Say Anything Blog

Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.
- Sir Walter Scott

From the New York Daily News:

Kobe Bryant's defense team believes it has proof that the woman who accused him of rape had sex with at least one other man shortly before the alleged attack, the Daily News learned yesterday.
The revelation came a day after Bryant's lead defense lawyer, Pamela Mackey, caused an uproar at a court hearing by asking whether the woman's vaginal tearing was the result of "sex with three different men in three days."

Retired Eagle County District Court Judge William Jones said Mackey asked the question because she has physical evidence suggesting the tearing could have happened during an earlier sexual encounter.

"There was more than one man's semen found in her panties," Jones said. "That's what's behind all of this."

Kobe's lawyers have officially begun their smear campaign against the nineteen-year-old victim in his rape case. They have established the theme of their defense which is to paint the victim as a star-struck, promiscuous girl who is trying to use her illicit tryst with an NBA star to her advantage. From allegations and evidence revealed in recent court hearings it looks like they have a fairly decent chance of succeeding.

As shocking as the questions posed by Kobe's attorney's are they are questions that need to be answered. Rape is a serious accusation and it is necessary to present the judge and jury with all of the circumstances. It is too easy for a woman to cry "rape" when having second thoughts after a sexual encounter. Especially if the woman stands to gain some money. Is that what has happened in this case? I don't think it should be ruled out.

If this young woman has in fact been with one or more other men shortly before Kobe how can one say, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Kobe caused the vaginal tearing and other injuries on the woman's body? Unless the prosecution has evidence on the line of a "smoking gun" I don't think they can prove anything beyond a reasonable doubt, which is required in order for Kobe to be convicted.

What is hard to understand is why professional athletes and celebrities so often end up cheating on their wives or putting themselves in sticky situations like these. The excuse commonly given by the media and the celebrities is that the temptation is just too strong. The question to ask, however, is why they got married in the first place? Especially in Kobe's instance.

Kobe Bryant is in his early twenties and his wife is even younger. Kobe is a very handsome, very rich young man living and playing in the media capital of the whole damn world. Why the rush to marriage? Why not give yourself time to experience relationships with a variety of women before committing yourself to one. I'm not advocating womanizing here, but maybe something more like shopping around.

A good example of someone who seems to be on the right track is Derek Jeter. His carousing is well known (even the subject of a Visa commercial) and he always seems to have a different, attractive woman on his arm. Nobody looks down their nose at this. Derek is enjoying his life while he's a young man. One day, when he's a little older, wiser and ready for it, he'll probably meet the woman he can commit to.

This is a lesson all men can take to heart, and it can be summed up by one phrase: "fools rush in." Women are constantly bombarded by movies, songs and advertising telling them they should be finding themselves a husband and making babies. This often leads women to put undo pressure on a male to get married, often perhaps prematurely. Men and women need to realize that marriage is forever. Once you are married you can never, with a good conscience, have a relationship with a member of the opposite sex that is anything more than a friendship.

Make sure you pick the right one.