Kobe’s lesson to Tiger: Winning trumps all

[duncan228]

Kobe’s lesson to Tiger: Winning trumps all (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-kobe121709&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)
By Adrian Wojnarowski

From his courtside seat, Tiger Woods’ eyes seldom left him. All night in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, you could see them darting everywhere with Kobe Bryant. Woods understood that he was witnessing his kindred spirit, the talent with whom he shared a generational sporting genius. Together, they were groomed for this life and discussed that over dinner in a suburban Orlando restaurant in June.

With his wife, Elin, beside him at Amway Arena it likely never occurred to Woods that his blessed life could soon derail with a self-destructive bent of his own. He doesn’t have the criminal charges and the threat of prison hanging over him like Bryant did with his sexual assault case in 2003, but a family and reputation crashing around him nonetheless. If Bryant has reached out to Woods, he’s discovered, like running buddies Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley, the phones are turned off, the party’s over.

Whatever Woods wants out of private redemption, the path of public forgiveness won’t come with public apologies and crocodile tears. All Woods needed was an NBA League Pass package on Wednesday and he could’ve witnessed the truth for himself. There was Bryant with his arms raised in Milwaukee, a winning shot to end overtime and a 39-point performance. Bryant has a broken finger, but a repaired image and oddly unburdened life six years later.

America won’t want contrition, as much as it’ll want a Sunday communion with Woods. This is a sporting nation that finds its virtue in victory. Bryant never took a leave of absence the way that Woods says he will now. He bought his wife a big diamond, and dropped 42 on the Spurs in the playoffs after spending an afternoon in a Colorado courtroom.

Six years later, Bryant has done what American sporting culture demands: He came back, better than ever. He won his MVP, a title without Shaq and he’s chasing down Jordan’s six championships, the way that Tiger is Jack Nicklaus’ 18. As comebacks go, Bryant had further to go. Now, just look at him: There isn’t a great champion in sports – not Derek Jeter, nor Tom Brady – more assured of chasing MVP awards and championships into the next several seasons.

“He’s unburdened,” a league source close to Bryant told me recently. “He has no more pressure. With the title without Shaq, he came all the way back from the [sexual assault case] and climbed back on top of the mountain. He is playing with no more worries, and no more weight on his shoulders.”

Now, Bryant plays with a broken finger and still averages 40.5 points over two nights in Chicago and Milwaukee. LeBron James is trying to win his title with a 37-year-old Shaquille O’Neal, and Dwyane Wade is trying to make the playoffs and bide time until 2010 free agency can secure him better teammates. Across the NBA, the great players are conspiring to find an alignment of talent that can compare with Kobe Bryant’s Lakers.

The Boston Celtics are championship contenders with an aging core and a shorter shelf life. Everyone’s ultimately chasing Kobe.

Bryant, 31, has it all. Around the league, some wonder how he’ll hold up physically without renowned trainer Tim Grover traveling with him this season, but so far, so good. Yes, the Lakers have a supporting cast for Kobe Bryant. He doesn’t have to do as much, but he rarely fails them when called upon in moments of truth. Eventually, Andrew Bynum’s leg could give out again, and Ron Artest could go haywire and the Lakers’ championship chase could still be all about the greatness of Kobe Bryant.

And in those times – a blustery Milwaukee in December, a sweaty Staples Center in June – the judge and jury of a nation will validate Kobe’s journey with the big shot in the big moment. Yes, Woods witnessed Bryant’s final public validation courtside this spring and it was so clear to see that he found a sporting soul mate before his eyes, the man in the mirror.

Only, Woods truly had no idea. Not until now, not until these past few weeks. Kobe can’t do much for Tiger’s private betrayals, but he has blazed his path to a public redemption.

Wherever Woods might have been watching on Wednesday night, the message for his public journey back remained unmistakable and un-obscured: In this sporting America, virtue is still mostly found in victory.

[Mavs_man_41]

cool story brah

[Culburn369]

For both it can never be like it was.

[Mavs_man_41]

For both it can never be like it was.

for both you and the victim?

