Hi all. Quick note before we start today. If you’re going to be at the USA Basketball/UConn game tonight, try to get there a little early. I’ll be hanging out outside section 106 from about 6:30-6:45. Nothing formal, just would be fun to see a few friendly faces. Please swing by and say hi if you have a chance!
I can’t think of anything other than the death of Kobe and Gigi Bryant and the seven other victims of Sunday’s tragic helicopter crash in Los Angeles, and it didn’t seem right to write about anything else today.
But my head and heart are still spinning, so instead of trying to write something to sum up my feelings, I thought I’d create a space where we can talk together, and hold up many complicated feelings at once.
I have been very open — including in this newsletter, just last week — how I feel about Kobe’s legacy. I revisited his rape case in 2016 for an article that many have been passing around the past 24 hours. Because of that, my DMs have been flooded with grieving survivors of all genders and races and ages the past 20 hours, who feel forgotten and confused and devastated and angry, all at once. That is real.
Its also real, though, how much he meant to the women’s basketball community, a community I have been immersed in as a journalist for a few years now. His support of women’s basketball — and women’s soccer and women’s tennis, and I’m sure other women’s sports — meant so, so much to the athletes and the coaches. His passion for women’s sports was genuine; he followed them closely and gave them a level of support that they rarely receive from icons in men’s sports. He was especially generous with his time and talents to young, black female athletes. That matters.
(Credit: Getty Images)
His love and pride for his daughters, especially Gigi, who was always by his side at basketball games, was heartwarming and inspiring. It’s unimaginable that she is gone, too, and that she doesn’t get to follow her dreams of playing for UConn and becoming a WNBA star and carrying on her father’s legacy.
Twitter isn’t a great place for nuanced conversations. I want to open up this thread for Power Plays readers to come and share whatever it is they are feeling. Maybe you want to talk about your favorite on-court memory of Kobe, or what his support of women’s basketball meant to you. Maybe you want to talk about how this has made you re-think your relationship with your father, or you’re a survivor who has been triggered by the hero-worship, by media referring to a sexual assault as “that Colorado thing.”
It’s all welcome here. What is not welcome, however, is policing each other’s feelings. Grief is complicated. Legacies are complicated. Larger-than-life figures like Kobe mean different things to different people, to different communities. And it’s understandable to be shaken when someone who seemed invincible, who was so present and active in our collective culture, dies so unexpectedly and so tragically, with his 13-year-old daughter and other families by his side.
I’m going to be here for most of the day, in and out. I’ll be moderating comments if they get nasty towards one another. But I hopefully we can support each other on this awful day.
This is what I wrote for work yesterday (a big part of my job is a weekly preview article) regarding Lakers-Clippers tomorrow:
"This rivalry match will take on extra meaning following the tragic death of Kobe Bryant on Sunday. Bryant was not only a career Laker, but a player whose talent, dominance and attitude affected the whole league. As the Lakers take the court tonight, they will all be carrying the memory of Kobe in their hearts. The game was already a vital one. The Lakers need a win to extend their lead at the top of the conference. Meanwhile, the third-place Clippers can continue to close the gap with a victory. But for 48 minutes tonight, the implications of the result won’t be anyone's primary focus. The place where Kobe became a legend will honour him with the thing he dedicated his life to - basketball."
But this what I didn't get to say:
I respect Kobe's talent. He was an undeniable generational talent who left his mark on the league in more ways that we could ever list. But just watching everything go down, from the war against SA survivors to the writer invoking 9/11, it scares me how quickly we get forget that Kobe was human. Cards on the table- I didn't "like" Kobe. I can look past the ego and all the stuff that makes juicy fodder for video essays about the Lakers dynasty etc. That's just such a part of sports that if I disliked every athlete who was a bit of an ass, there'd be very few athletes for me to like. But as someone who has survived multiple SAs, I can never look past the sexual assault trial and how he, the fans, and the media really just showed that being a big name athlete 100% gets you a pass on doing that sort of thing. And then how, no matter how genuine his interest was, I can't help but feel a chill in my heart as the media turned his support of women's sport into a redemption arc.
I know Kobe means a lot of different things to a lot of different people; I would never want to take away someone's good memories of him. But when people hold him up as this unblemished Superman, I can't help but remind myself that superheroes aren't real. Everyone has flaws and those flaws need to be discussed in a retrospective of someone's life. When we blind ourselves to flaws completely, all we do is revise history and silence the victims.
This is so well said -- the hero worship he got when he was alive is part of what made it easy when he was alive to victim shame his survivor and let him move on from that so quickly, so it's hard to see in his death, too. I think what you said, that "superheroes aren't real" is so important to remember. Thank you for this, Litty.
Thank you for giving us this space to freely share our thoughts, Lindsay. And thank you for the kind words, it means a lot coming from someone whose work I look up to.
At the moment, I'm more focused on the fact that we lost Gigi. Future UConn star, future WNBA star, and likely a big part of Women's Basketball's growing acceptance. All that was snuffed out yesterday and I'm still not able to come to grips with it.
There's something about the fact that Gigi was lost with Kobe that makes this particular tragedy somehow...more tragic. Maybe it's the fact that I remember being 13 and traveling to games, and can imagine the excitement and anticipation and promise I felt for those games and my future, and it's all just so palpable that for it to be erased so summarily, without hope for a second-wind story in which "she never gave up," the kind of story we so often get after these tragedies when the parent dies but the child survives -- the fact that we just don't have...anything...is somehow unfathomable. And then once I'm done trying to warp my head around that loss, my next thoughts are about Vanessa and the other three Bryant children - including their newborn - and I am just crushed inside. How could one possibly go on from this? I'm sure we will, thanks to Twitter and the media and etc., be clued in for years to come on how their family "continues to cope." But the reality will, I'm sure, be far from whatever we will be privvy to, and the utter devastation in this moment, in these days now, is, again, unfathomable. And I feel so, so deeply sad about that.
I know. I can't fathom it. And then there are 2 other families from the crash that lost multiple people, I think -- one in which both parents and a child died. It's a worst nightmare, truly.
As always, thank you for the space that you created. I have to admit that, as a survivor and friend to many more, my first reaction was a simple and all-too basic, "oh no, now we- and his victim- are going to be bombarded with adoring hagiography." And then we found out about Gigi. And then I made myself read some of the more nuanced responses. And I will still admit to feeling triggered and complicated, and ashamed of those feelings, but also devastated for a young girl and the mother and sisters who will have to live with this whole in their lives.
