Bryant Might Miss Olympics

Prosecutors in Kobe Bryant’s criminal case told Judge Terry Ruckriegle they could be ready for trial in late August, and Bryant’s defense team suggested a date in late August or early September, casting some doubt on Bryant’s Olympic involvement.

The Olympic basketball commitment is expected to begin in late July, when the team will gather to work out in Florida. The team apparently will stay together through the conclusion of the Olympics in Athens on Aug. 29. There also will be pre-Olympic exhibitions in Cologne, Germany; Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro; and Istanbul, Turkey.

Though those close to Bryant suggest the schedule would be too rigorous, USA Basketball spokesman Craig Miller said Wednesday that Bryant had not notified the group of a change in his plans, and it would assume he would play until it heard otherwise.

“I think everybody’s still kind of waiting to see what transpires here down the road,” Miller said, “with the trial date and all of that.”

-- Tim Brown