[HarlemHeat37]

for both you and the victim?

:lol:lol:lol:lol

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

It's so nice that people are willing to forgive a rapist just because he can play sport. What a great society we live in. Sports people think they are above reproach.

Australian Rugby league players also do the dumbest things (sexual assualts, drunken rampages etc) and then they are soon forgiven because they play sport.

[HarlemHeat37]

It actually is funny..

I guess when you make money for the white man, you get a pass..

[Mavs_man_41]

It's so nice that people are willing to forgive a rapist just because he can play sport. What a great society we live in. Sports people think they are above reproach.

Australian Rugby league players also do the dumbest things (sexual assualts, drunken rampages etc) and then they are soon forgiven because they play sport.

culburn plays sports?

[HarlemHeat37]

culburn plays sports?

....I think you can finish the rest of that joke LOL..

[Culburn369]

It's so nice that people are willing to forgive a rapist just because he can play sport.

Why, because this scribe puts it down on paper, it's true? Use your head, Nuggy.

[cobbler]

It actually is funny..

I guess when you make money for the white man, you get a pass..

Hmmmmmmm... that seems like an awfully racist comment coming from a guy who all night has been on his soapbox giving people shit about racist comments.

You are truly a piece of work! :toast

[Darthkiller]

too bad tiger doesnt have refs sucking on his balls all day

[pauls931]

Tiger has more trouble. BBall players are expected to be aholes and sleep around. Golfers on the other hand have sponsors who depend on old rich white guys to buy their crap. Golfing requires a different standard of person than bball.

What surprises me is it's been happening for a while and then BAM! it hits him all at once. Almost like a coordinated attack by the media.

[Culburn369]

There's more. Limbaugh say's there is more, but, it's not his place to dispense it.

Got to be either drugs or gay sex.

[GuerillaBlack]

http://images.ocregister.com/newsimages/2009/06/18/b78518861z120090618134350000gd3idgq21_lg.jpg

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/2851/65809obamamichaeloverko.jpg

"Welcome to the club, dogg. Here's your Bro Card back. We weren't sure about you before...but now? Fa sho."

[panic giraffe]

i tried to read the article without getting pist off.

how are they going to compare a accused rapist to someone who just gets way too much white girl booty?

thats like putting madoff and trump in the same category of businessman. "they both made their money and are poorly respected" thats bullshit.

[ChrisRichards]

rape is a different scenario than getting some consensual bootay's

[lefty]

i tried to read the article without getting pist off.

how are they going to compare a accused rapist to someone who just gets way too much white girl booty?

thats like putting madoff and trump in the same category of businessman. "they both made their money and are poorly respected" thats bullshit.
You think Kobe raped that chick?
Really?


She purposedly did it with him to try ti get $$$$, don't be naive

[Venti Quattro]

rape is a different scenario than getting some consensual bootay's
Acquittal makes it no different.

[JamStone]

It's so nice that people are willing to forgive a rapist just because he can play sport. What a great society we live in. Sports people think they are above reproach.

Australian Rugby league players also do the dumbest things (sexual assualts, drunken rampages etc) and then they are soon forgiven because they play sport.

I think your post is serious so I'll respond to it as if it is.

Kobe may or may have done it, but he wasn't found guilty, so calling him a "rapist" is inaccurate at least from what we know. When people joke and call him a "rapist," oh well. But if you're being serious, he's technically not one.

Did you know Chauncey was charged with sexual assault his rookie year in Boston along with Antoine Walker and one other Celtics player? You don't hear about that because it was so long ago and other than Walker, the names weren't big. Change your opinion of him?

Do you not cheer for your team when JR Smith hits a big three pointer even though he's the reason his own friend is dead?

