I didn’t like Kobe since long before the incident in Colorado, but a big part of your article hinges on his “apology” to the woman. Released publicly. After a civil suit settlement. I think it’s reasonable to at least think about the idea that the “apology” was a part of the agreement and public relations recovery. Some public figures don’t recognize that a sincere (sounding) apology helps push things into the past, while a continuing denial allows people to bring up the issue over and over again, looking for closure.