Everything just sucks. There's another world where Gigi went to UConn and then had a long, successful career with the LA Sparks and it's really sad that it's not this one. I wish that his rape had been grappled with/atoned for better. I still got really sad this morning when I drove by the Basketball Hall of Fame on my way to work and the sign just said Kobe in purple and gold.
Heartbreaking to lose Gigi, who always looked like she was full of energy and life and promise and also basketball talent.
And maybe the worst day of Twitter ever. The hagiography, the backlash, all of it.
I never liked Kobe. But many people did and I don't know how to feel about the way he cultivated his post-NBA career but I do know that for a lot of people, he meant a lot. I'm sorry for their loss and hope they can find peace.
It's always tragic when a young family loses their dad and husband, especially in this terrible way and especially in the public eye. His wife and girls have a long road ahead of them and I hope they have the support of both sets of grandparents, as well as other nearby family and friends. The part of this I'm struggling with is how we continue to equate athletic ability and charm with being a good person, while disregarding athletes' acts of violence against women. He's certainly one of the best basketball players of his generation, but he would not have had that career if he would have been punished for the rape he admitted to committing. He knew he could settle with his victim and have an NDA because nobody really would care about it going forward. He was probably a good dad, but he should not be lifted up as an icon in the community and great supporter of women. It was great that he supported women's sports as publicly as he did, but he should have been made to answer for his crime/let his victim out of the NDA so we can get more information. I have been uncomfortable seeing some of the best women's players idolize him when his athletic ability is not the total picture. So, that's where I am on this right now. i look forward to reading other thoughtful posts on this topic. Lindsay: thanks for opening up this thread so we can share.
I agree completely on what should have happened, and I think that what's so tough is that since that never happens, now what do we do with it? I don't have the answer, obviously, but thanks for helping me talk through it. Sending love.
It would be a hard conversation to have and who would have it with him? Nobody would want to be that reporter. The attacks on her would be swift and merciless. I guess the theory was maybe his visibility will bring more people to women's sports and, eventually, he wont obviously be the only guy supporter with a spotlight? Thank YOU for helping us talk through it in a safe environment.
Gigi Bryant has been on my mind all day... those people on the helicopter were just three little girls going to a basketball game and their families. My heart breaks for them. It’s just incomprehensible that she’s gone and won’t get to fulfill her dreams of playing for UConn and WNBA... just all so sad.
It's been difficult for me to grapple with how I feel about this. I was just researching the SA case Saturday night, and it obviously doesn't sit well with me. I had respect for Kobe the player, but more respect for Kobe the father. I think the combination of Kobe and Gigi could have been a transcendent force for the women's game and I'm still working on the idea that it will never happen now. My heart breaks for Vanessa, Natalia, Bianca and Capri.
I was stunned when I heard about Kobe, but I just completely broke down when I learned about Gigi. She was with her teammates, all headed to their basketball game. A lot of us can imagine what their conversation was like on their way to the game and what they felt, because we've all been that kid or parent. She loved WNBA, NCAAW, and NBA across the board. What a beautiful thing. It's fun to imagine what this beautiful young child could have gone on to do, being her father's daughter. But more than anything she might have accomplished, I'll mourn the loss of the joy, innocence, and hope of a 13 year old girl with a clear-eyed passion and her whole life ahead of her. Rest in peace Gigi.
I am a little surprised at how most tributes and obituaries don't even the mention the rape case or it's almost an afterthought. I feel there is a dichotomy in my feelings too - should we honour his life and everything he achieved or should we use this as an occasion to address the media's role in his redemption arc, and eventually rape culture? Lots of thoughts.
I think it would be good to use this for redemption. I didn’t know the truth about his rape crime until this week... that story just wasn’t spread mainstream. If there’s a good to come this tragedy I think it should be that his victim is heard.
I’ve been struggling to figure out why these deaths are so physically upsetting to me. I won’t go into Kobe’s history because so many other people have expressed the complexity of the situation better than I can. But I do want to talk about their relationship. I can rationally acknowledge that people die unfairly all the time. But emotionally, it’s just brutal. When I saw Kobe had been confirmed dead, I was shocked, like head spinning shocked for so many reasons. When I saw Gigi had been on the plane, I just lost it. I can’t shake the images of the two of them together. I don’t think there’s any doubt that the two of them were so in love and I think that’s what gets me. I can so relate to the bond they shared through their love of basketball. As a kid who grew up playing AAU, my dad and I had the same and I know how special that is. I can relate so much to their relationship I feel it on a personal level and knowing that it won’t continue, is just too much.
It’s too much thinking of their final moments, it’s too much thinking that a father was helpless in the worst possible situation, it’s too much to think that Gigi’s life was so cruelly taken away at such a young age and in the blink of an eye. It’s cruel that three kids with their lives in front of them are just gone. And it’s cruel that Kobe’s wife has to somehow cope with the lose of a husband and father; their oldest has to cope with the loss of a dad and sister. It’s unbearably cruel that the two youngest will never know either of them and their memories of both will mainly be lived through other people’s memories. My heart breaks for all of them knowing this doesn’t get better anytime soon if at all. While I’m so happy Kobe and Gigi shared such a bond during their time on earth, I think their palpable love for each other is what makes this so hard. The world really needs this kind of love. I truly hope there is a better place beyond this world where the two of them are together and at peace.
I’d also like to acknowledge the other people who lost their lives- John, Kerri, Alyssa, Christina, Sarah, Payton, Ara and their families whose lives have also been turned upside down. Thanks for providing us with this space.
First, I want to thank you for opening up this thread. Twitter is not great for nuance, but you were one of the few who gave the complete (almost complete) story of Kobe.
Let's get this out of the way: Kobe (and you could argue for Magic) probably is the greatest Laker of all-time. 5 Championships and was the successor to Magic taking the Lakers dynasty to the 21st century.
As for what happened in Colorado in 2003, that's where I'm stuck of how I truly feel about him. Although he gave a "half confession," I don't know if he actually grew up after that, made a "young" mistake, he felt invincible, etc. Something did happen and change both Kobe's and the survivor's lives. I also heard the story from Israel Gutierrez, that Kobe uses the word "f**" to chew out the ref, then realized his mistake, research about the gay community and never made that mistake again.
The story about Kobe is have they forgiven him? Some say yes, some still hold resentment. All of these feelings are fine. Kobe has grown up, but for that incident in 2003, it's weird that might be the only time he regrets and doesn't want to do it publicly. Either way, a tragic story for him and his daughter, Gigi, which makes it heartbreaking.
I learned of Kobe’s death — and that of his daughter Gianna — through a popup message on my iPad as I was watching the Cal-Colorado women’s PAC-12 game on the PAC-12 Networks. We’re all in shock and heartbroken — at a loss of words — which happens anytime death takes someone, especially an iconic athlete, much too early.