It's not just athletes. Snoop Dogg got acquitted even though he was involved in a murder. OJ when he was no longer an athlete who was still playing. And it's not just crimes. Most fans still loved Magic after he announced he had HIV and his history of sexual promiscuity was revealed. In one of those books about him, it even stated that he kept having unprotected sex with his wife after he knew he had HIV. People still love Magic though. Hell, look at John Daly. He's a drunk and a compulsive gambler and I think he beat one of his wife, and people love the guy. Marv Albert is a butt biting freak. Oh well, he's still cool. Hugh Hefner is 83 years old and has sex with 18-19 year old girls. Cool guy.

Society is forgiving. Who knows why, but it is. They'll be forgiving with Tiger too. Even if he doesn't win for a while, we'll be forgiving. It's news one day and the next it's fine. People get enamored with the current news stories. Kobe still has haters, but his Colorado scandal isn't really huge news, and it wasn't after a few months after the court case was over. Even when the civil trial was going on, people stopped talking about it. It only comes up in jokes and when people just want to unnecessarily bash on him. In a few months, they'll be into the next celebrity scandal, and Tiger will be fine. There will still be haters and people ready to bash or make fun of Tiger, but it won't be a big deal anymore.

[JamStone]

i tried to read the article without getting pist off.

how are they going to compare a accused rapist to someone who just gets way too much white girl booty?

thats like putting madoff and trump in the same category of businessman. "they both made their money and are poorly respected" thats bullshit.

I could accuse you of being a fucking idiot. It doesn't mean you're a fucking idiot. But because you're an "accused" fucking idiot, is it too egregious to compare you to someone who is regarded as a pretty bright individual but flippantly makes a dumb comment because you are an "accused" fucking idiot?

[Culburn369]

Did you know Chauncey was charged with sexual assault his rookie year in Boston along with Antoine Walker and one other Celtics player? You don't hear about that because it was so long ago and other than Walker, the names weren't big. Change your opinion of him?

Wow.

[MiamiHeat]

duncan228

when are you going to post other player articles?

everything you post is Kobe

[MiamiHeat]

dp

[MiamiHeat]

I could accuse you of being a fucking idiot. It doesn't mean you're a fucking idiot. But because you're an "accused" fucking idiot, is it too egregious to compare you to someone who is regarded as a pretty bright individual but flippantly makes a dumb comment because you are an "accused" fucking idiot?

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. - bryant , 2003

[JamStone]

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. - bryant , 2003

I can bold a quote too.

Also, remember the criminal charges were dropped.

[ChrisRichards]

I can bold a quote too.

Also, remember the criminal charges were dropped.
Just because murder charges were dropped on OJ Simpson, does'nt make him innocent.

[MiamiHeat]

They were not dropped in the TRADITIONAL sense. Prosecutor's spent $200,000 getting ready to butt fuck bryant in the trial.

The accuser refused to testify due to a settlement between byrant and her

[Culburn369]

They were not dropped in the TRADITIONAL sense. Prosecutor's spent $200,000 getting ready to butt fuck bryant in the trial.

Kobe's people had buried the prosecutor under $500,000 worth of paper.

[JamStone]

For Kobe to have been a rapist, he would have had to have had the "intent" to rape her. Do you think he would make a statement in court "admitting" to raping her? That's why I bolded the part of the quote I bolded. It allows him to make the comment you bolded without admitting to rape. He didn't rape her in his mind. Charges were dropped. He wasn't convicted of rape or sexual assault.

If you want to say he's an ass or a horrible person or P.O.S., fine. But, under the law, he isn't a rapist.

[MiamiHeat]

Before the case was scheduled to go to trial, Faber filed a civil lawsuit against Bryant over the incident on August 10. The two sides ultimately settled that lawsuit, with specific terms of the settlement being undisclosed to the public.

On September 1, 2004 Eagle County District Judge Terry Ruckriegle dismissed the charges against Bryant, after prosecutors spent more than $200,000 preparing for trial, because Faber informed them that she was unwilling to testify.


--------------

so not the "chargers were dropped, they couldn't stick the charges!"

it was a "bryant settled out of court, so the witness refused to testify"

[JamStone]

None of that means he raped her. That's the point I was making to Nuggets fan that Kobe is not a "rapist."

