Flash back to July 18, 2003. Kobe Bryant, at the nadir of a controversial public life, sits at a press conference at Staples Center, with his wife Vanessa at his side, and admits that he committed adultery while she was at home taking care of their baby daughter. He denies the sexual assault charges, but the damage is done. The public confession of adultery is bad enough. Bryant, who has always been poised, articulate and hyper-confident, stammers through the press conference, appearing confused, uncertain and afraid. Certainly not the Kobe we have all come to know.
During this unbelievably difficult era in Bryant’s public life, he endured constant ridicule at the hands of Denver Nugget fans each time he came to the Pepsi Center (the alleged sexual assault occurred in Eagle, Colorado about 120 miles from Denver).
Last night, that all changed. When Bryant left the floor in the final two minutes of the Lakers’ convincing victory over the hapless Nuggets, the Denver fans gave him a shockingly loud ovation. He’s been hearing “M-V-P” chants all across the country this year, but this was special. This was Denver, Colorado.
Kobe Bryant is back, rebuilt, better than before. This new Kobe is more mature, more real, more human, and more appealing than ever before. Eagle, Colorado is now just a footnote in the long saga of an American hero.
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