Tank's Take August 8, 2003

STOP THE MADNESS!!!

The coverage surrounding the case of Kobe Bryant has gone from annoying to intolerable. For the sake of all that is good enough. Enough! Enough! Enough!

Kobe Bryant was one of the most overexposed athletes to begin with his sprite ad being shown almost non-stop, now you can't go 10 minutes without seeing Kobe on TV or hearing Kobe on the radio.

On Wednesday Kobe Bryant stood before Eagle County Judge Frederick Gannett for the first time in a hearing that was advertised like an important event on ESPN. The all sports network boasted they would have the hearing live, even at times running a countdown clock during the Royals White Sox game. However ESPN was not alone an army of media that turned the small town of Eagle Colorado into a media circus with a sea of satellite trucks, and media tents.

So why was this hearing so important?

To set a date for a preliminary hearing. That's right the hearing was to set a date for a preliminary hearing that's it. No evidence presented, no pleas made. For a seven minute hearing the small county in Colorado became the center of the universe with the hearing being shown live on all broadcast networks, sports cable networks, and cable news networks. Just to determine that October 9th will be a preliminary hearing where evidence will be presented. Beam Me Up Scotty!!

That October 9th hearing that's the important one this was needless, and just a waste of time for everyone. In fact there should have never been a hearing this could have been done over the phone, but Judge Frederick Gannett doing his best Lance Ito imitation ruled Kobe must be present for the hearing.

However, covering the hearing was not the part that was most excruciating it was the coverage of the smaller accepts of the hearing, like what Kobe Bryant was wearing, showing him walk into the court house, showing him leave, how the crowd responded to him, why wasn't his wife there, and his demeanor. They discussed all but what he ate for lunch. This is beyond ridiculous.

With Kobe Bryant's name being in the news its only natural that other people in the NBA gets asked about their opinion. Among those weighing in was Dallas Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban, who stated the publicity, even though it was bad, was good for the NBA, because of the reality TV culture we live. This open the skies as criticism rained down on the Maverick owner.

Cuban did not start the conversation he was asked by "Access Hollywood." His statements were taken out of context as it was reported that he was happy about the publicity, but he began his statement with unfortunately, which was scantly reported as people discussed if Cuban is bad for the NBA.

Mark Cuban would go TV to clear this up and he was confronted by "Sportscenter" anchor Dan Patrick. However Cuban shot back "If this is a bad thing, then how come (ESPN) is devoting so much time to this story?" Cuban could have not been more right. The fact is the Kobe coverage shows that in fact crap is king.

There is no need for all this cluttered coverage. It comes down to he said she said. All information being leaked means nothing unless it's presented in court. Half of it is people who want their 15 minutes of fame. However, the media does not care who is telling the truth, and who wants the attention they just go ahead and report it. They don't care who lives are trampled, they report it.

At this point only 2 people really know what happened in that hotel room and until the trail everyone should just lay low so there could be a fair trial and not another OJ trial, where the people involved become TV stars. This includes Kobe who should not have showed up at that ridiculous Teen Choice Awards.

Kobe Bryant is not the first athlete charged with sexual assault, and he won't be the last. However the coverage was never this intense. In a way it is unfair for him, this is completely unnecessary and must be stopped for the sake of al that is good, lets move on to something else.

While the case of Kobe Bryant is going on perhaps the team that is happiest is the Portland Trailblazers, who make news when they go a month without a player being arrested. Already arrested this summer was Damon Stoudimire who was busted with Marijuana at an airport, during the Fourth of July weekend. The incident was just the latest for the team called the Jailblazers.

However, the thuggin in Portland maybe coming to an end as new GM John Nash has announced that players will be forced to abide by a code of conduct. However, the real test will come if Nash puts his money where his mouth is. Former GM Bob Whislett ignored the problems that had the Trailblazers earning the name Jailbalzers. However if Nash is serious then he must unload the thugs like Stoudimire, and Rasheed Wallace who is overdue for his next arrest.

This is a tremendous sacrifice for the Blazers to make; they have an impressive streak of 21 straight playoff appearances intact. However, they rarely make it out of the first round, and need to change the entire atmosphere surrounding the team, and if this means missing the playoffs for a few years so be it. It is time the Blazers take a stand and stick to the Code of Conduct otherwise the police incidents would continue to mount up, until the entire team is playing Oz.

While immature players overrun the NBA and more players leaving college or not going to college at all the NFL is taking a stand. Ohio State RB Maurice Clarrett has stated he wants to sue the league to be let in the NFL after his upcoming Sophomore season instead of waiting the required 3 years. Clarrett a close friend of LeBron James has been under investigation for accepting money from boosters, filing a false police report, and getting preferential treatments in passing a test. All of which have him on the sidelines during summer practice as the defending Champion Buckeyes try to make sure his eligible to play.

The problems Clarrett has right now have been brought upon himself. Nobody should feel sorry for him and the NFL deserves kudos for taking a stand. Recently NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue stated, "That Maurice will not be playing in the NFL, and if he wanted to turn pro he could go to Canada."

Maurice Clarrett is clearly not ready for the NFL; in his freshman year he suffered several injuries, which showed he is physically not ready to play with the big boys. In addition Clarrett has allot to learn before joining the NFL recently he snubbed Hall of Fame RB Marcus Allen, who has a meeting set up by Clarrett's High School coach during the Hall of Fame Induction weekend in Canton last week.

In the NFL you need more then just pure talent you need to be physically and mentally mature, clearly Clarrett is neither, and if he does want to go pro, I'm sure the CFL, who craves marquee players would welcome him with open arms. However, in the CFL Maurice Clarrett risks being exposed as being overrated if he fails, which would prevent him form ever getting the big money deals from the NFL.

The choice belongs to Maurice Clarrett, and there is allot on the line. However the fact that the NFL is blocking him from joining the league now prevents a flood of Clarrett's type players from wanting to join the league early, which is how the NBA's recent problems with bad behavior started. The NBA has a flood of players leaping from high school and their freshman year of college; this has led to a deterioration of play, as immature players are now the norm around the league. Its decisions like this that make the NFL the best run league in all professional sports.

Hero of the Week: Hank Stram, who at the age of 80 finally made it into the NFL Hall of Fame. Stram who is in failing health was forced to do his speech on video while his QB on those great Kansas City Chiefs teams gave a fantastic speech about his mentor Stram who was the all time winningest Coach in AFL history leading the Chiefs to 2 Super Bowls including a victory in Super Bowl IV. Of Stram, Dawson said, "Stram made him a champion and a Hall of Famer." Hank Stram's Hall recognition was clearly overdue, as he was one of those that helped pave the way for the NFL we see today especially with his decision to wear a microphone during Super Bowl IV, leading to many classic sound clips.

Geek of the Week: Judge Leo Holt of Chicago, for sentencing William Ligue Jr. to 30 months probation, for attacking Kansas City Royals 1B Coach Tom Gamboa with his son last September. Gamboa, who suffered permanent hearing loss in the attack, was left stunned and disappointed. In his ruling Holt stated that such behavior was so rare there was no need to sentence Ligue as a deterrent to others. However, the slap on the wrist sends the wrong message and will lead to more such incidents and people starved for attention in this pop culture world. Holt also said the rowdiness in baseball and drinking in the stands was the cause for Ligue coming on to the field. Its good to know that Chicago has judged that are so in touch with America. After all there are fans flooding the field every game and fights on the field every day. Perhaps before deciding what goes on at a baseball game Judge Leo Holt should attend a baseball game if he could get off his elitist bench and climb down his ivory tower, and sit with us common folk.