NBA Draft 2010

[Cheno]

Kobe Bryant, BTW, has acknowledged that he believes the women never viewed their sexual encounter as consensual.

When did he say that? I've never read that. I'd be interesting to read that statement.
He also said he truly believes it was consensual.
So those statements would contradict themselves.

 

[One More Rebound]

When did he say that? I've never read that. I'd be interesting to read that statement.
He also said he truly believes it was consensual.
So those statements would contradict themselves.

Cheno, that was in the statement made after the civil trial was settled.

 

[Tony]

When did he say that? I've never read that. I'd be interesting to read that statement.
He also said he truly believes it was consensual.
So those statements would contradict themselves.

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.

.

 

[Cheno]

Cheno, that was in the statement made after the civil trial was settled.

Do you have a link? I'd like to read it.

Here's Kobe's written comment after the legal case was dismissed.

“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,” he said.

So if he said something different than that AFTER the civil trial was settled there's a good chance it was part of what he had to do to put this behind him. Wouldn't you say?

 

[Tony]

What?

 

[One More Rebound]

Do you have a link? I'd like to read it.

Here's Kobe's written comment after the legal case was dismissed.




So if he said something different than that AFTER the civil trial was settled there's a good chance it was part of what he had to do to put this behind him. Wouldn't you say?

Yes, I would agree with that, Cheno. Kobe had to make that statement to complete the legal process and put the trial behind him. For the record, I wish we could have a moratorium on "Kobe the rapist" posts.

 

[Shooterms]

I meant that more in general about how athletes are typically viewed as guilty just because a charge is made. When that is the situation the easiest thing in the world is to make a false claim trying to get paid. This girl's friend stated the girl said she wanted to go to an Eminem concert in Denver to try and get with him. In fact her friend was going to testify for the defense that she had a long time plan to sleep with a celebrity to get him to "pay up". Shortly after the lady wanted to settle. Coincidence? I don't think so. Funny thing is when you look at all the facts in the case it doesn't add up to rape. It adds up to someone getting paid. She got paid. That's a fact.

Well, okay, but you were making that assumption about me and my motives for what I posted. You seemed to miss the part where I said that I didn't know if Kobe was a rapist. You can say it was "in general" but you were quoting my post, which makes it fairly specific.

Incidentally, you say that the friend "was going to testify for the defense that she had a long time plan to sleep with a celebrity to get him to "pay up"." Since that testimony never actually occurred in a court of law, it is interesting to me that you are willing to consider the girl guilty of extortion without sworn testimony and a presentation of evidence, but come to Kobe's defense since he was not convicted.

As I said before, there are two people who truly know what went on in the room, and no one else does. Because of that it is wrong to call Kobe a rapist and it is equally wrong to say that this girl just did this to get his money.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

Well, okay, but you were making that assumption about me and my motives for what I posted. You seemed to miss the part where I said that I didn't know if Kobe was a rapist. You can say it was "in general" but you were quoting my post, which makes it fairly specific.

Incidentally, you say that the friend "was going to testify for the defense that she had a long time plan to sleep with a celebrity to get him to "pay up"." Since that testimony never actually occurred in a court of law, it is interesting to me that you are willing to consider the girl guilty of extortion without sworn testimony and a presentation of evidence, but come to Kobe's defense since he was not convicted.

As I said before, there are two people who truly know what went on in the room, and no one else does. Because of that it is wrong to call Kobe a rapist and it is equally wrong to say that this girl just did this to get his money.

Personally I think it was just two shady people that both got what they deserved. He got a dubious piece of tail that led to his public humiliation, and she got paid...but her motives will always be subject to scrutiny. I'm finally figuring out, there are a bunch of scandalous peeps out there.

 

[MercedeSooner]

I hate Kobe. And the Lakers.

 

[Shooterms]

Personally I think it was just two shady people that both got what they deserved. He got a dubious piece of tail that led to his public humiliation, and she got paid...but her motives will always be subject to scrutiny. I'm finally figuring out, there are a bunch of scandalous peeps out there.

I truly have no idea if either one is shady, or both of them are.

I will say this. If she got raped, she made a terrible decision by going to his room. Not because he is Kobe, not because he is an athlete, or any other reason other than the fact that she put herself in a situation where if she was alone with a predator, it is her word against his. My wife was abducted from her workplace parking lot by a serial rapist, and one thing I have learned is that women have to constantly be vigilant and prepared. In my wife's case, she escaped by calling me from his trunk. He is doing 50 years in prison in Oklahoma and has many more decades to serve in 2 other states where he was convicted of rape in addition to kidnapping.

If she was not raped, Kobe made a really bad decision by having her in his room, and for the same reasons. His word against hers. In my portrait photography business, I'm never in my studio with a woman, without someone else being present, and I'm not a wealthy, famous athlete.

The thing that bothers me about both "sides" of this is that people think they can read a newspaper/website or watch a television broadcast and know who is being truthful and who is lying.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

I truly have no idea if either one is shady, or both of them are.

