Are You Rooting For Kobe Bryant To Be Found Guilty?

[THUNDER HANDS]

Poll question: Are You Rooting For Kobe Bryant To Be Found Guilty?

Put aside everything else and just admit, yes or no, whether you want Kobe to go to jail because you think it might give your team (assuming you're NOT a Lakers fan) a better shot at a championship.

Putting aside whether you think anyone should go to jail for sexual assault. In this case, do you hope that he does some time so your team can do better this season?

And be honest.

[Caution]

1. I'm hoping that my team wins regardless

I don't wish injury on an opposing team (except the yankees) but i really dislike the question here, it really trivializes the issue which is whether or not a woman was raped. If he did it he should go to prison period. Anyone hoping someone goes to jail just to help their team out is a freakin jerk.

[THUNDER HANDS]

4. why?

Kobe's defense team is gonna smear the girl. It's setting up to be a down and dirty fight.

Certainly, Kobe is no saint. I don't see anything wrong with stating publically what many people are probably thinking privately - namely, if Kobe goes to jail, there goes the Lakers best chance at winning another title.

And my team (whatever team that may be - for me its the Nets) has a better shot at winning.

This whole case is important to Kobe, the woman and the criminal justice system. For everyone else it's just another tv show. Might as well comment on it.

[VermontDem2004]

14. The Lakers have

Malone, Shaq, and Payton. They don't need Kobe, plus I heard rumors that MJ may come back if Kobe has to spend to much time away from the basketball court which would be great for MJ. He always played his best under Jackson and he knows Jackson's triangle offense like the back of his hand.

[THUNDER HANDS]

17. With Kobe

They'd be a near-lock.

Without him, they're still in the pack, probably behind Sacramento, Dallas and San Antonio.

I'd say right now, without Kobe, they're even on par with Minnesota.

[nini]

26. Michael Jordan needs to give it up..

puhlease.. I thought Magic was bad to keep coming back.

It's over MJ.. let it go.

[VermontDem2004]

32. It's not over

How many 40 year olds scored over 40 points, 1 that was MJ.

[nini]

43. do you think he can compete all season long like he did 10 years ago?

I'm not saying he wasn't the best in his day and - he's awesome.

But, c'mon over the course of a whole season, he's just not capable of what he used to do game after game.

[patdem]

2. I vote NO and I am a white woman...and I was raped at age 11..so there!!!

It is totally a 'he said she said' trial. Why was she in his hotel room alone with him? I swear all celiberities need to have film rolling when they have sex.... keep it for the time alloted for rape statute of limitation and destroy it....otherwise.

QUESTION, HAS ANY WHITE ATHELETE EVER BEEN ACUSED OF RAPEING A WOMAN?

On Edit: since I think this has as much to do with race as gender I pointed out that I am also a 'white' woman!

[THUNDER HANDS]

8. yes, it happens all the time

Mostly on the college level, though.

[VermontDem2004]

9. ANSWER

Mark Chmura White former Tight End for the Green Bay Packers.

[DrWeird]

11. Best I can figure is

she wanted the sex, just not up the ass.

How she expects to prove that in court is beyond me. Of course, she is a white woman excusing a black man of rape. So there's precedent of not needing proof to get a conviction.

[salin]

51. ouch

on multiple fronts. Starting with the first premise. No wondering why the incidence of rape reporting is so low.

[Uzybone]

45. QUESTION, HAS ANY WHITE ATHELETE EVER BEEN ACUSED OF RAPEING A WOMAN?

yes several have (Chmura comes to mind). But I see your point.

[niyad]

3. a woman's life is in turmoil, and you are wondering

about the outcome of sporting events? unbelievable

[THUNDER HANDS]

7. uh yeah

Because I'm being honest.

I don't sit up at night thinking about that poor girl. And when the case is over with we'll all forget her.

But basketball stays and is a part of my life, at least. And this impacts that.

It might not be the most eloquent way of saying it. But I'm trying to be as honest as I can.

[Booberdawg]

5. Unfuckingbelievable

:eyes:

[VermontDem2004]

6. I want the truth to be revealed and he to be charged based on that

I am not rooting for anything accept that Kobe gets what he deserves, if he didn't do anything he deserves to not be sentanced. Now who gives a flying fuck about Kobe Bryant?

[THUNDER HANDS]

10. basketball fans do, obviously

or else this wouldn't be a story.

[VermontDem2004]

12. I don't think so

He is a star athlete committed of a crime, If the media didn't talk about it they would still be getting the same ratings. No one is going to turn on CNN to see them talk about Kobe Bryant.

[DEM FAN]

13. Hell NO. I Am A BIG Lakers Fan And I Can't Stand What Is Going On.

This Lakers Season Is Going To Be Interesting.

[nini]

25. Me too!

kills me - this whole thing makes me sick.

