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."

[The_Republican]

I think Nike is going to stay low for a while. If they had any balls they would cut Mr. Bryant lose, but they are too much of a coward to do that. They know if he gets off, Jackass Jackson would show up at their door with a tincup!

[Nick Danger]

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. Who would have guessed that the Dixie Chicks were going to turn themselves into pariahs? It can happen with any of these people. "Oh yeah, Kobe Bryant, he's Mr. Clean." So they all are... until they screw up.

[Zevonismymuse]

Around here, Iversons are the most popular shoe on the court. Iverson is hardly a pillar of virtue.

[TexRef]

I think Nike is going to stay low for a while. If they had any balls they would cut Mr. Bryant lose, but they are too much of a coward to do that.

I think that they stand to make too much money to do that. A lot of their customer base couldn't give a rat's ass about the rape charges -- even if he is convicted.

[lelio]

"They contend that he's violated his contract's morality clause."

To paraphrase Top Secret! "There are no good moral basketball players"

[cricket]

"Kobe is furious about Nike's attitude so far,"

. . .really; toooooooo bad.

And too bad, Nike cannot stand up to it's promise of the 'morality clause' and scratch Kobe off

[Callahan]

A rape charge would only improve Iverson's appeal:

"Yo, I'm Allen Iverson and nothin' brings a tear to my eye more than Reebok brand Pepper Spray! Remember homies, if you're gonna rapes somebody--rape in Reeboks!"

[Hodar]

My only concern at this point, is that Kobe is suffering a financial loss simply by being accused of a crime. He has NOT been tried, he has merely been accused. We can all be accused of any crime, whether we did it, or are completely and totally innocent; at any time.

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

[the Deejay]

A famous guy like Kobe, married w/children, had NO BUSINESS getting involved with another woman whatsoever. In essence, he brought all this strife upon himself.

[The Brush]

Whatever happened to that annoying little phrase "Innocent, until PROVEN guilty"?
He's no worse than Clinton as far as cheating on his wife and that little to-do with Juanita.
I wonder if Kobe's wife thinks he's guilty of anything important?

[onedoug]

I hope we don't see him go the full dissin' gig and sign with Def Jam wear. Good gone bad is definitely in that sense of style.

[Hodar]

He's no worse than Clinton as far as cheating on his wife and that little to-do with Juanita.

Do you read the news? Clinton was NOT impeached for sex; despite what the democrats say. He was impeached for witness tampering, lying to congress, abusing his office, and several other counts. Clinton is scum; but 'boinking' outside of marriage is not illegal, nor is it impeachable. Clinton was also afforded the benefit of having a trial. If Kobe is guilty, Nike has every right to kick his sorry butt to the curb. But, all that has happened at this point in time is that he has admitted to having sex. Anything beyond that is conjecture and speculation (unless you were there). That's why we have a court system. Feel free to do a google search for wrongful rape convictions. There are a lot of them. I don't feel it is fair that a man lose his job, contracts nor any financial compensations simply because he has been ACCUSED. And, at this point in time, that is all that has happened.

[af_vet_1981]

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

You'll have to ask OJ about that.

[Dante3]

Seems one of the tabloids is predicting a divorce.

[af_vet_1981]

I wonder if Kobe's wife thinks he's guilty of anything important?

She's just like Hillary, hanging on for the train ride. Neither care about blood on the tracks.

[Abe Froman]

He's not been convicted of a legal crime, but he is an admitted adulterer. If he would have simply minded his own business and not allowed this screwed-up-in-the-head young hussy into his room, he wouldn't have a problem right now. Now he's paying the price of his admitted discretion (and who knows, maybe he actually IS a rapist.)

[Hodar]

You'll have to ask OJ about that.

In the case of OJ, we had overwhelming evidence. We had DNA match, we had a history of previous violence against his ex-, we had the gloves, we had his actions following the crime. We also had a travesty of a court, and the 'help' of a policeman who wasn't content merely gathering existing evidence, he had to invent some. This is a totally different case. And, the final point is .... OJ actually got a trial. Kobe has yet to get that basic right.

Now, let's get some personal things straight. I don't know Kobe, I don't follow and couldn't possibly be more apathetic about any sport. My concerns apply equally to Kobe, as they would to anyone walking down the street.

[swarthyguy]

There's a bad joke here regarding Kobe's namesake.

[najida]

I wonder if Kobe's wife thinks he's guilty of anything important?

Well, he bought her a 8 carat, 4 million dollar purple diamond ring. Dang, if that doesn't scream "Honey, I stepped on my ____!" I don't know what does.