This whole Kobe-is-so-brave-for-not-letting-the-rape-thing- bother-him thing would drive me nuts if I were really immersed in the media these days.

Most people accused of sexual assault don’t get the benefit of 20,000 supporters showering them with love just hours after a court appearance.

… and …

Not once will you hear anyone speak this truth: “Man, it’s a damn shame that Kobe Bryant is putting himself, his teammates, his fans and his family through all of this crap. Wow. As good as he played Tuesday, just think: If the idiot hadn’t stepped out on his wife and slept with a teenage woman he didn’t know, he might have been even better Tuesday night. Or maybe the Lakers would be winning this series and wouldn’t find themselves in so much turmoil. But these are the dangers of a high-profile, married man sleeping with a teenager he’s only known for 30 minutes. You might catch a case and wind up on national TV looking like Boo-Boo the Fool.”

If I’m Phil Jackson, I don’t put the guy on the court if he misses all the team meetings, shoot-arounds, etc. I don’t care that he’s able to perform at the level that he is through all of this–he’s simply not a part of the team if he’s not around through all of it.