Kobe will be remembered as a creative game-changing athlete, a Lakers legend, a loving father. I’m glad that he had taken an interest in passing along his love of sports to his children. And, I think he should be commended as he matured as an individual and be remembered for taking an interest in women’s athletics and for helping to raise its platform and awareness on a national level.
Rest In Peace Kobe and Gianna, and to the others who lost their lives in yesterday’s helicopter crash. May God bless all of the families and those who were affected by yesterday’s tragic event.
As a kid growing up I have 3 sports heroes: Barry Bonds, Tiger Woods and Kobe Bryant. All 3 are tarnished via various different outlets and deservedly so- but I can't help but feel overwhelming sadness over the loss of Kobe. As weird as it sounds Kobe represented the better side of myself- someone who was far from perfect but was willing to try and be better everyday. He fucked up and tried to become better because of it. Was it ever going to be enough? No, it wasn't. Was it important that he tried? To me, very.
His life after basketball was going to be defined by Gigi and his ability to distill the best out of others. I feel terrible that that legacy will never be able to be cemented. I feel worse for Vanessa Bryant. It's unfathomable what she is going to have to go through.
I became a Father in July of 2019 and I think that is what is fucking with me the most- knowing his children are going to have to go one without him. I keep trying to not think about this but I really am struggling not to. I can't believe that someone whom I would likely have never met ever would have such a profound affect on me.
In conclusion Kobe was far from perfect, like the rest of us. Take nothing for granted, especially your time here on earth. Nothing but LOVE.
It has profoundly shaken me, too, in a way I wouldn’t have expected. Definitely a reminder to hold your loved ones tight, and to appreciate every moment. ❤️❤️
I appreciate you offering the opportunity for discussion.
Kobe Bryant's life and career were so layered, and it's impossible to include the good things while ignoring the bad, and vice versa. I'm a Lakers enthusiast and therefore far from unbiased. I admired his drive and toughness, which went counter to all the talk about Los Angeles athletes being soft and unmotivated.
But I also lamented his choices in Colorado, which at best (depending on what anyone believes) indicate horrific judgment of the most offensive kind, and at worst present someone who behaved as absolutely deviant humanity.
I respect his clear maturity in the last decade or so as he had a family and became more secure in his place in history as an NBA player. None of what he has done erases the other things he has done. And I think think that's what makes him so compelling as an individual in terms of his story. Who he was when he died was not who he was in 2003. But who he was in 2003 must always be part of the story of Kobe Bryant.
I’m still grappling with everything running through my head. I think a lot of other people have said a lot of the things I’m thinking about recognizing Kobe’s whole life, the good and the bad.
But my first real memories of organized basketball are of Kobe and Shaq and sitting on the couch at night with my dad. It was in those moments that I fell in love with sports, and it’s one of the things that I can talk to my dad about.
The loss of those three girls, everything they had in store in the future and everything they already had accomplished. I just don’t have the words for it.
Kobe is one of what I call my 50/50 people. One side of their legacy is tarnished and the other side is brighter. An example is President Lyndon Johnson. On one hand, he pushed through bills for minorities and the poor albeit with much help. On the other hand, he had Vietnam to answer for. It is not a zero sum life where the good balances the bad. Both sides have to be taken into account. Take this for what you will. How you are affected is as valid as how anybody feels.
I’m genuinely torn. Of course, I feel the sadness over such a tragic loss of so many young lives, including Kobe and Gianna. But the hagiography rankles. When even Jemele Hill’s piece on Kobe notes that he resisted supporting Trayvon Martin’s family BECAUSE KOBE SYMPATHIZED WITH ZIMMERMAN BECAUSE KOBE KNEW WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE FALSELY ACCUSED (OF RAPE), and that makes me wonder if he really did have any reckoning regarding his actions in Colorado or before. Do we know that he stopped treating certain women that way, or was he just not caught? Do we know if he ever saw any wrong in the way he behaved?
Jemele’s point that Kobe learned to advocate for black men is well taken. But Trayvon Martin was murdered nearly a decade after the rape charge, and it’s telling that Kobe saw himself as a victim so many years later. That doesn’t mean he wasn’t an advocate for female athletes — especially his own daughters, but I wouldn’t hold him up as a supporter of all women because there are at least some we know he failed spectacularly.
Really good point about supporting Zimmerman a full decade after the rape case. This whole ordeal has made me so sad for him and all the families... and yet it's things like this which bring me back to reality, which is so much more complicated than He Built This Shining City on a Hill, which is what Alicia Keys said at the Grammy's.
I've written and rewritten this a bunch of times and I still dont think I have the right words.
Honestly, I didn't expect to be this unbelievably sad. I've cried for so many reasons the past 24 hours. Somehow I didn't realize the gigantic impact of Kobe Bryant. People that dont even watch or like basketball texting me about his death yesterday.
I'm also annoyed. And I dont want to be. I'm upset with all the people insisting "now is not the time" and that everyone must let them grieve. There has never been "a time" to talk about this. Kobe seamlessly transitioned to ambassador of the women's game and doting father without ever grappling with and atoning for his actions publically. I've always cringed when women talk a bit having a 'mamba mentality', something Kobe created in an attempt to "move beyond the events of Colorado". This just sucks so much. If I'm honest I never really figured out how I felt about Kobe as a whole person. I avoided it which is probably why I had so much trouble writing this.
And i am just completely devastated by Gigi. I just assumed we'd be watching her win championships and hit game winners for UCONN and dominate the W for years. This still doesn't feel. I don't know when it will.
I learned about Kobe’s death on Sunday. I learned he was a rapist on Monday. I’m coming to terms with both...
When I learned Kobe died I was eating BBQ with my friends. We gasped. I started reading stories about him, first the crash, then his life... I had forgotten he went to the NBA at 18 years old and I didn’t know all his record stats. On Sunday night I went to bed sad that he was lost.
On Monday I wanted to read more about his life and that’s when I read about his rape case. It wasn’t the same story I heard in 2004. The blood, lacerations, choking, shaming, cover up... I was now angry at Kobe.
I started commenting on posts and social media telling people read the police report and interviews from that time. I wanted people to stop idolizing a rapist. I felt exploited by the NBA, networks, media and brands that covered the story up to keep their star attraction.
Well, that star is dead now. It’s sad. But what can we learn from Kobe’s life now? I say, let’s learn to not make the same mistake and tell this story.
One more thing... I think it needs to be said more that we didn’t know the truth about the rape case until now. The narrative at the time was that he cheated on his wife. The 2016 article with the facts didn’t get traction. I read the reality of it for the first time this week.