:-(

[Mistress Quickly]

15. No, because

that would mean someone got raped.

[patdem]

16. I am NOT a sports fan..and could care less if Kobe is the best of the best

I only care that he can get a fair trial. He is a MAN, BLACK in a WHITE Community...this is presented in order of importance. Men have been accused of raping women since time immemorial as a way to punish them when beating women was okay...and blacks having sex with white women...well we all know about that part of American histerical history..and then there is the problem that he is being tried in a 99% white community.

This does not look good for Kobe...whose name I did not know till this trial.

[THUNDER HANDS]

19. um...you do realize

That he is a multi, multi-millionaire and can afford the best of the best in terms of legal representation.

Putting this case in any historial context doesn't work, unless you were to compare it to the OJ trial.

[patdem]

24. um...do you realize when whites are asked rich and black or poor and white

they choose poor every time? I understand he can purchase the greatest legal team in America and has a 'better' chance than most average blacks, but it all comes down to the jury...OJ had a jury of peers will Kobe?

[ixion]

18. uh, who cares?

haven't been following it, wish the media would shut up about it and using it as a ploy to distract from far more important stories.

[THUNDER HANDS]

20. fine

The problem is, a lot of people who watch the news LIKE these types of stories. That's why they're popular.

A lot of these people also like Soap Operas, so who can figure them out?

[maxanne]

21. I don't care how honest

you think you are, Magic Rat - this is a question that should not be asked. This shows no respect for the women of DU who have lived through sexual assaults. You are baldly stating that the game is more important than what happens to a woman. It sure would be a shame if some damn woman screwed up a game by getting raped.

For some of us, sexual assault is a reality - and the trivialzing of it is unneccessary and insensitive.

[MaineDem]

22. Thank you

Well said.

[THUNDER HANDS]

23. I am doing no such thing and you know it

This is a sideshow, a carnival. And it's only going to get worse.

I've known more women than I'd care to who've been sexually assaulted and I wouldn't wish living those lives for anyone else in the world.

You want to see someone trivializing the situation? Look at the mobs of Lakers fans who are standing outside the courthouse cheering on Bryant because he's a part of their team.

They've called the victim a lot worse than I could ever dream of.

[maxanne]

29. I don't need you

to tell me what I know and don't know.

You can ascribe all the lofty motivation you want to this thread, but you are trivializing, and minimizing the reality of sexual assault by making it less important than a game.

Your justification - "some of my best friends have been raped..." and "look at what the Lakers fans are doing" are pathetic. That's no excuse for what you are doing here and now, which is essentially telling us that rape is less important than basketball. I'm sure when this woman decided to press charges, she didn't consider how badly she'd be screwing up the baskeball season.

This is nauseating, and insulting to survivors of sexual assault, here at DU - and everywhere else.

[THUNDER HANDS]

39. oh give me a fucking break

I'm sorry, I usually don't use profanity, but you're really beating up on me and going overboard with this.

A. I never told you what you know and what you don't. How you came to that conclusion, I don't know.

You're the one putting words in MY mouth. I never said it was more important than a game. I never even implied it.

You did.

You, for some reason, think that I'm going "Oh poor Kobe, how dare this woman bring up charges and ruin my basketball season."

I'm doing no such thing...and you know that.

I took a poll of (I'd assume) basketball fans to see how they were "rooting" the case.

Obviously, there are Lakers fans who are rooting for him to be innocent. Not because they don't want a woman to have been raped (as if they would be able to know the truth even if Kobe is found not guilty) but because it affects their season.

So, I asked a parralel question, are you rooting FOR Kobe to go to jail so their team can do better.

This thread had nothing to do with the victim, nothing to do with the crime, and all to do with basketball, the psychology of basketball fans and the teams they follow.

[maxanne]

46. twice you have said

"I'm doing no such thing and you know it."

I don't need you to tell me what I know and don't know. Are you hearing me now?

I don't know what you think. I don't want to. I don't want insight into the kind of mind that would speculate about shit like this when it's interwoven with violence against women.

As I have said several times already (and you have repeatedly ignored) this shows a complete lack of sensitivity to the survivors of sexual assault on this board.

Starting a poll "rooting for the outcome" is disgusting. Maybe we could have some rape cheerleaders with torn outfits and bruises for the halftime show.

[THUNDER HANDS]

49. well

I guess you voted "No" not rooting then.

:)

[noonwitch]

27. I'll let the jury decide

I hate it when people are tried in the media.

[el_gato]

28. i don't care at all

what a waste of time

meanwhile back in the real world....

[bif]

30. In total poor taste.

What a horrible question.

[Maddy McCall]

31. I agree--makes light of violence against women

Disgusting question.

