Kobe Bryant wins male athlete honor at Teen Choice Awards
Sun, Aug. 03, 2003
Associated Press
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - In a rare public appearance since he was accused of rape, basketball star Kobe Bryant and his wife Vanessa attended the 2003 Teen Choice Awards, where he was picked as the favorite male athlete.
Accepting the award, he said, "An injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere," paraphrasing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Entertainment Tonight Online reported.
The show was taped Saturday night at the Universal Amphitheater.
Bryant held his fist in the air after claiming his trophy, a multicolored surfboard emblazoned with the words "Teen Choice Awards 2003." He also won last year.
The Los Angeles Lakers' star made a peace sign, gave a thumbs-up gesture and waved to fans as he arrived. He also kissed the hand of his wife, Vanessa.
Bryant and his wife attended the ESPY awards July 16 but have made few public appearances since the scandal erupted last month.
The 24-year-old basketball star has said he had sex with a 19-year-old employee at a Colorado resort June 30 but denies he committed sexual assault. He's free on $25,000 bond.
The Teen Choice Awards ceremony was taped for broadcast Aug. 6 on the Fox network. That's the same day Bryant is due in court for a hearing on the charges.
Votes for favorite actors, musicians and athletes were cast on forms published in Teen People and made available on the Internet through America Online.
Winners were chosen from the top four vote receivers in each category by a committee of AOL, Teen People and Fox representatives.
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