Deadspin Classic: Kobe Doin' What?

In an alternate universe, Deadspin's archives would cover the whole scope of human history. Occasionally, we like to revisit those timeless moments that we would have written about, if only we could have. Today: Kobe Bryant's Colorado Adventure.

July 4, 2003
Kobe Bryant Arrested For Sexual Assault?

Reports have surfaced today that a woman in Colorado has accused Lakers guard Kobe Bryant of sexual assaulting her. He will fly back there today and turn himself into police. Now I'm not a lawyer, but ... that can't be good.

Supposedly, the woman filed a complaint with the sheriff's office in Eagle, Colorado, on July 1 and police interviewed Bryant about the incident that allegedly took place at resort hotel where he was staying. After further investigation, they decided to issue an arrest warrant and he voluntarily fly back from Los Angeles to answer it. Developing, as they say....

Kobe had surgery on his ailing knee in Vail this week, which explains why he was staying at the Lodge and Spa at Cordillera, but doesn't explain why he may or may not be attacking young women there.

Off Wing Opinion: Kobe Bryant Charged In Sexual Assault [Off Wing Option]
Kobe Bryant Is Arrested on a Charge of Felony Sexual Assault [The New York Times]

July 18, 2003
Charges Filed Against Kobe Bryant

It's official. Kobe Bryant has been formally charged with one count of felony sexual assault. Bryant released a statement re-affirming his innocence. I hope your ready for the biggest trial since O.J. Maybe we can Marcia Clark and Judge Ito and the whole gang back together again! (Ugh.)

July 24, 2003
The Trashing Of Kobe's Accuser Is In Full Force

Here we go. Fox News is reporting that the woman accusing Kobe Bryant of rape was hospitalized as a "danger to herself" and may have tried to commit suicide four months before the incident with Bryant took place. Nope, this isn't going to get ugly at all.

This news comes just a couple of days after reports that the woman may have overdosed on sleeping pills just a month ago. This is, of course, the reason they never release the names of rape victims, because the defense strategy often tries to paint the person as an unstable loon to undermine their credibility. They don't seem to be having as much trouble with it this time.

Speaking of credibility, are people actually serious when they say that Kobe Bryant now has street cred? It has been said before that growing up in the suburbs of Philadelphia (and Rome) didn't exactly make Bryant a hero to the urban youth, but I'm not sure that rape is the solution to that particular P.R. problem. Aren't there better ways for a privileged millionaire to join the thug life, like slapping your butler or crashing your Bentley into the side of a McDonalds?

Kobe's Accuser Hospitalized Last Winter as a 'Danger to Herself' [Fox News]
Kobe Bryant's Wholesome Image Takes a Hit [Fox News]

September 2, 2004
All Kobe Bryant Charges Dropped

In a surprising move from Eagle County prosecutors, the felony sexual assault charge against Kobe Bryant has been dropped after it was announced that the victim was no longer willing to testify. I guess we won't get that trial of the century after all.

There had quite a bit of shade cast on the prosecution's case over the last year and after having her identity outed and her honesty attacked, it seems the accuser is not up to a long and very public trial. Frankly, I'm not sure any of us were. Our heads were already starting to hurt and we never even got to the opening arguments.

So that's it? A year later, Kobe's home free and we'll never really know what happened in that hotel room. Ok, we can still guess. But will we ever get a decent "ripped from the headlines" Law & Order episode out of it?

Rape case against Bryant dismissed [NBC Sports]
Kobe Rebounds [Time Magazine]

May 7, 2008
Kobe Bryant Is (Finally) Your MVP

Hey, remember that thing in Colorado? That was something, wasn't it?

7/01/2003 - Bryant rape allegations surface [In Historic]
Kobe Bryant Case Archives
Previous: Deadspin Classic: The O.J. Chase

Send an email to Dashiell Bennett, the author of this post, at dashiell@deadspin.com.

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