The unfortunate thing is that when women hear and read stories like this, it gives us all a bad name.

Kudos for you as a white guy to even bring up the race issue. Just compare the press that Big Ben received as opposed to what Kobe received…Kobe was crucified, Ben was not. I’m not a professional athlete, but I’m a African American professional. I laugh at the staggering amounts of former supervisors/bosses who thought I was going overboard with the self imposed rules I placed upon myself in professional and settings as a black guy. White guys only have to worry about fallout that occurs if they are convicted of something…most black men recognize the sociological fact that if they are even ACCUSED of a felony or sexual crime, THEIR PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL LIVES WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN. I don’t complain about it, but I do adjust appropriately to that reality. I will never be in a room alone with a female (especially a white female) personally, or professionally, unless my wife is present. Period. I don’t go to social functions without my wife. Period. Since my daughters turned 10, whenever they had friends over for a sleepover at my house, I check into the nearest Motel 8 and let my wife supervise the situation. No exceptions. I often asked for a new case whenever I was assigned to treat children in home based setting where there was a young, single mother present. No exceptions. My white supervisors thought I was paranoid, and sometimes this came out in written performance reviews. I did not care. My personal safety and reputation always came first. Perhaps a little Kobe/Dr. Thompson like paranoia serve Big Ben well.