Endorsement contracts invariably have a public disrepute clause allowing a sponsor to pull out if the principal is charged with a crime, let alone convicted.And for the next few weeks, the headlines swirling around Bryant will be the opposite of wholesome. Assuming it is televised, the trial this autumn bodes fair to be a linear, if miniaturised, descendant of the O J Simpson jamboree. All the ingredients are there: a sporting superstar facing disgrace, a doughty smalltown district attorney who brought the charge, pitted against the bevy of star defence lawyers sure to be hired by Bryant and - of course - plenty of sordid sexual detail.The fight will be down and dirty, as the media rake over every detail of the alleged victim. Officially, her name is being withheld, but that and much more is purportedly available on the internet. The familiar rows of TV trucks with their satellite dishes are lined up outside the courthouse in remote Eagle County.Already unflattering leaks about her past are appearing in California and Colorado newspapers avid for every titbit about the case, although the past sexual activity of a plaintiff is inadmissible as evidence in a rape case under Colorado state law. But as the O J case showed, such niceties tend to be trampled in the media stampede.Back in Los Angeles, the Lakers are trying to pretend it is business as usual, insisting that Bryant will report in September for training for the new season. But for the player at the eye of the storm, business is likely to be anything but usual for a very long time - perhaps for ever..
England squandered a sixth-minute lead in their third match of the Champions Challenge in Randburg, South Africa, yesterday to suffer an humiliating 4-1 defeat to Malaysia which effectively ended their hopes of reaching Sunday's final. It was only England's fourth defeat in 25 matches with Malaysia. But after Jiwa Mohan had equalised for Malaysia from their first penalty corner on 15 minutes, it was an uphill task for England.Malaysia took the lead 15 minutes into the second-half when a well-executed corner variation resulted in Keevan Raj deflecting the ball into the roof of the net.England rallied, creating a couple of good chances and penalty corners, but a defensive lapse on 59 minutes allowed Azlant Misron to score Malaysia's third. Then, with time running out on England, Tajol Roslie broke down the right and scored with a simple push into goal to confirm Malaysia's victory.ENGLAND: J Lewis; J Collins, B Garrard; M Johnson, J Peckett, C Parnham (capt); J Goudie, M Pearn, B Middleton, G Fordham, M Jones. Substitutes used: S Mason, R Todd, D Hall, B Hawes, A West.Champions Challenge Day 3 (Randburg, SA): England 1 Malaysia 4; Spain 3 New Zealand 2.
Standings: 1 Spain 6pt; 2 South Africa 6; 3 Korea 4; 4 Malaysia 4; 5 England 3; 6 New Zealand 2.. A party at midnight was on the cards for Mike Golding and the crew of his Open 60 Ecover as he raced the final few miles to Calais last night. At the end of the 1,850-mile Calais Round Britain race, he was still fighting all the way. Hanging on to a place on the podium in third position, he still had hopes of overtaking the second-placed French single-handed specialist Roland Jourdain, whose yacht has been in his sights for days.
