Kobe Bryant Charged With Sexual Assault

Re “Bryant Charged; He Admits Adultery but Denies Assault,” July 19: As a teacher and basketball coach, I have witnessed the way young people view Kobe Bryant. To them, he is an idol and a hero. For the student who disliked reading, a book about Kobe often engendered an interest in a task that was previously considered banal. During a long basketball practice, Kobe was used as the example of work ethic, determination and defensive energy. Every free-dress day, the classroom was literally filled with oversized No. 8s.

When I discuss this matter with my class, I will acknowledge that Kobe made a decision that was morally reprehensible but that we should withhold judgment on the criminal charge. Kobe must be considered innocent until proven guilty. I hope that he is closer to the man we all thought he was than the man he is accused of being.

One thing is for sure: The next struggling student who comes to me looking for a friendly biography will have to be reading about someone else -- a new “hero,” for now.

Brian Loftus

Playa del Rey

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I’m sick of the Bryant mess, and it’s only just begun. If he loves his wife more than anything else in this world as he said on TV, then why did he have sex with the girl in the first place? Please don’t tell me that he was seduced and couldn’t say no.

Betty Vanole

Burbank