FAMILY TORMENT OVER KOBE WIFE (Kobe's Parents Upset His Isn't Black)

New York Post ^ | July 20, 2003 | DAVID K. LI , BARRY BORTNICK and ALY SUJO

[nickcarraway]

July 20, 2003 -- A day after admitting he had cheated on his wife while denying he was a rapist, hoops superstar Kobe Bryant remained out of sight while family members insisted they were standing by their man.

But basketball insiders said Bryant's marriage to his stunning wife, Vanessa, which once seemed like a fairy tale, had almost destroyed the hoop star's relationship with his parents.

[zarf]

Neither of Bryant's parents showed up at the wedding.

Parents like this make me sick. Hold your nose, but to treat your children this way is just awful.

[nickcarraway]

And they didn't say anything bad about her character, just her race?

[nickcarraway]

"Twenty years from now, when his own child grows up, he'll understand what I'm doing," said the elder Bryant. "When Kobe made a decision to be with someone he cared about, Pam and I decided it was time to back off."

huh>?

[zarf]

Seems that way...

[exit82]

Guess Kobe's folks didn't like who came to dinner.

Not very accepting folks, there, are they? If the racial equation was reversed, what kind of value judgments would the media be making?

[jocon307]

Yes, agreed, this is all just weird. I didn't even realize she wasn't black, I saw a picture of her the other day. Admitedly, it was a shot at an odd angle, the wife was mostly obscured by Kobe's head, but I thought she was black. There's something to it, if your parents are so opposed to a marriage, I wonder what the problem was. Maybe they are just racisct in their views, and I'm starting to think the accuser in this is more than a little "sketchy" all around. Mr. Bryant better find himself one excellent defense attorney, that's all I can say.

[Bogey78O]

This has to be a lie. black parents would never be so close-minded about interacial relationships. That's solely white bigots who have a problem.

/sarcasm.

[Iowa Granny]

If the racial equation was reversed, what kind of value judgments would the media be making?

My sentiments, exactly.

Back in the mid 60's when I was in college, a black girl on my floor became engaged to a white guy. Her father flew to KC MO, rented a car and drove to Columbia MO to physically remove her from school and take her home where he could more closely supervise her.

I was dumbstruck.

[Maynerd]

I didn't realize Kobe's dad is Archie Bunker.

[bruinbirdman]

Two man byline? There isn't a single piece of original reporting in this entire article. All the quotes were lifted. I've seen them before. Weeks ago. Like just after the Lakers lost in the playoffs.

yitbos

[bruinbirdman]

Even worse, make that a three man byline.

[ambrose]

I didn't realize Kobe's dad is Archie Bunker.

Try George Jefferson.

[lainie]

Meanwhile, friends of Kobe Bryant's accuser said the 19-year-old Colorado hotel employee spent Friday night at the movies, watching "Bad Boys II."

High school pal Katie Lovell, 18, said she believed the teenage accuser's allegations, despite some concerns about "sketchy" things in her pal's past.

"I totally believe her, and I don't think she'd lie," she said. "But there are other things that make me wonder about her - past experiences she's had.

"Sometimes her past has been a bit sketchy," she added, without elaborating.

HM.

[FITZ]

And they didn't say anything bad about her character, just her race?

I doubt they are that unusual, they probably never got to know her or wanted to. Many people just don't believe in mixed marriages ----either by race or religion. I know people who behaved pretty much the same for mixed-religion marriages.

[Hank Rearden]

"They're young and intelligent," said the retired police sergeant.

That's the funniest thing I've read all day. Intelligent. Yeah. That's what they are.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

There's a LOT more to the Kobe marriage story than what is going on in this article.

First off, she was underage when she met him and became pregnant. She THREATENED TO SUE him and put him in jail if he did not get married to her!

I think that was the REAL reason his family did not attend the wedding. As far as I know, Kobe did not stop his *ways*, but SHE got to marry him.

Sick situation all round though....and now the new really icky stuff going on...

[FITZ]

First off, she was underage when she met him and became pregnant. She THREATENED TO SUE him and put him in jail if he did not get married to her!

Well that's interesting. I'm feeling less and less sorry for the wife. She's a multimillionaire at any rate ----she gets half of whatever he's made ----but probably she knew that all along.

[Blue Scourge]

Named after a deluxe chunk of Japanese beef

Who names their kid after a piece of steak?

I like T-bones but I'm not gonna name my kid after one.

[tinamina]

Traditionally, Blacks and Hispanics hate each other. Might be different if she was blonde and blue eyed.