Is Kobe guilty? Does it matter?

By Joel Hammond
210 west Writer [send email]

We don't possibly know enough details about Kobe Bryant's legal situation in Colorado to make an informed decision about the fate of the five-time All-Star.

Allegedly Bryant sexually assaulted a woman at a ski resort June 30,
and turned himself in, despite not being
charged.

The frighteningly undeniable fact about the accusation, though, is
that despite Bryant's squeaky-clean public image and the possibility
that the woman is indeed just looking to tarnish said image of arguably
the NBA's best all-around player is the assumption that the accusation
might be true.

These are the times we're living in.

Charles Barkley is not and never was a role model. He said it
himself. Neither was Mike Tyson. Neither was Rae Carruth, Jayson Williams or other high-profile athletes who have run afoul of the law.

But cases like those of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Jason Kidd
and now Bryant are the ones that surprise folks.

Those athletes are supposed to be the good ones.

But it's becoming all too common for the good ones to turn bad
much too quickly.

Jordan gambled with his money and marriage enough to make his wife
file for divorce from the world's most recognizable athlete. Johnson fooled
around on off nights enough to contract a deadly disease and shock
the world with his HIV-positive announcement.

Kidd beat the hell out of his wife.

Now Bryant, although in the eyes of the law innocent until proven
guilty, is guilty until proven innocent in the public eye.

Bryant will be OK, on the court and off. His team is about to sell
the farm to purchase Karl Malone and Gary Payton, vaulting the Lakers
past the Spurs in the pre-season Western Conference picture even if Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich land JKidd.

Even if Bryant is convicted of the crime, he will serve a small, if any, jail term, pay a fine, do a couple community service announcements and
be right back where he was.

But for a guy who just got a smaller shoe deal from Nike than an
18-year-old kid named LeBron and whose team didn't hold up a gold
trophy for the first time in three years, Bryant didn't exactly need this
distraction.

Which makes this accusation seemingly impossible to believe.

Which, in turn, in today's day of high-profile American citizens
thinking they can get away with anything they want, makes it all the
more believable.

I'll take the odds on Kobe being convicted. They've got to be at
least 10-1.

Then I'll have enough money to allegedly assault a woman, pay a
nominal fee, remake that fee in two minutes on the basketball court and
be on with my life.

Just like Kobe.

I'll be able to do whatever I want.

Just like Michael.

Just like Magic.