Kobe Bryant Admits He Wasn’t Comfortable with Miami Heat’s Trayvon Protest

[RockaFowler]

I could care less what Kobe thinks. What a complete maroon

I won’t react to something just because I’m supposed to, because I’m an African-American,” he said. “That argument doesn’t make any sense to me. So we want to advance as a society and a culture, but, say, if something happens to an African-American we immediately come to his defense? Yet you want to talk about how far we’ve progressed as a society? Well, we’ve progressed as a society, then don’t jump to somebody’s defense just because they’re African-American. You sit and you listen to the facts just like you would in any other situation, right? So I won’t assert myself.”

http://www.mediaite.com/online/kobe-bryant-admits-he-wasnt-comfortable-with-miami-heats-trayvon-protest/

I guess he didn't realize there were white people on the Miami Heat who were on the side of Trayvon Martin - oh and justice. So now that the facts are out there Kobe are you still on George Z's side?? He's a pig

[Hip_Flask]

1. Wow... surprising that he even came out to say that...

[bigwillq]

33. Hello

Welcome to DU!

[LittleBlue]

2. Kobe's spot on

I've followed his career since Lower Merion High School. It doesn't surprise me that he takes a nuanced view to any issue. He's always been sharp.

[RockaFowler]

5. But why come out with this now

And why so cold to Trayvon Martin??
He's a prick - always has been

[LittleBlue]

9. Better to come out now

when the issue has died down than during the heated shitstorm.

All he said was that the truth isn't racial, it's based on facts and reason. And that part of progress is ditching racial tribalism. What about that makes him a prick? I think it makes him intelligent.

[Blue_Tires]

35. Bull-fuckin'-shit...

Saying the only reason Martin got any support was because of some sense of racial loyalty and protecting our own is ignorant at best and intellectually dishonest at worst...

It's not "nuanced" to totally distort and misrepresent the reality of an issue...

[1000words]

3. You cared enough to put together an OP

[RockaFowler]

7. To show what an idiot Kobe is

Oy Vey!

[1000words]

8. Not seeing it ...

But don't let me ruin your outrage.

[JI7]

4. the reason people protest is BECAUSE of the facts of the case

and if trayvon was white there would be no issue and it would have been an easy conviction. may not even have gone to trial.

[RockaFowler]

6. Exactly my thoughts on this

[Boom Sound 416]

23. The facts were distorted prior to the trial

[Blue_Tires]

37. +1

Bryant is completely oblivious to the controversies and outrage surrounding the whole case...It was bad enough when I had to give daily refresher courses on DU about "Racial Profiling 101 and The Historical Treatment of Minorities by The Legal System in Southern States", but Kobe of all people should know better (I'm assuming that his comments weren't taken WAY out of context)...

But then again, nobody should be surprised that Kobe Bryant can't comprehend the concept of people who once in awhile think about something other than themselves...

[NOVA_Dem]

10. This is what Jim Brown was probably referring to...

[EC]

11. So he didn't even bother to find

out that it was a kid doing nothing but going home? Here I thought Kobie Bryant had some brains. Oh, wait, isn't he the one that cheated on his wife and thought he wouldn't be found out although he's famous and all? Maybe he isn't so smart. But no one was asking him to back Tryvon just because he was black.

[CBGLuthier]

26. He was accused of rape and had to admit to the sex.

I think he bought his freedom but no proof. he is not much as role models go no matter what so fuck him and his lame-ass opinions.

[CatWoman]

12. maybe the AA community will take that under advisement

the next time you anally rape someone, Kolbe......

[Vattel]

14. Spoken like a true lynch mobber!

[LanternWaste]

24. And responded to like a truly melodramatic c-grade stage actor.

And responded to like a truly melodramatic c-grade stage actor.

(six of one, half a dozen of the other-- insert distinction without a difference for self-validation here)

[Vattel]

28. ?

[CatWoman]

31. out of my way!!!!

[Vattel]

39. lol, nice

[gollygee]

15. Violent man defends another violent man

[linuxman]

17. LOL

Oh no! Black people not acting the way I'd like them too!

This is an outrage!

[LanternWaste]

25. I suppose placing fictional outrage onto other people is the best argument...

"This is an outrage!"

I suppose placing fictional outrage onto other people is the best argument the sub-literate and half-educated sports fan have left...

[linuxman]

30. Nice

Criticize me for illustrating the mood of the thread, then hit me with personal insult. Grow up.

[MO_Moderate]

19. Not hard to tell who is wrong here

The Heat protest was before the facts were known, making it an uninformed emotional reaction.

Kobes interview was after the facts were known, making it an informed intelligent response.

[Blue_Tires]

36. The facts were known before the heat protest

Unarmed black teenager minding his own business (and NOT breaking any laws) gets profiled as a criminal, followed, and ends up dead...

What the fuck else was there to know?

[Deuce]

38. My thoughts also, some will just never get it...

[MO_Moderate]

42. What else was there to know?

The events that you conveniently left out of your very brief sequence of events. You know, those pesky little facts that experts and witnesses testified under oath about. That a jury used to come to its verdict.

Doesn't mean Kobe doesn't think Zimmerman isn't guilty, just that he probably believes guilt should be proven beyond any reasonable doubt.

[Throd]

20. I don't see anything wrong with what he said.

Where is he defending George Zimmerman?

[Demo_Chris]

21. I would hope that everyone thinks for themselves. ng

[DiverDave]

22. How do you turn a progressive into

a conservative?
Why, just make them rich.

Disgusting comment from someone who should know better.

[Vattel]

29. Kobe rocks!

[CatWoman]

32. my uncle says he looks like Woody WoodPecker

he does, pretty much.

Maybe I'll be interested if he said it in a Woody WoodPecker voice....

[Vattel]

40. As a Kobebot, I can only say that he looks dreamy to me.

[joeybee12]

34. No, you don't just because of your color, you come to the defense when there's injustice

like decent people do, which Kobe is not.

The "facts" of this case are this: Zimmerman stalked Trayvon because Trayvon was black
Zimmerman killed Trayvon because Trayvon was black
The police did nothing because Trayvon was black

Maybe Kobe can get that into his tiny little mind.

[JoeyT]

41. Alternate headline:

"Admitted rapist not comfortable with people taking victim's side in crimes"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobe_Bryant_sexual_assault_case#Settlement

[NobodyHere]

43. When did he admit rape?

nt

[JoeyT]

44. That's what the link was for.

It went to the statement he issued:

First, I want to apologize directly to the young woman involved in this incident. I want to apologize to her for my behavior that night and for the consequences she has suffered in the past year. Although this year has been incredibly difficult for me personally, I can only imagine the pain she has had to endure. I also want to apologize to her parents and family members, and to my family and friends and supporters, and to the citizens of Eagle, Colo.

I also want to make it clear that I do not question the motives of this young woman. No money has been paid to this woman. She has agreed that this statement will not be used against me in the civil case. 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.

I issue this statement today fully aware that while one part of this case ends today, another remains. I understand that the civil case against me will go forward. That part of this case will be decided by and between the parties directly involved in the incident and will no longer be a financial or emotional drain on the citizens of the state of Colorado.

When one party doesn't consenting to sex, it doesn't particularly matter how much the other party was enjoying themselves, it's rape.

[NobodyHere]

45. "Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual"

It doesn't sound like he was admitting to rape.