I also don't understand why the dismissal of Kobe's case indicates that he feels he is above the law. That may or may not be the case (it probably is true IMO), but still, how does that follow from his case getting dismissed?

If anything, it seems that the rules of the law were applied in this case, and they came up short. The prosecution didn't have a strong case to begin with, then the various leaks and mishandled documents came along, and finally the accuser didn't want to move forward anymore. Those developments are a function of the legal system and other things out of the defendant's control.

Although being worshipped as gods may be a very real issue with athletes, how are the events that led to the case dismissal related to Kobe's ego?

 

agreed. But usually policitians and CEOs are smart enough to realize what mistakes they could make which would cause them to loose everything. Young kids getting millions at 19 years old do not have this maturity or common sense. Not to mention that you become a CEO or politician based solely on brain power (and lots of luck). Brain power or common sense is not a pre-requisite to balling and this fact is reinforced routinely. Child actors... no comment!

 

It's not so much Kobe's ego that got him off. I'm sure Kobe is breathing a sigh of relief like no other and he may even be humbled in some way. What I feel is the problem is the other athletes that see this case and other athletes who have committed murder and walked (oj, Jayson Williams), and that same sense of humbling doesn't reach them. The only thing that they take from this case is the fact that he walked, they may even laugh about it, but their own egos grow stronger and they never get that much needed sense of humility that locking up a high profile star (that this could happen to me feeling) would provide.

 

no. the point is that adultery happens all the time and divorces result often as a result of it. it just seems somewhat absurd that just because your husband/wife is wealthy, a divorce as a result of adultery will grant you more, whereas if your husband/wife was poor, a divorce as a result of adultery will grant you significantly less. the bottom line is that adultery is adultery. who's to say that one's suffering and humiliation from adultery is worth more than the other?? sure, i know kobe's wife's case is exceptional in that her ordeal is publicized through the media, but nonetheless, there are other low profile divorces of wealthy couples in america where the divorce settlement is significantly high.

 

The bottom line is that, absent a pre-nup, the court divides the assets based on the state statutes. Some families have a lot more assets to divide, some have a lot less. Consequently, a poor man's wife will receive less in a divorce than will a rich man's wife. Very simple concept.

Why treat the wealthy any differently?

 

I'd have to disagree. Playing a sport takes much discipline, cooperation, and team work-assets which I believe are needed in the workforce. Many people (women included) of various incomes have committed adultery or have thought about this moral crime. This controversy wasn't caused by the lack of common sense. Some people are just really, really horny.

 

i know that. and it is the law itself that is absurd. sure, if the spouse had contributed to the financial affluence of the household either via physically working, or in some significant way supported and influenced the spouse to be as successful as he/she is, then fine--this person deserves half of the assets. but in the case of kobe, and many other wealthy and successful people out there, kobe would had been the great and successful basketball player that he is, more or less, with or without this particular woman by his side. sure, i'll be generous and say that this woman deserves $3 million and child support, but $70 million is just plain rediculous. this is why i don't buy into this whole marriage ordeal. it is more of legal status, than it is a symbol or representative of love, commitment, or religion. one can be committed to another person without having to be "legally" married. instead, i suggest a "symbollic" wedding where the couple undergoes the ceremony purely for announcing their commitment to one another, and nothing else.

 

You can't talk about team work when you talk about Kobe Bryant! Passing to Kobe is like passing to a black hole, the ball goes in, but it never comes out!

 

Discipline, cooperation, and team work have nothing to do with someone's inteligence. Those traits can be found for people laying rail road as well. Some atheletes don't need discipline with the all of the given talent that they have. The biggest gripe against the NBA is the lack of teamwork. Thankfully detroit won the Championship which maybe start to change the league for the better!

 

[QUOTE=suvh8r,Sep 3 2004, 04:57 AM] You can't talk about team work when you talk about Kobe Bryant!