Strong Reaction to Case

Kobe Bryant is innocent. Or guilty.

He’s also either coddled or persecuted, a worthy role model or a superstar who thought he was above the law. All over the country, and especially in Southern California, people expressed their gut reactions on TV, radio call-in shows and online to the news Friday that the Laker guard had been charged with sexual assault in Colorado.

“Total shock, total shock,” said a man interviewed by Channel 7 at Universal CityWalk. “I don’t believe he did it.”

Former NFL player Trevor Matich, a Fox analyst, said Bryant “is certainly guilty of being an egregious moron for putting himself in a hotel room in that situation.”

According to an ESPN.com survey, 55.1% of respondents said their first impulse is to believe the athlete is innocent upon hearing such allegations, and 33.3% said the announcement of the charges has “somewhat” tarnished their view of Bryant.

“No matter what happens, with the admission of adultery, Kobe Bryant’s image has definitely taken a hit,” host Doug Krikorian said on KSPN (710).

Dave Smith, a host on KMPC (1540), asked callers whether Bryant will get a standing ovation from Laker fans the way James Worthy did in the wake of his arrest for soliciting two prostitutes in Texas.

“I think [Bryant] should be able to play but no standing ovation,” a woman caller said. “I adore Kobe, but he cheated on his wife.”

Legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin said on CNN the fact Bryant’s wife has come out in support of him will aid him greatly in his defense.

“I think it’s awfully helpful,” he said. “The jury pool is watching you, is watching all the coverage of this case. And a defendant whose family is behind him tends to stand in much better stead than one whose family has abandoned him.”

The case is likely to spark racial tension, defense attorney John Burris said on MSNBC, because Bryant is black and his accuser is white.

“It has historical significance to it,” he said. “And it’s going to polarize a lot of people in the black community. White people don’t really understand it. But this whole white girl, black man is a very polarizing issue.”

But on local TV and radio, the comments from people in support of Bryant cut across all racial lines. Several people prefaced their comments by saying they are fans of Bryant or the Lakers.

“This is where Kobe is going to know who his true fans are,” a caller named David told KMPC. “I’m with him in the good times and the bad times.”

In one of the more curious segments, a KFWB (980) reporter interviewed children shortly after the charge was announced while they were waiting to play in a YMCA basketball game at Staples Center.

“He deserves it,” one boy said. “He was bad anyway.”

“I don’t think he raped her,” said another. “I think the Lakers are just trying to get rid of him.”

USC law professor Susan Estrich said on Channel 11 that the prosecution has an uphill climb not only because of Bryant’s popularity but the difficulty of proving sexual-assault cases.

“One of the things that makes sexual-assault cases difficult,” she said, “is that the difference between sex and sexual assault turns on certain things that go on in private where there are no witnesses.”

At one point, on KXTA (1150), there were 12 callers critical of Bryant and 13 in support of him.

“Rape is an act of violence, it’s not a sex act,” said Jan, one of those callers. “I can’t buy that he forced [himself]. Kobe’s a big man. Who knows if she ever said no?”

The show’s host, Lee “Hacksaw” Hamilton, was broadcasting live from Staples Center during Bryant’s news conference at Staples Center. He hailed the player’s admission that he committed adultery as “spectacular” and “courageous.”

Staff writer Lonnie White contributed to this report.