<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">TARRYTOWN, N.Y. -- NBA Commissioner David Stern said that <font color="#00009b">Kobe Bryant</font>, despite awaiting a potential sexual assault trial in Colorado, should continue to play for the <font color="#00009b">Lakers</font> this season. "Absolutely," Stern, when asked if Bryant should play, told the Los Angeles Times for Tuesday's editions. "We don't have a Patriot Act in the NBA. That means that you're innocent until proven guilty. "If every time someone was accused and there were allegations, [if] they were required to stop their life, that wouldn't be a good thing. That could be their choice, but they shouldn't be forced to [stop]." "Will there be some media distraction? Yes. But I doubt very much whether there will be any basketball distraction." According to the newspaper, NBA players (per league guidelines) face more media exposure than most other athletes. The Lakers still have not announced any special guidelines for the media's dealing with Bryant. Stern told the Times that the league would not impose restrictions on access to Bryant, but would instead rely on expectations of common sense and respect for privacy on legal matters. </div> <font color="#ffffff">http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1621690</font>
y is it "about time" the league doesnt hav to comment on this...it doesnt woo the judges in kobes favor ne...all he simply said was kobe should play
it was up to kobe to begin with, so this won't sway kobe's decision on whether or not he will play(until they find him innocent or guilty)
I love these comments by Stern. It really shows the commitment that the league has for standing beside Kobe through these tough times.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dexter:</div><div class="quote_post">I love these comments by Stern. It really shows the commitment that the league has for standing beside Kobe through these tough times.</div> No it does not. It shows that Stern doesn't want one of his marquee guys out of the game. Especially with the expectations that have been sen for the Lakers this season.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Riot_Starter:</div><div class="quote_post">No it does not. It shows that Stern doesn't want one of his marquee guys out of the game. Especially with the expectations that have been sen for the Lakers this season.</div> Expectations? The lakers are expected to win the NBA title every year, no matter what it seems. I am right in saying that they are standing beside him because he is their star player and ratings and money would go down if he couldnt play. I hope David Stern was speaking as a friend and a Kobe supporter rather then someone who made those comments just because he wants to show support for his money making machine. Considering this is David Stern, riot starter you probably are right.
