Remembering Kobe Bryant: How the Glorification of Professional Athletes Negatively Impacts Society

In the cumulative final project for my capstone, I take a deep dive into the glorification of professional athletes, how it led to Kobe Bryant’s sexual assault allegations being pushed to the side and why it should play a significant role in his legacy. Bryant is one of the most beloved NBA players of all time, but his legacy is not as pristine as it seems. In 2003, the 5x NBA champion was accused of sexually assaulting a female concierge at the Cordillera Lodge and Spa in Edwards, Colorado. Bryant admitted to committing adultery and having sex with this woman, but rejected the assault claims. The case was eventually dropped and settled outside of court due to overwhelming pressure on Kobe’s accuser, despite the strong evidence against him. Kobe “overcame” the allegations and put together a Hall of Fame career. On January 26, 2020, the basketball world was shocked when Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash. After an athlete dies, it is natural to discuss their legacy. However, the element of posthumous praise has kept his sexual assault allegations from being a part of those discussions. Listen to the full podcast to find out why that’s a huge mistake.

If you want to check out my other stories for this project, here are the links:

Remembering Kobe Bryant: A Complicated Legacy