I think a reason why people are hesitant to hear it now is because they already think they know about it. We need to change that. Do you think his victim can come forward now that there’s no one to enforce the NDA?
What I’m feeling gutted about is the lives that were lost beyond Kobe. Now that I can see the faces of those beautiful little girls in photos that have been released, my heart feels so incredibly heavy. I’m a Mom of two now young women but I can easily place myself back when they were 13 and carefree. I supported all their endeavors with fervor just like Alyssa, Payton and Gianna’s parents were doing on Sunday. I was also the coach on the field or court like Christina Mauser. I can place myself in all of them and it hurts to think of their loss to their families. There are no words to describe the pain and anguish they must be going through now and forever because this is undoubtedly a life altering event for them.
I cried for at least an hour when I first found out about his daughter dying. I was sad about Kobe because I know he meant so much to so many, but I absolutely fell to pieces learning about his daughter's death. It doesn't help that she's the exact same age as my own daughter... I was so easily able to imagine myself in Vanessa's shoes, losing your husband and your sweet young daughter all at once. I don't have as many other children as does Vanessa, but I do have another daughter, and the thought of grieving and continuing to raise that daughter on my own... ugh. My entire being aches for Vanessa (and the other moms and dads left to grieve their own children and spouses).
The good thing was that it led to my running and giving that 13yo a big hug and telling her how much I loved her, and a conversation with my other daughter (in college) over Facebook that led to a flood of adorable animated stickers from her. Sometimes it's the littlest things that give you solace.
Kobe was a fascinating athlete to watch and listen to sports analysts talk about. I remember the debates on First Take about Bryant and Stephen A. Smith having to respond to those who either undervalued Bryant or criticized Bryant for not performing "highly" enough. The legendary 81 point game against the Raptors will always be a legendary highlight for decades to come. And it feels so weird that we will never again hear from the man about basketball. He knew the game inside and out, and he always played to the best of his abilities.
This is a week to respect all those who knew Bryant, acknowledge his uplifting moments, and remember his complicated history.
Some of my earliest basketball memories are me and my dad watching the Lakers play the Spurs during the early 2000's and my dad just cussing Kobe out in front of the TV. My dad really hated Kobe and as an opponent I grew to hate him too. It was a compliment to how good he was and part of the rivalry between the Lakers and Spurs was great and deep because of him. I have never been a Kobe fan and I'm still not. I acknowledge him as an athlete and as one of the greats but I could never cheer for him because of his actions. When I learned about his death I was sad for his family and for the loss but when the reports about Gigi came out I wished so hard for it not to be true because that is what is breaking my heart. I was excited to see her become a professional basketball player and to be able to see her one day and like Lindsey said it's unimaginable and heartbreaking that she is gone too.
I heard someone say that as a fan of the NBA, you either loved or hated Kobe -- no in-between. Everyone had an opinion. And I think that's part of what makes it so hard to imagine that he's gone.
And I agree; I can't believe we don't get to see Gigi grow up.
I appreciate all of the Kobe tributes, the outpouring of emotion for the loss of a truly great ball player and for many, a great guy. You've all said so much of it already and said it so well. What I can't stop thinking about is: Did this self-proclaimed "Girl Dad" ever stop to consider how the "Girl Dad" of a certain 19-year-old woman in Colorado felt when his daughter was assaulted and consequently had her reputation dragged through the mud until she was finally scared away from testifying? I truly hope Kobe did consider that at some point. I would be willing to bet that he did.
I'm just so tired of men being allowed to claim moral high ground and deeper understanding because now they "have a daughter." This understanding of human value needs to be understood. Period! Not just when or only if that human is related to you.
We need to step up and call out toxic masculinity and rape culture where we see it. Please: Let's get loud. Let's teach our boys - all of our children! - respect and kindness for one another from the beginning. Thank you so much Lindsay Gibbs for allowing this forum and for fighting out loud for what we all believe in. Respect to you and everyone on here.
As a survivor of SA by an athlete and someone who works in athletics, I am absolutely triggered by the death of Kobe and Gigi. The tragedy invites reflection on sport in our society and the hero worship the media creates. Now, equally as troubling are the tribute tweets from #girldads. The idea that being a girl dad changes anything about how you view the world or parent is pathetic. It is our moral imperative to treat others with equity and respect regaurdless of relation or sex. Kobe may have been an advocate for women in sport, but he was equally a sexaul predator.
I agree. I wish the media coverage would give equal weight to the sexual predator side. It feels yucky that he got away with it and is idolized. I fear there may be young men that will read the details of what he did and think it’s ok to rape. What can we do to make the full truth heard?
Thinking through this Kobe thing has me thinking hard about Mike Tyson, Tennis Dad. The media has really been pushing Kobe's redemption as one of fatherhood, and I have no reason to think he wasn't a good dad. It's crushing to watch those videos of him and Gigi.
I would love to hear your thoughts, Lindsay, about tennis adopting Tyson as its official mascot. His daughter Milan plays the game, so now the tennis establishment has embraced this guy. Suddenly he's at the US Open posing with the players: Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, and many women too. Suddenly he's in the booth during a match, where the commentators fawn all over him. Suddenly he's invited to camps with tennis celebrities all under the guise that it's really just about Milan....It is not about Milan, we have no idea if she's any good (and it doesn't matter). Patrick M is (of course) right in the middle of this, inviting the Tysons to France, posing for pictures, maximizing his contact with Tyson for publicity. This culminated in a photo session with Serena in December, complete with laudatory Instagram posts and videos of the two champions.
But tennis is using Milan to get Tyson. This is not remotely fair to her. It makes me squeamish to watch Tyson's rehabilitation. Yes, he served his time. But it's complicated because he has never admitted that he raped a woman. If you go back and read Kobe's statement after the settlement, it's pretty close to an admission of wrongful conduct. Tyson has been an abusive man all his life. He beat Robin Givens, who later had a child with tennis player Murphy Jensen. It's not as if his history is unknown to the tennis world. (Or maybe it is unknown! I don't know how much international tennis knows about the specifics.)
Here's Tyson a few years ago: “I didn’t rape her,” he says. “They wanted to convict me more than anything in the world. There’s not a person in the history of that state that got convicted for rape that did less time than I did. They wanted to be known for the state that convicted me. If the hanging judge really believed I did that, they would have given me 60 years. But they gave me six, which got cut down to three.”
“Dershowitz claimed that she’d cried wolf once in the past,” I note.
