It really makes you see how phoney this man is when he appeared on network television tonight to accept an award for Best Male Athlete. This show aired only a few hours after his court appearance on charges of sexually assaulting a teenager.
Although most of the voting for this award occurred before he was charged, it is hard to see how he can proudly appear on this show as a role model for teenagers. Obviously, this was no accident, but part of a well calculated strategy to beat the charges and more importantly (to Kobe that is) to maintain his commercial value as an endorser in advertising.
In any other line of work, the normal practice is to take a leave of your position and responsibilities, with or without pay, and maintain a low profile until charges are dealt with.
What I found particularly galling was that when he accepted his award, he actually said ''Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere.'' Obviously, he was trying to repeat a quote from Martin Luther King --''Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere''. However, Kobe is no social activist, only a basketball player. For a man that has cheated on his wife and is accused of sexual assault, to try to identify his prosecution with the social and legal injustices that Martin Luther King fought against is just plain wrong.
Although most of the voting for this award occurred before he was charged, it is hard to see how he can proudly appear on this show as a role model for teenagers. Obviously, this was no accident, but part of a well calculated strategy to beat the charges and more importantly (to Kobe that is) to maintain his commercial value as an endorser in advertising.
In any other line of work, the normal practice is to take a leave of your position and responsibilities, with or without pay, and maintain a low profile until charges are dealt with.
What I found particularly galling was that when he accepted his award, he actually said ''Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere.'' Obviously, he was trying to repeat a quote from Martin Luther King --''Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere''. However, Kobe is no social activist, only a basketball player. For a man that has cheated on his wife and is accused of sexual assault, to try to identify his prosecution with the social and legal injustices that Martin Luther King fought against is just plain wrong.
), but hey, he shouldn't have to hide. His fans voted for him, thus he should accept. I hope for him that he is not lieing to the world claiming his innocence because speeches like tonight will then haunt him the rest of his life.