Kobe scandal leaves Nike with real beef; Is Nike trying to make a fast break from Kobe Bryant

NY Daily ^ | 07-27-03

[Brian S]

BENCHED? We hear that Nike may drop Kobe Bryant as a spokesman and has scrapped plans for a signature shoe.

Is Nike trying to make a fast break from Kobe Bryant? We hear that lawyers for the sportswear giant have been exploring how the company might slip out of the five-year, $45 million deal it signed with the three-time NBA champion before he was charged with sexually assaulting a 19-year-old ex-cheerleader in Colorado.

Nike has scratched plans - at least for now - for a Kobe Bryant signature shoe, a source tells us.

"Nike sees him as damaged goods," says the insider, who has been privy to meetings Bryant and his lawyers have had with the company's execs in the last week.

Bryant says he is innocent of assaulting his accuser - who, according to police, was hospitalized for "a mental-health issue" four months before the alleged attack. But even if he is cleared of all charges, the hoop star has admitted to cheating on his wife, Vanessa.

"He was supposed to be the Mr. Clean of the NBA," says the source. "They contend that he's violated his contract's morality clause."

Nike stuck with Michael Jordan even after it came out that His Airness had cheated on his wife, Juanita, with Karla Knafel. (Last month, a judge threw out her breach-of-contract lawsuit against Jordan, saying he didn't have to pay her $5 million in hush money.)

"Kobe is furious about Nike's attitude so far," says the source. "There will probably be some compromise. They'll have him promote clothes or something."

Bryant's lawyer and manager didn't return calls.

A spokesman for Nike said it was standing by its statement, issued early last week, that the company is "pleased to have a relationship with Kobe Bryant. He is a great player."

[MistrX]

Mmmmmmmmmm. Kobe beef.

[Hodar]

Perhaps you have been hurt badly by someone else's claims.

No, I have not been hurt by a false accusation; nor am I aware of anyone I know that has been. However, I do recall the whole 'witch hunt' that went on a few years ago in which scores of innocent people lost their livihoods, savings, and freedom because faceless, nameless and blameless children falsely accused them of abusing them. The children's accusation required absolutely no proof (what, a child lie?) and the accusations were absurd; yet scores of people went to jail.

[ijcr]

A new Kobe shoe is soon to hit the market. It will be called the "Defendant". The company stated that the shoes will be manufactured from synthetic materials, this is to maintain Kobe's image in that he eschews natural rubber products.

Wearers of the new shoes will be able to overwhelm any opposition. A company spokesperson gleefully announced that
wearing the "Defendants" would enable a player to "grab,hold,twist, bend and force any opponent into submission".

Described as lightning fast the "Defendants" will give the player the ability to spin out of trouble and dance rings
around the court.

[af_vet_1981]

No, I have not been hurt by a false accusation; nor am I aware of anyone I know that has been.

Then your passionate attack on this woman makes no sense.

[autoresponder]

He willfully and knowingly lied to NIKE when he signed their contracy.

Breach of contract.

Damaged goods.

Not as represented by Bryant.

Who cares about "feelings".

This is about money.

He is a counterfeit product.

A name that is worthless on a NIKE.

Is NIKE expected to market a confessed cheater's name on their products?

[autoresponder]

I guess it is the girl's proxy buddies that have threatened to kill the prosecutor on the phone and by emails ala Monrovia style.

[autoresponder]

The Color Purple

[cyncooper]

Do your own homework here... Fuhrman later 'found' socks with OJ's blood on them, as well as several other 'items' after his home, after the police report that it had been searched. This is the primary reason so much evidence was thrown out.

That is B.S., or, as they say in court, "misstates the evidence!".

[mewzilla]

Well, Bryant did commit adultery by his own admission. There's also some question about whether he told his team about the knee surgery he was going to have in Colorado. Unless Nike's lawyers have fallen down on the job, the contract that Bryant signed must have had a morals clause of some kind in it. If so, depending on what it said, Nike would be well within its rights if they decided to exercise it and dump Bryant. In which case Bryant has no-one but himself to blame.