“And what, you put yourself in a situation like that twice?” he says. “I just thought that was bullshit. I didn’t have a good image at the time and was very foul-mouthed. It’s just stereotypes. If you’re big, black, and strong, you’re a rapist; if you’re smart and Jewish, you’re a tax cheat; if you’re an Italian in a nice suit, you’re a fuckin’ gangster; if you’re a Latino, you’re having a bunch of babies and making money off welfare. These are stereotypes, and we get convicted in this country based on these stereotypes.”
Sure, this sounds good, especially to liberals who wanted to see his Broadway show. "It's just discrimination and a bad criminal justice system." Eh... no. "You put yourself in this situation twice." I can't get over that comment.
Tyson also lost a child in a horrific accident and that makes me heartsick for his family. But still.... does no one find all of this troubling?
Anyway, thanks for providing critical space to talk about all of this without judgment.
This is what I wrote for work yesterday (a big part of my job is a weekly preview article) regarding Lakers-Clippers tomorrow:
"This rivalry match will take on extra meaning following the tragic death of Kobe Bryant on Sunday. Bryant was not only a career Laker, but a player whose talent, dominance and attitude affected the whole league. As the Lakers take the court tonight, they will all be carrying the memory of Kobe in their hearts. The game was already a vital one. The Lakers need a win to extend their lead at the top of the conference. Meanwhile, the third-place Clippers can continue to close the gap with a victory. But for 48 minutes tonight, the implications of the result won’t be anyone's primary focus. The place where Kobe became a legend will honour him with the thing he dedicated his life to - basketball."
But this what I didn't get to say:
I respect Kobe's talent. He was an undeniable generational talent who left his mark on the league in more ways that we could ever list. But just watching everything go down, from the war against SA survivors to the writer invoking 9/11, it scares me how quickly we get forget that Kobe was human. Cards on the table- I didn't "like" Kobe. I can look past the ego and all the stuff that makes juicy fodder for video essays about the Lakers dynasty etc. That's just such a part of sports that if I disliked every athlete who was a bit of an ass, there'd be very few athletes for me to like. But as someone who has survived multiple SAs, I can never look past the sexual assault trial and how he, the fans, and the media really just showed that being a big name athlete 100% gets you a pass on doing that sort of thing. And then how, no matter how genuine his interest was, I can't help but feel a chill in my heart as the media turned his support of women's sport into a redemption arc.
I know Kobe means a lot of different things to a lot of different people; I would never want to take away someone's good memories of him. But when people hold him up as this unblemished Superman, I can't help but remind myself that superheroes aren't real. Everyone has flaws and those flaws need to be discussed in a retrospective of someone's life. When we blind ourselves to flaws completely, all we do is revise history and silence the victims.
This is so well said -- the hero worship he got when he was alive is part of what made it easy when he was alive to victim shame his survivor and let him move on from that so quickly, so it's hard to see in his death, too. I think what you said, that "superheroes aren't real" is so important to remember. Thank you for this, Litty.
Thank you for giving us this space to freely share our thoughts, Lindsay. And thank you for the kind words, it means a lot coming from someone whose work I look up to.
At the moment, I'm more focused on the fact that we lost Gigi. Future UConn star, future WNBA star, and likely a big part of Women's Basketball's growing acceptance. All that was snuffed out yesterday and I'm still not able to come to grips with it.
Agreed, Dana. It's just unfathomable that she's gone.
There's something about the fact that Gigi was lost with Kobe that makes this particular tragedy somehow...more tragic. Maybe it's the fact that I remember being 13 and traveling to games, and can imagine the excitement and anticipation and promise I felt for those games and my future, and it's all just so palpable that for it to be erased so summarily, without hope for a second-wind story in which "she never gave up," the kind of story we so often get after these tragedies when the parent dies but the child survives -- the fact that we just don't have...anything...is somehow unfathomable. And then once I'm done trying to warp my head around that loss, my next thoughts are about Vanessa and the other three Bryant children - including their newborn - and I am just crushed inside. How could one possibly go on from this? I'm sure we will, thanks to Twitter and the media and etc., be clued in for years to come on how their family "continues to cope." But the reality will, I'm sure, be far from whatever we will be privvy to, and the utter devastation in this moment, in these days now, is, again, unfathomable. And I feel so, so deeply sad about that.
I know. I can't fathom it. And then there are 2 other families from the crash that lost multiple people, I think -- one in which both parents and a child died. It's a worst nightmare, truly.
As always, thank you for the space that you created. I have to admit that, as a survivor and friend to many more, my first reaction was a simple and all-too basic, "oh no, now we- and his victim- are going to be bombarded with adoring hagiography." And then we found out about Gigi. And then I made myself read some of the more nuanced responses. And I will still admit to feeling triggered and complicated, and ashamed of those feelings, but also devastated for a young girl and the mother and sisters who will have to live with this whole in their lives.
I agree, Jessie. Sending you love.
Everything just sucks. There's another world where Gigi went to UConn and then had a long, successful career with the LA Sparks and it's really sad that it's not this one. I wish that his rape had been grappled with/atoned for better. I still got really sad this morning when I drove by the Basketball Hall of Fame on my way to work and the sign just said Kobe in purple and gold.
"Everything just sucks" is exactly what I keep coming back to.
Heartbreaking to lose Gigi, who always looked like she was full of energy and life and promise and also basketball talent.
And maybe the worst day of Twitter ever. The hagiography, the backlash, all of it.
I never liked Kobe. But many people did and I don't know how to feel about the way he cultivated his post-NBA career but I do know that for a lot of people, he meant a lot. I'm sorry for their loss and hope they can find peace.
I had to delete twitter from my phone for a while, I just couldn't take it. It's all very sad.
It's always tragic when a young family loses their dad and husband, especially in this terrible way and especially in the public eye. His wife and girls have a long road ahead of them and I hope they have the support of both sets of grandparents, as well as other nearby family and friends. The part of this I'm struggling with is how we continue to equate athletic ability and charm with being a good person, while disregarding athletes' acts of violence against women. He's certainly one of the best basketball players of his generation, but he would not have had that career if he would have been punished for the rape he admitted to committing. He knew he could settle with his victim and have an NDA because nobody really would care about it going forward. He was probably a good dad, but he should not be lifted up as an icon in the community and great supporter of women. It was great that he supported women's sports as publicly as he did, but he should have been made to answer for his crime/let his victim out of the NDA so we can get more information. I have been uncomfortable seeing some of the best women's players idolize him when his athletic ability is not the total picture. So, that's where I am on this right now. i look forward to reading other thoughtful posts on this topic. Lindsay: thanks for opening up this thread so we can share.
