Famous Faces of Orange County: Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant is a man who needs no introduction. Whether it’s the fame of 16 All-Star Nods, 5 NBA championships or the accusatory rape case in Colorado, everybody knows Kobe Bryant. Everybody also knows that he isn’t from California, but from Pennsylvania, where he was the top high school prospect at Lower Marion High. What some people might not know, is that Kobe has lived in Orange County since he met then Vanessa Laine (now Bryant) on the set of Tha Eastsidaz music video “G’d Up,” where Laine was a back-up dancer. Still enrolled at Marina High School in Huntington Beach, Laine decided to opt out of the public scrutiny and finish her high school education in Independent Study. The two were married at St. Roman Edward Catholic Church in Dana Point in 2001, and one year later bought a $4 million home in Newport Coast.

 2003 was when Bryant really started catching heat. While staying at The Lodge and Spa at Cordillera in Eagle County, Colorado awaiting his knee surgery at a nearby facility, Bryant was arrested by the Eagle County Sheriff on sexual assault charges filed by a 19-year-old employee who said that the night before his surgery, Bryant had raped her. Bryant publicly admitted to a sexual encounter in spite of his wife, but denied that there was any sexual assault and claimed that the encounter was consensual. However, after much public attention and hearings, in September 2004 the assault case was dropped (although a hefty civil suit was filed and letter settled afterwards).

Regardless of Bryant’s off court shenanigans, his play on the court has earned him the nickname of “The Black Mamba” because of his drive to mimic the snake’s ability to strike with 99% accuracy at maximum speed, in rapid succession. Bryant also began calling himself Vino, which describes how well he has aged and how his game has perhaps gotten better as the years have passed. Bryant has led an illustrious career, and although missing most of last year recovering from an Achilles tear, then a meniscus problem, he is ready to try for one more championship in his two years left. Living in Orange County for over 13 years has earned Bryant the right to be called an Orange County native, and I don’t think anyone would disagree.