[patdem]

33. What poor taste? this is the DU Lounge...taste is never a question

here. It is truly a 'he said...she said' trial. SHE went to his bedroom with him alone....HE DID NOT DRAG HER THERE! I find these women that go to a HOTEL room with a man ALONE to be suspect...not the ATHELETE-CELIBRATY!!! With a billion dollars at stake...oh...she does not want money..but after this trial...see if she does a civil suit against him....she MAY have been raped, but by Kobe??? Not from what I have heard about this man...or maybe...just maybe....because Kobe is black and she is white he was COMPELLED to rape her...cause you know...there just are not enough white female groopies throwing themselves at Kobe...yeach reight!!

[bif]

35. Sure it's the DU Lounge

But I would have expected more sensitivity here. Sounds like a question from Freeperville.

[Maddy McCall]

47. I hope you don't have daughters...

because you have little understanding of issues re violence against women.

[FDRrocks]

34. No

He hasn't been found guilty, therefore, he is still innocent... at worst 'accused'.

[MaryBear]

36. Only if he is guilty.

[geniph]

37. Only if he actually IS guilty

and, until he has been found such in a court of law, I consider him to be innocent.

About the basketball, I literally could not care less, the sport doesn't interest me, but the presumption of guilt and trying people in the media bothers the hell out of me. I don't root for anyone to be found guilty...I root for the truth to be found and justice to be done. I realize often neither outcome is forthcoming, but until someone finds a foolproof lie detector, the jury system is the best hope we have for truth and justice.

[patdem]

38. Touche (with that squiggly thing over the e)..they have so far presented

only her side...and everyone says...look...he is guilty cause she said. I do not believe her. I think she was raped but by some non descript person and she wanted revenge so she went to Kobe's room to 'set him up'. I was raped at age 11 as a child!

My rapists went to jail, and when I was all growed up and working in a retail store they (my rapist and his family) came into the store where I worked (I recognized them, but hey this was business) purchased about $100.00 worth of merchandise then sent the baby son (about 11) back into the store to return EVERYTHING.

I NEVER went to a hotel room alone with these rapists....I was 11 years old....I was a baby myself. Trust me, if I was in a hotel room alone with a man it would be for one reason and one reason alone...to have sex...otherwise I would NEVER be in that hotel room alone with a man...I say GET OVER IT!!!

[maxanne]

40. so women who are alone with men

in hotel rooms deserve to be raped? Apparently your experience stunted your capacity for compassion.

[THUNDER HANDS]

41. wow

that's some conspiracy theory you're working there.

[MaineDem]

53. I'm sorry for what you've gone through

But I have to say that I've been in men's hotel rooms before and not once was rape the intended course of action. Sex was never the expected course of action. So I can't say that just going to a man's room means the woman wants any sort of sexual activity.

I've traveled a lot on business and a hotel room becomes an office, a living space, as well as a bedroom.

I have no idea why this woman went to his room. But on face value, beng there did not mean she agreed to have sex with him.

All that being said, I couldn't care less about this case. If he did what he's charged with and the jury finds him guilty he'll get the correct punishment. If he's found innocent it'll be over.

Again, I'm sorry for what you've experienced but I disagree with the thinking that a woman goes to a man's hotel room only to have sex.

[goobergunch]

42. I couldn't care less (n/t)

[GOPBasher]

44. I'm a Lakers fan, all I want is for the truth to come out.

I'm sorry, but it's pretty bad to think about basketball when there's something as serious as a rape charge. I'm a Lakers fan, so if I was one to put basketball over human beings, I'd root for him to be found innocent.

What am I rooting for? Well, of course, I don't know if he's guilty or innocent, so nothing right now. I just hope that IF he's guilty, he's found guilty, and IF he's innocent, he's found not guilty. This is a very tragic situation; I think basketball needs to be put on the backburner.

[Love Bug]

48. No--I am rooting for the truth to come out

whatever that may be.

[slackmaster]

50. I don't give a rat's rear end about professional sports

Whether or not justice gets done actually matters.

[salin]

52. ah... another way to make light of a very serious situation

rape and false accusations are serious business.

Ah - hell - lets admit we are crude crass folks who just care about our basketball team! :eyes:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

54. I believe that chick as far as I could throw her.

New evidence came out yesterday, I believe that said something about her having sex the day before, then she had sex with Kobe...then the day after she was supposedly raped, she fucked yet some other dude... Then she went the doctor the day after that...Yeah...that tells me that Kobe raped her...NOT...I think she's just a slut looking for money. I know you guys are going to be all over me for this, but from what I understand about her past is that she's been pretty slutty. I'm sorry, but if you were raped one day, you DO NOT go and have sex with someone the very same day. Most rape victims won't want another male in the room with them, let alone let a man touch them. It's ridiculous. And unless they show me some STRONG evidence other wise, besides just her "word," Then you're not going to convince me that it was rape. And on the subject of him telling her not to tell anyone...well, if you were famous and married and sleeping around, would you want the person you're sleeping with to tell ANYONE? Of course not...
Duckie