Stern thinks Bryant should play.

Source : LA Times.

Stern: Bryant Should Play

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. — NBA Commissioner David Stern said Monday that Kobe Bryant should continue to play for the Lakers this season, even as Bryant faces a potential trial for a sexual assault charge in Colorado.

"Absolutely," Stern said. "We don't have a Patriot Act in the NBA. That means that you're innocent until proven guilty. If every time someone was accused and there were allegations, they were required to stop their life, that wouldn't be a good thing. That could be their choice, but they shouldn't be forced to [stop]."

Bryant is accused of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman from Eagle, Colo. Bryant says the sex was consensual. Bryant has a preliminary hearing scheduled Oct. 9, at which a judge will determine whether there will be a trial.

Stern said the Bryant case, one of the most-discussed news stories of the summer, "certainly hasn't escaped our notice, is what I would say."

Stern said that for the NBA, "Our preparations are purely [administrative], having to do with security and public relations, communications access. Everything else is business as usual.

"Will there be some media distraction? Yes. But I doubt very much whether there will be any basketball distraction."

One thing that makes the Bryant case unusual, even by celebrity-trial standards, is that few public figures face as much regular exposure to reporters as NBA players. They are expected to be available to the media after practices and games, and for a 45-minute period before games. Although Bryant rarely conducted pregame interviews in recent years, he could be counted on to answer questions afterward, win or lose, and at practice.

The Lakers still have not announced media guidelines for interviewing Bryant, who is expected to be with the rest of the Laker veterans when they begin training camp Oct. 2 in Hawaii. At least 30 reporters — about six times the normal number — are expected to be there.

Stern said the league would not impose restrictions on access to Bryant, but would instead rely on expectations of common sense and respect for privacy on legal matters.

"I think there's a difference between media access, which will remain complete, and what any particular player chooses to respond to," Stern said. "I can't imagine that it would be constructive or fair or even, in some ways, court-approved, if there were to be dialogue and questioning about the case. My guess is — and it's only a guess from a distance — is that it should be off-limits."

Stern himself has had little to say on the matter since Eagle County Dist. Atty. Mark Hurlbert announced in July that he was filing the charge. Stern spoke to reporters Monday after addressing new NBA players at the league's annual Rookie Transition Program.

At the six-day mandatory program, incoming players are instructed in everything from league rules to the perils of wealth and fame. There also are sessions about sex crimes and gender violence.

"Those types of situations have [always] been a point of extraordinary focus," Stern said. "It may be that our summer's events will cause our youngsters to listen a little more intently. But we have a very long-running employee-assistance program.

"The important thing is to provide our young players access to the best that we can do with respect to their basketball heritage, their personal responsibility, their opportunity to get help and to access enormous amounts of educational, social- and professional-skills help.

"Each year, I've seen our players, as young as they may be, become more sophisticated in their understanding of our league, the business issues and the life-skills issues, the importance of community issues and the like

"I think, in light of the summer's activities, we're seeing a modest increase in receptivity, because it's always been very high. But I think you can hear more pins dropping."

Noteworthy:

'We don't have a patriot act in the NBA. That means that you're innocent until proven guilty.'

I agree, he's not been proven guilty yet, if he is, jail his ass...but until he hasnt been found guilty, let the boy play ball!

I also think that he should play. imagine that if player has missed a season due to injury basketball card makers wrote on the card
2002-03 --------injured did not play-----
and now if Bryant won't play should they write
2003-04 --------Raped a girl did not play------

He will Play that's my prediction!

of course he will cause hes a fuckin star, and he also wont b found guilty...

No, he shouldnt be allowed to play, Rape is a serious charge.
33% [ 1 ]

I know who voted for this! look @ Kobe hater...ya know who i mean!

Stern is right. Why wouldnt he play? Innocent untill proven guilty.

of course he will cause hes a fuckin star, and he also wont b found guilty...

A little more faith in the Law man, just a teenie weenie more faith .

i think he should play.

should be Guilty untill proven Innocent...
as it is everywhere (outside the wonderfull world of NBA that is)

c'mon people. you can't repesent your country and team if you accused of RAPE (who knows... it might be true, but probebly not)

i don't think he should be out of the season.. just til he's "proven Innocent"

two thumbs and a pinky up on the guilty until proven innocent part.

but he should be allowed to play, i dont know why, but i think he should be.

should be Guilty untill proven Innocent...
as it is everywhere (outside the wonderfull world of NBA that is)

c'mon people. you can't repesent your country and team if you accused of RAPE (who knows... it might be true, but probebly not)

i don't think he should be out of the season.. just til he's "proven Innocent"

The law in the United States is, in a nutshell, innocent until proven guilty so there's no reason why Kobe shouldn't be allowed to play if he wishes to do so.

He should be allowed to play. But if he's found guilty (that's if, NOT when ), he shouldn't be allowed to just pay a fine and continue his career - in the event that he's guilty, his career should be interrupted, same as any average Joe who's found guilty of rape.

Of course he will play... The NBA wouldn't profit a lot if he didn't...

No, he shouldnt be allowed to play, Rape is a serious charge.
33% [ 1 ]

I know who voted for this! look @ Kobe hater...ya know who i mean!

whoo, yeah, give it 2 me

No, he shouldnt be allowed to play, Rape is a serious charge.
33% [ 1 ]

I know who voted for this! look @ Kobe hater...ya know who i mean!

whoo, yeah, give it 2 me

I didn't mean you...Im also AI's fan like you i don't wanna say the name cause then this thread will be a flame war

Kobe must be able to play, and hopefully he perform as usual
without some harrasments of other players and press.

even if he plays, early on it may be a difficult start for the lakers team.

Unlike O'Neal, who has vowed to show up for camp this year in decent shape, Bryant might need some time. He hasn't picked up a basketball, according to Jackson, while recovering from offseason shoulder and knee surgery. Nonetheless, Jackson expects Bryant -- who has a court appearance scheduled for Oct. 9 -- to throw himself into his work once he puts on the uniform.

taken from http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/writers/marty_burns/09/18/jackson.birthday/index.html

as the article suggests, jackson and LAL have their work cut out for them

Yeah, I read that Bryant didnt workout this offseason, if he is allowed to play, I think he'll be rusty in the beginning of the season, he'll have to work hard if he wants to get back to the way he was playing last season (sounds so far away!), I hope Shaq, Mailman and GP can carry the team till then. If George gets the starting spot at SF, he'll have to prove he can score.

Didnt want to make a new topic for this one, I'll just post it in here:
Shaw Will Retire...but will return if Kobe cant play.