[Hildy]

I hope the good thing that will come of this is that young boys will see what can happen if you make a mistake like this. A moment of passion can really cost in the long run.

[autoresponder]

Shoplifting Charge = Rape Charge?

[autoresponder]

(With Rights, comes Responsibilities. Don't assume one, without assuming the other.)

[CarmelValleyite]

Why was buying the ring for his wife "stupid" and hurtful to Bryant's case? He had already admitted to the world that he was guilty of adultery. The average jerk might buy his wife some tacky jewelry from Zale's or a bunch of flowers, etc.

What's the difference? $4 million to a guy like Bryant is not that big a deal...

[cyncooper]

Yes, Kobe (or any other person) is losing money in that deals that were in place, are being postponed. Time equals money, so a statement that he is presently incurring lost income is factual. At this point in time, he is simply 'accused'.

Bryant had a certain reputation before this incident. Whether he has committed the crime he is accused of or not, he has in fact been unmasked as an adulterer at the very least. Perhaps those who had struck these deals feel that alone is grounds for severing the agreement.

[cinFLA]

I can't believe that after the OJ Simpson fiasco, companies are not putting serious "You screw up, this deal is cancelled" clauses in their celebrity endorsement contracts.

They have been, they are, and they will continue to have these clauses.

[cinFLA]

And you would be correct. If you are accused of shoplifting, are you automatically fired from your job? Do you forfeit stock options, stocks or funds? No.

You seem to have forgotten that Kobe has been outed as NOT spending the nights ALONE in his hotel room. His 'squeaky-clean' image is gone; as are his $$$.

[Bluntpoint]

If some girl Mr. Rogers(God rest his soul) was sleeping with cried rape, but later he was aquitted, would he still demand to host a kid's show?

[ladyjane]

Whatever happened to that annoying little phrase "Innocent, until PROVEN guilty"?

He has admitted adultery.He lied about it at first. He lied to his team about the surgery. He doesn't sound very innocent. What more do you want?

[Dolphy]

What infuriates me, is when a faceless, nameless accusor has the power to destroy another's life, income and dreams; with no checks and balances. It wasn't that long ago that dozens of innocent men and women were sentenced to jail for "sticking swords through the heads of children" in a daycare. It was later found out that the prosecutor had manipulated the children into making statements of abuse and neglect. But, how many innocent people had their lives ruined, because "a child never lies"? I don't like repeating stupid mistakes; I want the facts before inflicting the punishment.

She is not faceless or nameless to Kobe. And who exactly handed the accuser some power over his life if not Kobe himself? Nike bought an image and it stands to reason that they should have the right to rethink their position if the product is damaged. Though you are right, some men are wrongly accused, as are some childcare providers, these are exceptions. There are countless women and children who have been abused and either didn't press charges or were left without a conviction. Kobe, who was willing to risk his marriage, image, health and maybe even livelihood for 20 minutes of satisfaction is a poor example of a victim.

[Hodar]

And who exactly handed the accuser some power over his life if not Kobe himself?

And that is the crux of the matter. We simply do not know what happened, and Kobe is suffering public humiliation NOW; whether he is guilty or innocent of all charges will be a moot point if he loses his income potential merely by being charged.

Kobe, who was willing to risk his marriage, image, health and maybe even livelihood for 20 minutes of satisfaction is a poor example of a victim.

As I have stated earlier, I don't know Kobe, and couldn't care less about him as a person. However, I do care about the SOP in matters like this. The fact that the alleged perp is tried in the public, and the accuser gets to hide in the shadows is completely unfair. To be fair, both the accuser and the accused SHOULD be kept private; until the jury has reached a verdict. As the matter stands at this point in time, I (if I were female) could accuse you (if you are male) of rape. You would have your name drug throught he mud; permanently lose respect of co-workers, friends and perhaps family. And when the facts finally came out that the charges were bogus; people would forever look at you as the 'guy who got off a rape charge'. And I, as the vindictive, lying and extorting party would not only get off completely free; I could claim that I didn't have a chance to present my evidence the way I wanted. And again, Google has enough examples of this, that it will make you want to vomit....