I will say this. If she got raped, she made a terrible decision by going to his room. Not because he is Kobe, not because he is an athlete, or any other reason other than the fact that she put herself in a situation where if she was alone with a predator, it is her word against his. My wife was abducted from her workplace parking lot by a serial rapist, and one thing I have learned is that women have to constantly be vigilant and prepared. In my wife's case, she escaped by calling me from his trunk. He is doing 50 years in prison in Oklahoma and has many more decades to serve in 2 other states where he was convicted of rape in addition to kidnapping.

If she was not raped, Kobe made a really bad decision by having her in his room, and for the same reasons. His word against hers. In my portrait photography business, I'm never in my studio with a woman, without someone else being present, and I'm not a wealthy, famous athlete.

The thing that bothers me about both "sides" of this is that people think they can read a newspaper/website or watch a television broadcast and know who is being truthful and who is lying.

No disagreement, but the more you hear about the girl in this one, the worse she sounds. That said, Kobe was cheating on his wife and the mother of his children. Crappy situation all the way around, and probably why I say the both got what they deserved.

 

[Cheno]

No disagreement, but the more you hear about the girl in this one, the worse she sounds. That said, Kobe was cheating on his wife and the mother of his children. Crappy situation all the way around, and probably why I say the both got what they deserved.

Absolutely. Too bad the girl got paid big money and Kobe now gets called a "rapist". Doesn't seem fair to me.

 

[Max Power]

Ok have been gone all weekend, time to catch up

I admit I was wrong, he was not acquitted, charges were dropped. Either way he never went to jail, was never found guilty, and therefore I stand by my original statement that he is NOT a rapist. Now that being said, he did cheat on his wife which in my opinion is inexcusable, no matter who you are. But with her friend saying she wanted to sleep with someone famous for their money you have to question HER motives. Not everyone that ever accuses anyone of rape. Rape is very serious and should be treated as such, but so should throwing around someone is a rapist when the have never been found guilty in a court of law.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

NM

 

[Cheno]

I admit I was wrong, he was not acquitted, charges were dropped. Either way he never went to jail, was never found guilty, and therefore I stand by my original statement that he is NOT a rapist.

The police chose not to pursue the criminal case which tells me there was little to no evidence. Add that to the statements and actions of the girl and I would side that Kobe is not a rapist either. As far as I know he's never been in trouble with the law in the least bit.
Yet, he still gets called a rapist. That's too bad.

 

[Shooterms]

The police chose not to pursue the criminal case which tells me there was little to no evidence. Add that to the statements and actions of the girl and I would side that Kobe is not a rapist either. As far as I know he's never been in trouble with the law in the least bit.
Yet, he still gets called a rapist. That's too bad.

When your only witness, the girl, decides to no longer cooperate, you have no evidence. I agree that Kobe absolutely should NOT be called a rapist. Likewise, I believe the girl should not be branded an extortionist. There is not enough/any evidence to prove rape, but by the same token, if there were enough/any evidence to prove extortion, those charges could/would have been brought.

 

[Cheno]

When your only witness, the girl, decides to no longer cooperate, you have no evidence.

You have physical evidence if there is any. In this instance I don't believe there was any.
But you're right, when the plaintiff just all of a sudden doesn't want to testify in the criminal case and wants to settle in a civil case it makes it much more difficult.

Likewise, I believe the girl should not be branded an extortionist.

I don't know why one of her good friends went out against her and said that.

 

[boksooner]

You have physical evidence if there is any. In this instance I don't believe there was any.
But you're right, when the plaintiff just all of a sudden doesn't want to testify in the criminal case and wants to settle in a civil case it makes it much more difficult.


I don't know why one of her good friends went out against her and said that.

The physical evidence was considered inconclusive, because it could be explained by both a rape and a consensual sexual experience. After reading threads like this, it's no wonder such a high percentage of rape victims never come forward. You can question her motives all you want, but the second a woman says no, it is no longer a consensual act.

Did you ever think that she settled, because she couldn't handle the strain of a celebrity trial? Did you ever think that maybe her "friend" was trying to get her fifteen minutes of fame. I don't understand how you can look at the evidence and completely exonerate Kobe and brand this young woman an extortionist. Maybe you should take off your purple and gold shades and look at the facts of the case in the context of our culture.

 

[NickZepp]

Rape cases are among the hardest to convict. Even when you've proven they at least had sex. After that it becomes he said, she said.

 

[Cheno]

Did you ever think that she settled, because she couldn't handle the strain of a celebrity trial? Did you ever think that maybe her "friend" was trying to get her fifteen minutes of fame. I don't understand how you can look at the evidence and completely exonerate Kobe and brand this young woman an extortionist. Maybe you should take off your purple and gold shades and look at the facts of the case in the context of our culture.

I'm not a Lakers fan. In fact, I'm a Celtics fan. I'm not a Kobe fan. I think he's the best player in the world that's about it. Don't like him as a person.

That being said I think it's ridiculous someone would call him a rapist.

I'm not exonerrating anyone. Nobody will ever know.
But the facts in the case lean to the fact there was no rape.
What facts make him a rapist?