Thursday, September 02, 2004
Kobe Trial Continues in Court of Public Opinion
I really don't know what to think about the Kobe Bryant case anymore. This balk by the prosecution in the middle of jury selection leaves us scratching our heads as to what to believe...And you know we as American sports fans just have to decide for ourselves one way or the other.
Why would The Accuser back out now? Her lawyers say it's because she has been so traumatized that she's unable to go forward. Given that she has reportedly been traumatized for over a year by this case, the timing of her withdrawal so close to trial seems peculiar. Did the impending start date cause it to finally sink in that she was prosecuting an innocent man? Was this a page out of Hollywood with some tough guy getting to her and scaring her into giving in? Did the prosecution's case suddenly fall apart with the defense's discovery of an expert witness's testimony that physical evidence actually could support Bryant's claim that the act was consensual? Is The Accuser truly disturbed and just randomly changing her mind? We may never know the true reason for the prosecution requesting this dismissal, which, unfortunately, leaves the public to make up their own minds.
Rather than just shrug their collective shoulders, many in the American public cannot be satisfied until they have their own personal closure, even if that means resorting to unfounded presumptions. It's disturbing, this guilty-until-proven-innocent mindset that permeates from radio shows and chat rooms nationwide. Couple that with a lack of faith in our judicial system and you have sadly jaded people that assume guilt upon arrest and never relinquish innocence regardless of the outcome of the trial. While browsing espn.com's coverage of the case this morning, I stumbled onto a user message board where people from across the country were sounding off on the trial that was not to be. Here's a few samples:
"Apparently if you are going to commit sexual assault in Colorado, you need not worry, you are going to walk. As long as you play ball at CU or have enough cake to hire Pam Mackey, your going to sing 'free bird' all the way to your next contract extension. What a great country huh? or not..." cries Vic Murillo.
"She cost the Lakers a World Championship and the USA a gold Medal. Not to mention his relationship with his wife. I hope this young woman finally got the attention she was seeking. " explains a user identified only as "Reg."
"A significant amount of money must have exchanged hands somewhere..." assumes one David Komiyama.
"For him to apologize to her for what happened that night screams guilt. How can he say he now understands that she did not want to have sex have him that night? Has the meaning of rape changed? To me, Kobe is guilty by his own words and admission. An ex-Laker fan. " proclaims Chad from Lincoln, Nebraska.
Excuse me while I do my rendition of "Proud To Be An American." I'd like to address Nebraska Chad as a representative for all the listed contributors. Chad, Kobe's apology means exactly zilch. All he did was recognize that she thinks it wasn't consensual and say he was sorry for his behavior, meaning the act of sex regardless of its circumstances. He maintained that he believed it to be consensual and apologized for the fact that she believed otherwise. For example, I apologize for the fact that you're a moron, but that doesn't make me responsible. Don't you realize Kobe's lawyers approved his "apology" if not helped him write it? Do you honestly think that after having his case dismissed they are going to let him make a statement that makes him look guilty? You know nothing more than what has been reported to you, Chad, and the simple truth is that that information is far from enough to make a decision on what happened in a hotel room one year ago and 2,000 miles away from Lincoln, Friggin' Nebraska. In the words of The Rock, "Know your role, jabroni." It's okay to be your own one-man hung jury.
Who knows where this story will go from here? The outcome of the civil suit certainly has the potential to bring forth some better sense of clarity. Chances are, however, that trial will also end before it ever begins. There will likely be a settlement and people will decide whether that means Kobe wanted to pay The Accuser to hide the truth or pay her to end the parade of lies. Far be it from me to assume the title of "Thought Police." Obviously, everyone has a right to their own opinion. However, if the civil case is brought to trial, I can only hope that the jury box is less tainted by foolish cynicism than the espn message board.
|
Why would The Accuser back out now? Her lawyers say it's because she has been so traumatized that she's unable to go forward. Given that she has reportedly been traumatized for over a year by this case, the timing of her withdrawal so close to trial seems peculiar. Did the impending start date cause it to finally sink in that she was prosecuting an innocent man? Was this a page out of Hollywood with some tough guy getting to her and scaring her into giving in? Did the prosecution's case suddenly fall apart with the defense's discovery of an expert witness's testimony that physical evidence actually could support Bryant's claim that the act was consensual? Is The Accuser truly disturbed and just randomly changing her mind? We may never know the true reason for the prosecution requesting this dismissal, which, unfortunately, leaves the public to make up their own minds.
Rather than just shrug their collective shoulders, many in the American public cannot be satisfied until they have their own personal closure, even if that means resorting to unfounded presumptions. It's disturbing, this guilty-until-proven-innocent mindset that permeates from radio shows and chat rooms nationwide. Couple that with a lack of faith in our judicial system and you have sadly jaded people that assume guilt upon arrest and never relinquish innocence regardless of the outcome of the trial. While browsing espn.com's coverage of the case this morning, I stumbled onto a user message board where people from across the country were sounding off on the trial that was not to be. Here's a few samples:
"Apparently if you are going to commit sexual assault in Colorado, you need not worry, you are going to walk. As long as you play ball at CU or have enough cake to hire Pam Mackey, your going to sing 'free bird' all the way to your next contract extension. What a great country huh? or not..." cries Vic Murillo.
"She cost the Lakers a World Championship and the USA a gold Medal. Not to mention his relationship with his wife. I hope this young woman finally got the attention she was seeking. " explains a user identified only as "Reg."
"A significant amount of money must have exchanged hands somewhere..." assumes one David Komiyama.
"For him to apologize to her for what happened that night screams guilt. How can he say he now understands that she did not want to have sex have him that night? Has the meaning of rape changed? To me, Kobe is guilty by his own words and admission. An ex-Laker fan. " proclaims Chad from Lincoln, Nebraska.
Excuse me while I do my rendition of "Proud To Be An American." I'd like to address Nebraska Chad as a representative for all the listed contributors. Chad, Kobe's apology means exactly zilch. All he did was recognize that she thinks it wasn't consensual and say he was sorry for his behavior, meaning the act of sex regardless of its circumstances. He maintained that he believed it to be consensual and apologized for the fact that she believed otherwise. For example, I apologize for the fact that you're a moron, but that doesn't make me responsible. Don't you realize Kobe's lawyers approved his "apology" if not helped him write it? Do you honestly think that after having his case dismissed they are going to let him make a statement that makes him look guilty? You know nothing more than what has been reported to you, Chad, and the simple truth is that that information is far from enough to make a decision on what happened in a hotel room one year ago and 2,000 miles away from Lincoln, Friggin' Nebraska. In the words of The Rock, "Know your role, jabroni." It's okay to be your own one-man hung jury.
Who knows where this story will go from here? The outcome of the civil suit certainly has the potential to bring forth some better sense of clarity. Chances are, however, that trial will also end before it ever begins. There will likely be a settlement and people will decide whether that means Kobe wanted to pay The Accuser to hide the truth or pay her to end the parade of lies. Far be it from me to assume the title of "Thought Police." Obviously, everyone has a right to their own opinion. However, if the civil case is brought to trial, I can only hope that the jury box is less tainted by foolish cynicism than the espn message board.
# posted by j.h.k. @ 1:30 PM 
