On Wednesday, NBA star Kobe Bryant will make a brief appearance in an Eagle County, Colo., courtroom. He will be advised of his rights, the charge against him and the possible penalties should he be found guilty of one count of sexual assault.
The same day, viewers of FOX’s Teen Choice Awards (airing at 8 p.m. EDT) will get a different view of the NBA all-star, who made a surprise appearance at the show, where he was up for Choice Male Athlete.
Bryant’s name was nowhere to be found in any of the tip sheets given to the media beforehand, nor was his arrival mentioned in press releases leading up to the event. A half-hour before the Saturday night taping began, Bryant appeared with wife Vanessa, hand-in-hand.
The couple sped by the front line of reporters, ignoring crews from “Access Hollywood,” “Entertainment Tonight” and “E!”, moving swiftly along the welcoming blue carpet. Bryant maintained a look of steely resolve, only smiling briefly, as he waved at the crowd, tossing out peace signs before moving into the Universal Amphitheatre.
Bryant is charged with sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman at a Colorado resort hotel on June 30. He admits to having sex with the woman, but denies the accusations of assault. He is free on $25,000 bond.
In the press tent during and after the awards, it was difficult to get any of the assembled celebrities to comment on Bryant’s situation. Even not-so-Lil Romeo, rapper, actor and son of NBA pre-season bench warmer Master P, was sly in his silence. After admitting that he came to the awards straight from basketball camp, Romeo was asked directly about Kobe.
“It’s a Michael Jordan basketball camp,” he said. “We’re not really talking about Kobe.”
—
(c) 2003, Zap2it.
Visit Zap2it at http://www.zap2it.com
Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services
AP-NY-08-05-03 0608EDT
Send questions/comments to the editors.