[MiamiHeat]

For Kobe to have been a rapist, he would have had to have had the "intent" to rape her. Do you think he would make a statement in court "admitting" to raping her? That's why I bolded the part of the quote I bolded. It allows him to make the comment you bolded without admitting to rape. He didn't rape her in his mind. Charges were dropped. He wasn't convicted of rape or sexual assault.

If you want to say he's an ass or a horrible person or P.O.S., fine. But, under the law, he isn't a rapist.

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.- bryant, 2003


I guess all rapists everywhere can use JamStone's defense

"I didn't have the INTENT to rape her, it just happened. When she was kicking and screaming, I had to hold her down. I thought she liked it..... ....What? yeah she said "PLEASE STOP" but I thought that was roleplaying.... ooh....she meant it? Damn. That must be hard for her. I guess I understand now, she didn't consent to my fucking her. Ok, sorry guys. Cya!"



Rapist.

[JamStone]

If that quote is admitting he is a rapist, then it would not matter that the Prosecutor's dropped the charges. The judge could rule right there that it is Kobe confessing to rape.

I'm sure Kobe paid all that money to his attorneys only for them to allow him to admit to rape, in court no less.

Good one.

[JamStone]

And just so you know, with rape, if you don't prove intent, you don't prove the crime.

Intent must be proven.

[MiamiHeat]

"Yes, I had sex with that woman. Nono, rape? What? It was consensual.
Yes, I had my hands around her neck....but that was just playful fighting. Even though she was struggling to get away from me, I felt it was consensual. Pinning her down is just the way I like it, I wasn't TRYING to rape her....I thought we was just having fun, man! Huh? Well yeah, she said PLEASE STOP, but I thought she was just one of those chicks who like it rough.
well, sir, I guess I could see how she thought it was rape. You guys want my autograph? "

[Culburn369]

But, under the law, he isn't a rapist.

I look at it a little different. I think under the law he committed rape, but, he isn't a rapist.

[JamStone]

"Yes, I had sex with that woman. Nono, rape? What? It was consensual.
Yes, I had my hands around her neck....but that was just playful fighting. Even though she was struggling to get away from me, I felt it was consensual. Pinning her down is just the way I like it, I wasn't TRYING to rape her....I thought we was just having fun, man! Huh? Well yeah, she said PLEASE STOP, but I thought she was just one of those chicks who like it rough.
well, sir, I guess I could see how she thought it was rape. You guys want my autograph? "

Good luck the first time you have sex.

[MiamiHeat]

Every rapist in the world can claim JamStone's line. They can all thank JamStone for beginning any rape defense with :


Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I understand now that she DIDN'T want me to strangle her and force my cock in her.

[MiamiHeat]

Good luck the first time you have sex.

Kobe strangled the girl for a good amount of time and she was struggling to get away.

but hey, it's ok if you want to cheer for an egotistical, snitch, overrated volume shooter, rapist.

[JamStone]

They can use it, but if the prosecution can prove otherwise, it won't matter. The prosecution could not prove otherwise against Kobe.

[MiamiHeat]

They can use it, but the prosecution can prove otherwise, it won't matter. The prosecution could not prove otherwise against Kobe.

Hey you fucking idiot, the prosecution spent 200 grand getting ready for trial. They were going to burn him.

The case was dropped because the girl refused to testify and instead settled out of court with Kobe.

[JamStone]

Kobe strangled the girl for a good amount of time and she was struggling to get away.

but hey, it's ok if you want to cheer for an egotistical, snitch, overrated volume shooter, rapist.

I'm not cheering anything. I'm sharing my opinion that under the law, Kobe was not proven to be a rapist. That's accurate. You can continue to try to convince yourself otherwise. But the fact remains that Kobe was not proven in the court of law to have raped her. Period.

[JamStone]

Hey you fucking idiot, the prosecution spent 200 grand getting ready for trial. They were going to burn him.

The case was dropped because the girl refused to testify and instead settled out of court with Kobe.

Exactly.

He wasn't proven to be a rapist in the court of law.