I agree completely on what should have happened, and I think that what's so tough is that since that never happens, now what do we do with it? I don't have the answer, obviously, but thanks for helping me talk through it. Sending love.
It would be a hard conversation to have and who would have it with him? Nobody would want to be that reporter. The attacks on her would be swift and merciless. I guess the theory was maybe his visibility will bring more people to women's sports and, eventually, he wont obviously be the only guy supporter with a spotlight? Thank YOU for helping us talk through it in a safe environment.
Gigi Bryant has been on my mind all day... those people on the helicopter were just three little girls going to a basketball game and their families. My heart breaks for them. It’s just incomprehensible that she’s gone and won’t get to fulfill her dreams of playing for UConn and WNBA... just all so sad.
I know. It just doesn't make any sense.
It's been difficult for me to grapple with how I feel about this. I was just researching the SA case Saturday night, and it obviously doesn't sit well with me. I had respect for Kobe the player, but more respect for Kobe the father. I think the combination of Kobe and Gigi could have been a transcendent force for the women's game and I'm still working on the idea that it will never happen now. My heart breaks for Vanessa, Natalia, Bianca and Capri.
Mine too, Lincoln.
I was stunned when I heard about Kobe, but I just completely broke down when I learned about Gigi. She was with her teammates, all headed to their basketball game. A lot of us can imagine what their conversation was like on their way to the game and what they felt, because we've all been that kid or parent. She loved WNBA, NCAAW, and NBA across the board. What a beautiful thing. It's fun to imagine what this beautiful young child could have gone on to do, being her father's daughter. But more than anything she might have accomplished, I'll mourn the loss of the joy, innocence, and hope of a 13 year old girl with a clear-eyed passion and her whole life ahead of her. Rest in peace Gigi.
Substack has been having problems today, I hope this one reaches you all, I apologize for the delay.
I am a little surprised at how most tributes and obituaries don't even the mention the rape case or it's almost an afterthought. I feel there is a dichotomy in my feelings too - should we honour his life and everything he achieved or should we use this as an occasion to address the media's role in his redemption arc, and eventually rape culture? Lots of thoughts.
I agree. I think (hope?) that there can be space for all of it. Because it’s all real, and it all matters.
I think it would be good to use this for redemption. I didn’t know the truth about his rape crime until this week... that story just wasn’t spread mainstream. If there’s a good to come this tragedy I think it should be that his victim is heard.
I’ve been struggling to figure out why these deaths are so physically upsetting to me. I won’t go into Kobe’s history because so many other people have expressed the complexity of the situation better than I can. But I do want to talk about their relationship. I can rationally acknowledge that people die unfairly all the time. But emotionally, it’s just brutal. When I saw Kobe had been confirmed dead, I was shocked, like head spinning shocked for so many reasons. When I saw Gigi had been on the plane, I just lost it. I can’t shake the images of the two of them together. I don’t think there’s any doubt that the two of them were so in love and I think that’s what gets me. I can so relate to the bond they shared through their love of basketball. As a kid who grew up playing AAU, my dad and I had the same and I know how special that is. I can relate so much to their relationship I feel it on a personal level and knowing that it won’t continue, is just too much.
It’s too much thinking of their final moments, it’s too much thinking that a father was helpless in the worst possible situation, it’s too much to think that Gigi’s life was so cruelly taken away at such a young age and in the blink of an eye. It’s cruel that three kids with their lives in front of them are just gone. And it’s cruel that Kobe’s wife has to somehow cope with the lose of a husband and father; their oldest has to cope with the loss of a dad and sister. It’s unbearably cruel that the two youngest will never know either of them and their memories of both will mainly be lived through other people’s memories. My heart breaks for all of them knowing this doesn’t get better anytime soon if at all. While I’m so happy Kobe and Gigi shared such a bond during their time on earth, I think their palpable love for each other is what makes this so hard. The world really needs this kind of love. I truly hope there is a better place beyond this world where the two of them are together and at peace.
I’d also like to acknowledge the other people who lost their lives- John, Kerri, Alyssa, Christina, Sarah, Payton, Ara and their families whose lives have also been turned upside down. Thanks for providing us with this space.
Thank you for this, CT.
First, I want to thank you for opening up this thread. Twitter is not great for nuance, but you were one of the few who gave the complete (almost complete) story of Kobe.
Let's get this out of the way: Kobe (and you could argue for Magic) probably is the greatest Laker of all-time. 5 Championships and was the successor to Magic taking the Lakers dynasty to the 21st century.
As for what happened in Colorado in 2003, that's where I'm stuck of how I truly feel about him. Although he gave a "half confession," I don't know if he actually grew up after that, made a "young" mistake, he felt invincible, etc. Something did happen and change both Kobe's and the survivor's lives. I also heard the story from Israel Gutierrez, that Kobe uses the word "f**" to chew out the ref, then realized his mistake, research about the gay community and never made that mistake again.
The story about Kobe is have they forgiven him? Some say yes, some still hold resentment. All of these feelings are fine. Kobe has grown up, but for that incident in 2003, it's weird that might be the only time he regrets and doesn't want to do it publicly. Either way, a tragic story for him and his daughter, Gigi, which makes it heartbreaking.
I learned of Kobe’s death — and that of his daughter Gianna — through a popup message on my iPad as I was watching the Cal-Colorado women’s PAC-12 game on the PAC-12 Networks. We’re all in shock and heartbroken — at a loss of words — which happens anytime death takes someone, especially an iconic athlete, much too early.
Kobe will be remembered as a creative game-changing athlete, a Lakers legend, a loving father. I’m glad that he had taken an interest in passing along his love of sports to his children. And, I think he should be commended as he matured as an individual and be remembered for taking an interest in women’s athletics and for helping to raise its platform and awareness on a national level.
Rest In Peace Kobe and Gianna, and to the others who lost their lives in yesterday’s helicopter crash. May God bless all of the families and those who were affected by yesterday’s tragic event.
I first heard about it from the announcers during the Maryland/Northwestern game. I think we'll all remember where we were when we heard.
As a kid growing up I have 3 sports heroes: Barry Bonds, Tiger Woods and Kobe Bryant. All 3 are tarnished via various different outlets and deservedly so- but I can't help but feel overwhelming sadness over the loss of Kobe. As weird as it sounds Kobe represented the better side of myself- someone who was far from perfect but was willing to try and be better everyday. He fucked up and tried to become better because of it. Was it ever going to be enough? No, it wasn't. Was it important that he tried? To me, very.
His life after basketball was going to be defined by Gigi and his ability to distill the best out of others. I feel terrible that that legacy will never be able to be cemented. I feel worse for Vanessa Bryant. It's unfathomable what she is going to have to go through.
