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Tickets at Ticket Master
Kobe Bryant finally arrived at training camp, idealistically hoping basketball would help him handle his highly public ordeal.
Bryant missed the first two days of camp for the Los Angeles Lakers, claiming he was sick. There was speculation that the NBA superstar facing a rape charge would not join his team until it returned to California next week.
Bryant arrived early Saturday morning and took part in workouts. He met the media afterward, parrying questions about his future with his repeated desire to return to work.
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"I'm concerned about it," he admitted. "But this is what I do
ticketmaster. This is my job. My family has been an excellent support system
for me."
Bryant, 24, is charged with the rape of a 19-year-old woman at a Colorado resort on June 30 and is free on bond. He maintains the sex was consensual, and the case appears headed to trial. If convicted, Bryant faces at least four years in prison.
On Thursday in Colorado, Eagle County Judge Fredrick Gannett ruled that the accuser will not have to testify during the preliminary hearing, which is Thursday and will be open to the public. Bryant will have to enter a plea.
At practice, Bryant talked about the huge difference between criminal court and the basketball court.
"Going through what we're going through is difficult," said Bryant, who has a wife and infant daughter. "Playing the game of basketball is not difficult."
Bryant met with his teammates, many of whom are new this season and have received instructions from coach Phil Jackson as to how to answer questions about Bryant's case.
"We talked about basketball a lot and that's what I'm here for - basketball," he said.
Bryant said he was looking forward to getting into shape after offseason surgery and was excited about the additions of perennial ticketmaster All-Stars Gary Payton and Karl Malone. He also said he had heard from Devean Goerge, Slava Medvedenko and Rick Fox over the summer.
However, Bryant sounded a bit naive when he was asked how this season will be much different than any of his previous seven in the NBA.
"It's just gonna be a season," said Bryant, who has expressed his desire to become a free agent next summer. "We'll just come and play the games. I don't think anything is going to overwhelm us."
Since Bryant was charged on July 18, there have been numerous reports regarding the identity and background of the alleged victim, who has had her pictures posted on some web sites and her name revealed by a web site and radio station.
Eagle County District Attorney Mark Hurlbert has said he is confident his office could prove Bryant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
One of the most popular and marketable sports figures, Bryant lost an endorsement deal with an Italian chocolate company. He has much more lucrative deals with McDonald's, Sprite and Spalding in ticketmaster addition to his six-year, $71 million contract which expires in 2006.
The alleged incident took place June 30 in Bryant's room at the Lodge & Spa at Cordillera. He was in town for a surgical procedure.
Deputies received the complaint July 1, and Bryant offered a DNA sample at an area hospital the following day. Investigators reviewed physical evidence, conducted interviews and met with Hurlbert's office before issuing a warrant.
A cooperative Bryant turned himself in to authorities July 4 and was released after posting $25,000 bond.
Last season, he was second in the NBA in scoring at a career-high 30.0 points per game and posted career bests with 6.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists. The 6-6 guard scored at least 40 points in nine straight games and on March 5 became the youngest player to reach the 10,000-point plateau.
The son of former
NBA player Joe Bryant, Kobe Bryant made the jump from high school in 1996. He
won MVP honors at the 2002 All-Star Game in his native Philadelphia and has
earned All-NBA first team honors each of the last two seasons.