Here's my two cents, (I'm a huge Laker fan)
Before Kobe admitted anything, I believed he did have sex with her, he's human. His image is damaged, but we should never hold famous people above us. And, adultery is not rare, more common then most people would like to believe. (Jordan and Magic both committed it.) Remember, he's an athlete, he puts a ball in a hoop, and gets paid a lot for entertaining us. That's all, nothing more then what we are, he isn't better then us just because he speaks two languages or likes reading poetry. I believe if a celebrity is even semi-smart, the public puts them on this pedestal and blows it out of proportion.
Okay, now on the adultery issue, that's for him and his family to deal with it. On a side note, I have heard rumors that Kobe's wife has had some boyfriends during their marraige too. Its just a rumor, but it was from a decent source. Again take it as serious as you want, it might just be bogus, but if the news breaks with this story, you know where you heard it first. And also, Kobe's father had been against this marriage because he said the two were still too young. They had a slight falling out over this event.
On the rape issue, it will be down to a "he said, she said" ordeal. Their will be two stories. You decide which one is true. The facts that we know are that they had been flirting. She came to his room. They had sexual intercourse. She went the next morning to the authoritives to report the rape.
On another side note, after seeing the evidence and circumstances in the Mike Tyson rape case, I believe that Tyson was innocent. He even refused to settle, and he served his time. His sentence would of been reduced if he bargained, but he was so adamant about his innocense, he did not want her to take money for something he didn't do. I'm not a Tyson fan at all, but if you look at that case, you might have the same conclusion as I. It came down to a "he said, she said thing", and the jury believed her. Remember, she came to his room at 2 o'clock at night after he called her. I hope she wasn't expecting to play scrabble.
With this Kobe case, I'll follow it, but its not going to comsume me, because life goes on. NBA starts with Kobe or without him (but my Lakers would be better off with him). I hope justice is served and the truth found. I hope the girl gets fair treatment in this case, because Kobe is big time and that can hamper the fairness of the trial.
I have heard people complain about the DA and the officers that arrested Kobe, and that Kobe was treated unfairly, thats just b@llsh*t. A 19 year old female reported a rape. The accused is one of the biggest b-ball plaers out there. The DA must take his time with a accusation of this magnitude and this much public interest. He must review the evidence and be sure he can win the case. Kobe was never bothered by the way he was treated. He will now have to convince a jury of his innocence. If he can't, his how life will be turned upside down.
And I think this case might just be settled outside of court. That just might be the best for both parties, but it would be a shame if a crime was actually committed.
choner