I became a Father in July of 2019 and I think that is what is fucking with me the most- knowing his children are going to have to go one without him. I keep trying to not think about this but I really am struggling not to. I can't believe that someone whom I would likely have never met ever would have such a profound affect on me.
In conclusion Kobe was far from perfect, like the rest of us. Take nothing for granted, especially your time here on earth. Nothing but LOVE.
It has profoundly shaken me, too, in a way I wouldn’t have expected. Definitely a reminder to hold your loved ones tight, and to appreciate every moment. ❤️❤️
I appreciate you offering the opportunity for discussion.
Kobe Bryant's life and career were so layered, and it's impossible to include the good things while ignoring the bad, and vice versa. I'm a Lakers enthusiast and therefore far from unbiased. I admired his drive and toughness, which went counter to all the talk about Los Angeles athletes being soft and unmotivated.
But I also lamented his choices in Colorado, which at best (depending on what anyone believes) indicate horrific judgment of the most offensive kind, and at worst present someone who behaved as absolutely deviant humanity.
I respect his clear maturity in the last decade or so as he had a family and became more secure in his place in history as an NBA player. None of what he has done erases the other things he has done. And I think think that's what makes him so compelling as an individual in terms of his story. Who he was when he died was not who he was in 2003. But who he was in 2003 must always be part of the story of Kobe Bryant.
Absolutely. It all exists, and each person will weigh different parts of his legacy differently as they wade through their own grief.
I’m still grappling with everything running through my head. I think a lot of other people have said a lot of the things I’m thinking about recognizing Kobe’s whole life, the good and the bad.
But my first real memories of organized basketball are of Kobe and Shaq and sitting on the couch at night with my dad. It was in those moments that I fell in love with sports, and it’s one of the things that I can talk to my dad about.
The loss of those three girls, everything they had in store in the future and everything they already had accomplished. I just don’t have the words for it.
Sending you love, Kara. Sports has been such a big part of my relationship with my father, too.
Kobe is one of what I call my 50/50 people. One side of their legacy is tarnished and the other side is brighter. An example is President Lyndon Johnson. On one hand, he pushed through bills for minorities and the poor albeit with much help. On the other hand, he had Vietnam to answer for. It is not a zero sum life where the good balances the bad. Both sides have to be taken into account. Take this for what you will. How you are affected is as valid as how anybody feels.
"How you are affected is as valid as how anybody feels." Thank you for this.
I’m genuinely torn. Of course, I feel the sadness over such a tragic loss of so many young lives, including Kobe and Gianna. But the hagiography rankles. When even Jemele Hill’s piece on Kobe notes that he resisted supporting Trayvon Martin’s family BECAUSE KOBE SYMPATHIZED WITH ZIMMERMAN BECAUSE KOBE KNEW WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE FALSELY ACCUSED (OF RAPE), and that makes me wonder if he really did have any reckoning regarding his actions in Colorado or before. Do we know that he stopped treating certain women that way, or was he just not caught? Do we know if he ever saw any wrong in the way he behaved?
Jemele’s point that Kobe learned to advocate for black men is well taken. But Trayvon Martin was murdered nearly a decade after the rape charge, and it’s telling that Kobe saw himself as a victim so many years later. That doesn’t mean he wasn’t an advocate for female athletes — especially his own daughters, but I wouldn’t hold him up as a supporter of all women because there are at least some we know he failed spectacularly.
Really good point about supporting Zimmerman a full decade after the rape case. This whole ordeal has made me so sad for him and all the families... and yet it's things like this which bring me back to reality, which is so much more complicated than He Built This Shining City on a Hill, which is what Alicia Keys said at the Grammy's.
I've written and rewritten this a bunch of times and I still dont think I have the right words.
Honestly, I didn't expect to be this unbelievably sad. I've cried for so many reasons the past 24 hours. Somehow I didn't realize the gigantic impact of Kobe Bryant. People that dont even watch or like basketball texting me about his death yesterday.
I'm also annoyed. And I dont want to be. I'm upset with all the people insisting "now is not the time" and that everyone must let them grieve. There has never been "a time" to talk about this. Kobe seamlessly transitioned to ambassador of the women's game and doting father without ever grappling with and atoning for his actions publically. I've always cringed when women talk a bit having a 'mamba mentality', something Kobe created in an attempt to "move beyond the events of Colorado". This just sucks so much. If I'm honest I never really figured out how I felt about Kobe as a whole person. I avoided it which is probably why I had so much trouble writing this.
And i am just completely devastated by Gigi. I just assumed we'd be watching her win championships and hit game winners for UCONN and dominate the W for years. This still doesn't feel. I don't know when it will.
I learned about Kobe’s death on Sunday. I learned he was a rapist on Monday. I’m coming to terms with both...
When I learned Kobe died I was eating BBQ with my friends. We gasped. I started reading stories about him, first the crash, then his life... I had forgotten he went to the NBA at 18 years old and I didn’t know all his record stats. On Sunday night I went to bed sad that he was lost.
On Monday I wanted to read more about his life and that’s when I read about his rape case. It wasn’t the same story I heard in 2004. The blood, lacerations, choking, shaming, cover up... I was now angry at Kobe.
I started commenting on posts and social media telling people read the police report and interviews from that time. I wanted people to stop idolizing a rapist. I felt exploited by the NBA, networks, media and brands that covered the story up to keep their star attraction.
Well, that star is dead now. It’s sad. But what can we learn from Kobe’s life now? I say, let’s learn to not make the same mistake and tell this story.
One more thing... I think it needs to be said more that we didn’t know the truth about the rape case until now. The narrative at the time was that he cheated on his wife. The 2016 article with the facts didn’t get traction. I read the reality of it for the first time this week.
I think a reason why people are hesitant to hear it now is because they already think they know about it. We need to change that. Do you think his victim can come forward now that there’s no one to enforce the NDA?
What I’m feeling gutted about is the lives that were lost beyond Kobe. Now that I can see the faces of those beautiful little girls in photos that have been released, my heart feels so incredibly heavy. I’m a Mom of two now young women but I can easily place myself back when they were 13 and carefree. I supported all their endeavors with fervor just like Alyssa, Payton and Gianna’s parents were doing on Sunday. I was also the coach on the field or court like Christina Mauser. I can place myself in all of them and it hurts to think of their loss to their families. There are no words to describe the pain and anguish they must be going through now and forever because this is undoubtedly a life altering event for them.
