics as well. I read that the DA wasn't going to press charges unless the the case was a slam dunk. Do we have any ex-prosecutor Spofites ... does that sound credible?
posted by Mike McD at 06:10 PM on August 05, 2003
Mark Cuban: Idiot savant or just plain idiot?
posted by lilnemo at 06:18 PM on August 05, 2003
He's just speaking the truth. It's not nice, and David Stern is not going to own up to it, but the NBA IS getting a ton of free pub out of this. As the PR hacks say — the only thing worse than bad publicity is no publicity.
posted by wfrazerjr at 06:33 PM on August 05, 2003
Too true.
posted by lilnemo at 06:36 PM on August 05, 2003
Mike: I'm not an attorney but I would suspect the DA is not going to admit his case is tough to prove. He would certainly want everyone to at least think his case was a slam dunk. Our assumption is that he wouldn't take something like this on without an overwhelming preponderance of evidence, but ask yourself: if you were the victim of a crime would you only want the DA to pursue charges if he was guaranteed a conviction? And if Kobe is found guilty I think any PR benefits are short-lived.
posted by kloeprich at 07:02 PM on August 05, 2003
Mike, we already had that thread last week. But I will just ignore this one from now on and let the rest of you have fun.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:31 AM on August 06, 2003
This morning on the drive in(Howard Stern:: Debbie Schleschel(sp?)), I heard mention of tearing of anal tissues or something, supposedly reported on ESPN. Any creedence to claim? I can't seem to find it anywhere on ESPN.
posted by garfield at 08:41 AM on August 06, 2003
There was a lot of discussion of Kobe and his ability to run the backdoor cut this morning on the radio. I found this site, which has a small link to a report that Matt Drudge discussed the possible anal sex aspect on his radio program. It also has just about everything else Kobe you could possibly want (or not want).
posted by wfrazerjr at 09:57 AM on August 06, 2003
wfrazer: ... tearing of anal tissues ... Whoa! Does Kleenex make those now?
posted by worldcup2002 at 11:39 AM on August 07, 2003
Yes, and fortunately, they are the ones that come with the lotion built right in.
posted by wfrazerjr at 12:19 PM on August 07, 2003
Mm, nothing like joking about physical side-effects of rape. sorry, sorry. I try not to be PC police, which is why I've stayed out of the Kobe threads and will continue to do so from now on. Just a personal issue (self-link to where I'm coming from).
posted by Ufez Jones at 12:42 PM on August 07, 2003
Let's not try to trump each other on how close or sensitive we are to victims of rape. I understand where you're coming from (more than you know. I just don't wear my heart on my sleeve -- or comments posted anonymously on some public board). The point is, this whole thing is a circus. All truth will be lost in the manipulation of facts that we've seen. A joke was made regarding a phrase or snippet, a combination of words. No disparagement of any victim, real or alleged, was done or intended. Neither was there any intention or actual trivialization of the act of rape. People who enjoy anal sex also experience "tearing of anal tissue." That phrase was funny, not the alleged cause. I resist anyone's attempt to circumscribe my thoughts, my words or my perceptions. Neither will I, nor do I intend to control yours. That, my dear Ufez, would be a violation as heinous as rape.
posted by worldcup2002 at 01:03 PM on August 07, 2003
I realize I have set us on the path of invoking Godwin's law. Sorry. Kobe made me do it.
posted by worldcup2002 at 01:04 PM on August 07, 2003
Not trying to trump or one-up anyone on anything as that would be just as dishonorable to victims than anything else, wc. The whole thing is a circus which is why I've just been trying to read facts and ignore the rest, including here on SpoFi. The circus itself triviailzes any potential crime that was committed (I won't speculate) and other rape victims in general which is frustrating since ideally it would do the opposite, raise awareness. I may disagree with "No dispragement of any victim, real or alleged, was done or intended". Not so much the intention since, as you wisely point out, I shouldn't, and wasn't, attempting to circumscribe. The "done" part is relative and frankly isn't worth discussing on a site about Sports. There was nothing personal at all intended towards you or wfrazer. If I had a personal problem, I'd take it to e-mail. It's just easy to forget in times like this that there are personal and real issues involved, and it's sometimes important to note. As I said, I'll put my wet blanket away and stick to the other threads. Apologies if I acted inappropriately.
posted by Ufez Jones at 01:29 PM on August 07, 2003
Tom Goodwin has a law?
posted by wfrazerjr at 01:37 PM on August 07, 2003
No offense done, Ufez. You're right that a sports site is one of the last places one would have a discussion on rape. Much is lost in the translation, and one can never see the pain involved.
posted by worldcup2002 at 01:37 PM on August 07, 2003
wfrazer, you dork. ;-) Tom Goodwin: 
Mike Godwin: (Godwin's Law) 
posted by worldcup2002 at 01:45 PM on August 07, 2003
i thought the 'tissue' & 'running the back door cut' jokes were hilarious.
posted by garfield at 02:08 PM on August 07, 2003
"The back door cut" is memorable - makes me laugh and cringe.
posted by dusted at 02:16 PM on August 07, 2003
..though completely insensitive....which i think was kind of implied.
posted by garfield at 02:16 PM on August 07, 2003
Completely insensitive ... I already have that carved on my headstone.
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:31 AM on August 08, 2003
KobeFilter! Seriously, are we planning to post every development in this case?