Thanks for agreeing with me.

[MiamiHeat]

yeah, and OJ Simpson wasn't a murderer and Michael Jackson didn't molest any kids.

[MiamiHeat]

He wasn't proven to be a rapist in the court of law.



Exactly, but because Bryant got the girl to settle out of court to save his own ass, not because he was innocent.

[duhoh]

http://images.ocregister.com/newsimages/2009/06/18/b78518861z120090618134350000gd3idgq21_lg.jpg

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/2851/65809obamamichaeloverko.jpg

"Welcome to the club, dogg. Here's your Bro Card back. We weren't sure about you before...but now? Fa sho."

So Chappelle's racial draft was TRUE! :wow

:lol

[panic giraffe]

For Kobe to have been a rapist, he would have had to have had the "intent" to rape her. Do you think he would make a statement in court "admitting" to raping her? That's why I bolded the part of the quote I bolded. It allows him to make the comment you bolded without admitting to rape. He didn't rape her in his mind. Charges were dropped. He wasn't convicted of rape or sexual assault.

If you want to say he's an ass or a horrible person or P.O.S., fine. But, under the law, he isn't a rapist.


damn i 'd hate to agree w/miami about anything, but....seriously i don't think kobe understood her saying "no" as a true no, until he didn't finish and was being questioned by the cops. even in his first statement to cops, he was already bringing up money and saying that he stopped after he realized that she meant "no" meant don't finish.

so by your "he didn't think he was raping her" mentality if i don't think beating the fuck out of someone would kill them, and it did, should i be guilty of murder or battery?

[MiamiHeat]

damn i 'd hate to agree w/miami about anything, but....seriously i don't think kobe understood her saying "no" as a true no, until he didn't finish and was being questioned by the cops. even in his first statement to cops, he was already bringing up money and saying that he stopped after he realized that she meant "no" meant don't finish.

so by your "he didn't think he was raping her" mentality if i don't think beating the fuck out of someone would kill them, and it did, should i be guilty of murder or battery?

You should agree more with me. I'm right about 90% of the fucking time, asshat.

[jacobdrj]

Yep, golf has already been there...

[JamStone]

damn i 'd hate to agree w/miami about anything, but....seriously i don't think kobe understood her saying "no" as a true no, until he didn't finish and was being questioned by the cops. even in his first statement to cops, he was already bringing up money and saying that he stopped after he realized that she meant "no" meant don't finish.

so by your "he didn't think he was raping her" mentality if i don't think beating the fuck out of someone would kill them, and it did, should i be guilty of murder or battery?

You would be guilty of battery if you are intending to beat the fuck out of someone. But if your intent was only to beat the fuck out of that someone, it would not be murder unless you had the intent to murder or were acting with a willful neglect for life and they can prove that. If it's proven you only intended to beat the fuck out of that someone but did not intend to kill them, it's not murder. But, it would be very likely manslaughter. There are different types of "intent" attached to different crimes.

And, with your example, you are using two crimes (battery and murder), one lesser than the other. In Kobe's case, you have one crime (rape or sexual assault) and another that isn't crime (rough sex). The analogy is not congruent.

[Fpoonsie]

H7b5hJ0G_9c

Specifically, the 3:30 mark...

[gmartin02]

Tiger has more trouble. BBall players are expected to be aholes and sleep around. Golfers on the other hand have sponsors who depend on old rich white guys to buy their crap. Golfing requires a different standard of person than bball.

What surprises me is it's been happening for a while and then BAM! it hits him all at once. Almost like a coordinated attack by the media. A lot of old rich married white guys have mistresses

[ChrisRichards]

:toastMiamiHeat owning this thread with logic.

[024]

so this article claims to get away with rape, or to you kobe lovers, "cheating on your wife/adultery" you just have to win a lot in sports. wtf?

and yes, kobe admitted he believed the girl didn't feel the sex was consensual. that would make it rape. because that is the definition of rape. unconsensual sex. just one side needs to not give consent. i don't know how it can be any clearer.