Skip Bayless Says Being Accused of Sexual Assault Helped Kobe Bryant Sell Shoes

October 21st, 2014 by Dan Carson Leave a reply »

According to Skip Bayless, Kobe Bryant wasn't an in-demand athlete for sports merchandisers before being accused of a serious crime.

ESPN's most dogged Pez dispenser of unconventional wisdom went on a First Take tangent Monday claiming that Bryant developed an “edge” and “sizzle” after being accused of sexual assault by a 19-year-old hotel employee in 2003. 

AwfulAnnouncing’s Matt Yoder spotted video of the segment. Bayless’ commentary came on the heels of a discussion involving Dallas Cowboys running back Joseph Randle and the endorsement deal he received following his recent shoplifting arrest.

Bayless told co-hosts Stephen A. Smith and Cari Champion that Randle’s new underwear deal is much like Bryant’s shoe deal in the aftermath of the Lakers superstar's sexual assault allegations. He claimed shoe companies in 2003 believed Bryant, then a three-time NBA champion, didn’t have a bad boy persona and therefore wasn’t a hot commodity until the Colorado allegations.

“Remember Kobe, pre-Eagle, Colorado?” Bayless asked. “He failed in ...

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