I can tell you a little bit about who raised me. The people who raised me taught me that forcible rape was despicable.
Why is the thread praising Kobe in the Blazers forum, but the thread condemning Kobe hidden in the OT forum?
Because the things he did that were praiseworthy were basketball-related, and the things he did that were condemnation-worthy were not?
To my knowledge a rapist is someone who has been convicted of rape. Kobe has never been convicted of rape, therefore he is not a rapist.
In his written semi-apology, he acknowledged that she did not view their encounter as consensual. Conviction or not.
If I believe a house is mine, but it isn't, and I enter it, I'm still a trespasser. I seriously doubt that "I thought she wanted it" is considered a valid defense against a rape allegation. If he had sex with her against her will, he raped her. Plain and simple.
If he acknowledged, accepted, agreed that she didn't believe it to be consensual, how is whether or not she testified relevant? He confessed in writing.
Not posed to me, but I think the doctrine of "innocent until proven guilty" causes people to conflate "provable" with "true". I think OJ is "legally" innocent because he was acquitted, but the reality of whether or not he's a murderer is unaffected by the outcome of the trial.
Humans are complicated beings, there is good and bad in all of us. All of us have done things we are not proud of and all of us should be given the opportunity to learn and grow from them. I don't know the details of the Kobe "rape", all I know is that he was not convicted and he reached an agreement with the victim who they both felt was adequate. I dont give him the benefit of the doubt in this situation but I am not willing to lynch him for it either. Whatever happened I feel that Kobe repented and attempted to redeem himself afterwards and there was no other evidence of nefarious behavior before or after the event. I dont view him in the same category as Weinstein. R. Kelly, or Cosby and all indications are that in his later years he was becoming an advocate for women and sports. I also don't idolize him but I am sad that he died for the reasons of what his presence made an effect in my life. I also feel bad for the others who died but I knew nothing about them and I they were not part of my life so its hard for me to have a connection to them other than feel its a shitty situation that I hope i never find myself in. I find it odd that for some of you there is no gray area or middle ground, you think that either Kobe is an idol or a devil. He is neither, he is a man who played great basketball and showed an admiral spirit and tenacity in doing so. He died to young and did not deserve his end just like many others who die early do not deserve their fates. I feel that Kobe still had a lot of great things to give to this world and was in a unique position to do so, so its a tragedy that he was not given the opportunity to do just that. Weather or not he would use that opportunity is unknown and I suppose a point for argument.
Are the Kobe haters sure there is absolutely no one they like or support who has been accused of a crime? Just want to make sure we are being crystal clear. For instance, if you have any part of you who let’s say, is ok with Trump, are you forgetting about the massive amount of sexual assault accusations against him? I’d love a list of all athletes you support too. Should take me about five minutes to blow that up.