I cried for at least an hour when I first found out about his daughter dying. I was sad about Kobe because I know he meant so much to so many, but I absolutely fell to pieces learning about his daughter's death. It doesn't help that she's the exact same age as my own daughter... I was so easily able to imagine myself in Vanessa's shoes, losing your husband and your sweet young daughter all at once. I don't have as many other children as does Vanessa, but I do have another daughter, and the thought of grieving and continuing to raise that daughter on my own... ugh. My entire being aches for Vanessa (and the other moms and dads left to grieve their own children and spouses).
The good thing was that it led to my running and giving that 13yo a big hug and telling her how much I loved her, and a conversation with my other daughter (in college) over Facebook that led to a flood of adorable animated stickers from her. Sometimes it's the littlest things that give you solace.
Kobe was a fascinating athlete to watch and listen to sports analysts talk about. I remember the debates on First Take about Bryant and Stephen A. Smith having to respond to those who either undervalued Bryant or criticized Bryant for not performing "highly" enough. The legendary 81 point game against the Raptors will always be a legendary highlight for decades to come. And it feels so weird that we will never again hear from the man about basketball. He knew the game inside and out, and he always played to the best of his abilities.
This is a week to respect all those who knew Bryant, acknowledge his uplifting moments, and remember his complicated history.
The 81 points will always be remembered.
Some of my earliest basketball memories are me and my dad watching the Lakers play the Spurs during the early 2000's and my dad just cussing Kobe out in front of the TV. My dad really hated Kobe and as an opponent I grew to hate him too. It was a compliment to how good he was and part of the rivalry between the Lakers and Spurs was great and deep because of him. I have never been a Kobe fan and I'm still not. I acknowledge him as an athlete and as one of the greats but I could never cheer for him because of his actions. When I learned about his death I was sad for his family and for the loss but when the reports about Gigi came out I wished so hard for it not to be true because that is what is breaking my heart. I was excited to see her become a professional basketball player and to be able to see her one day and like Lindsey said it's unimaginable and heartbreaking that she is gone too.
I heard someone say that as a fan of the NBA, you either loved or hated Kobe -- no in-between. Everyone had an opinion. And I think that's part of what makes it so hard to imagine that he's gone.
And I agree; I can't believe we don't get to see Gigi grow up.
That was really well written, Litty
I appreciate all of the Kobe tributes, the outpouring of emotion for the loss of a truly great ball player and for many, a great guy. You've all said so much of it already and said it so well. What I can't stop thinking about is: Did this self-proclaimed "Girl Dad" ever stop to consider how the "Girl Dad" of a certain 19-year-old woman in Colorado felt when his daughter was assaulted and consequently had her reputation dragged through the mud until she was finally scared away from testifying? I truly hope Kobe did consider that at some point. I would be willing to bet that he did.
I'm just so tired of men being allowed to claim moral high ground and deeper understanding because now they "have a daughter." This understanding of human value needs to be understood. Period! Not just when or only if that human is related to you.
We need to step up and call out toxic masculinity and rape culture where we see it. Please: Let's get loud. Let's teach our boys - all of our children! - respect and kindness for one another from the beginning. Thank you so much Lindsay Gibbs for allowing this forum and for fighting out loud for what we all believe in. Respect to you and everyone on here.
As a survivor of SA by an athlete and someone who works in athletics, I am absolutely triggered by the death of Kobe and Gigi. The tragedy invites reflection on sport in our society and the hero worship the media creates. Now, equally as troubling are the tribute tweets from #girldads. The idea that being a girl dad changes anything about how you view the world or parent is pathetic. It is our moral imperative to treat others with equity and respect regaurdless of relation or sex. Kobe may have been an advocate for women in sport, but he was equally a sexaul predator.
I agree. I wish the media coverage would give equal weight to the sexual predator side. It feels yucky that he got away with it and is idolized. I fear there may be young men that will read the details of what he did and think it’s ok to rape. What can we do to make the full truth heard?
Thinking through this Kobe thing has me thinking hard about Mike Tyson, Tennis Dad. The media has really been pushing Kobe's redemption as one of fatherhood, and I have no reason to think he wasn't a good dad. It's crushing to watch those videos of him and Gigi.
I would love to hear your thoughts, Lindsay, about tennis adopting Tyson as its official mascot. His daughter Milan plays the game, so now the tennis establishment has embraced this guy. Suddenly he's at the US Open posing with the players: Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, and many women too. Suddenly he's in the booth during a match, where the commentators fawn all over him. Suddenly he's invited to camps with tennis celebrities all under the guise that it's really just about Milan....It is not about Milan, we have no idea if she's any good (and it doesn't matter). Patrick M is (of course) right in the middle of this, inviting the Tysons to France, posing for pictures, maximizing his contact with Tyson for publicity. This culminated in a photo session with Serena in December, complete with laudatory Instagram posts and videos of the two champions.
But tennis is using Milan to get Tyson. This is not remotely fair to her. It makes me squeamish to watch Tyson's rehabilitation. Yes, he served his time. But it's complicated because he has never admitted that he raped a woman. If you go back and read Kobe's statement after the settlement, it's pretty close to an admission of wrongful conduct. Tyson has been an abusive man all his life. He beat Robin Givens, who later had a child with tennis player Murphy Jensen. It's not as if his history is unknown to the tennis world. (Or maybe it is unknown! I don't know how much international tennis knows about the specifics.)
Here's Tyson a few years ago: “I didn’t rape her,” he says. “They wanted to convict me more than anything in the world. There’s not a person in the history of that state that got convicted for rape that did less time than I did. They wanted to be known for the state that convicted me. If the hanging judge really believed I did that, they would have given me 60 years. But they gave me six, which got cut down to three.”
“Dershowitz claimed that she’d cried wolf once in the past,” I note.
“And what, you put yourself in a situation like that twice?” he says. “I just thought that was bullshit. I didn’t have a good image at the time and was very foul-mouthed. It’s just stereotypes. If you’re big, black, and strong, you’re a rapist; if you’re smart and Jewish, you’re a tax cheat; if you’re an Italian in a nice suit, you’re a fuckin’ gangster; if you’re a Latino, you’re having a bunch of babies and making money off welfare. These are stereotypes, and we get convicted in this country based on these stereotypes.”
Sure, this sounds good, especially to liberals who wanted to see his Broadway show. "It's just discrimination and a bad criminal justice system." Eh... no. "You put yourself in this situation twice." I can't get over that comment.
Tyson also lost a child in a horrific accident and that makes me heartsick for his family. But still.... does no one find all of this troubling?
Anyway, thanks for providing critical space to talk about all of this without judgment.
Yeah. The legacies and lives were so incomplete. It’s just devastating.
I agree. I had always hoped that there would be a more public reckoning from him. Nothing about his legacy was finished.