RIP Kobe Bryant

Sam Kinison's car crash.

 

Magic announcement: I sat in front of Elizabeth Glazer, wife of the Mod Squad guy. She was the face of HIV fundraising and research. She started coughing and I felt a little uncomfortable.
Hank Gathers: I covered that team and knew him pretty well. I was sitting courtside, 20 feet away. Coach Westhead ran onto the court, looked at me and said, "Chris, call 9-1-1." That night and the ensuing month were unbelieveable, biggest story of my career.
Len Bias: Not a big connection, but I saw his last two games. They were at the Long Beach Arena in the NCAA Tournament. They beat Pepperdine and lost to Auburn. Pepperdine forward Anthony Frederick, who was matched up with Bias, said, "He is too good to talk as much as he does."

 

Like garbage talking?

 

It’s not just the rape stuff, either. His wife filed for divorce in 2011 and it was reported that it came on the heels of her discovery of his allegedly extramarital affairs. They reconciled a year or two later. His wife has gone through a lot already.

 

The people here who have covered celebrities know what that's all about.

 

That's Detective Dave Starsky, not the Mod Squad guy!!

 

They got back together, had two more children and from all anyone knows, he's been a model husband and father since then. Mrs. Bryant made a decision to forgive her husband and his statement after the trial wasn't the hollow mea culpa most athletes spit out. It seemed sincere.
As far as the legalities, he was not prosecuted for a sexual assault and he settled a civil suit. From a legal standpoint, Kobe Bryant is not "a rapist."

 

Yeah, talking smack.

 

You’re right, my bad.

 

Jordan and Bird would find it funny that the greats shouldn't talk so much shit.

 

I’m not debating any of your points, I’m merely pointing out that I don’t understand the “devoted husband” narrative given that he allegedly cheated on his wife for much of their marriage. Yes, his wife forgave him and he’s likely changed in recent years, so we don’t have to bring that up, but I don’t think that completely changes the narrative, either.