Dad files lawsuit to prevent 11-year-old son from hearing about Kobe's 'twiddly-dee'

[Walter Cronkite]

Bryant draws silly lawsuit
*Why isn't father exercising control over his own child?

Talk about ridiculous lawsuits. Another needless distraction has been added the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case in the form of a suit to prohibit cameras in the courtroom because an 11-year-old boy might see sexually explicit material on TV.

The boy's father -- not surprisingly -- is a lawyer. John Thompson of Coral Gables, Fla., said that he's worried that his son, a big basketball fan, might be exposed to details of the alleged sexual assault if it's televised. Bryant's initial court appearance was televised, but nothing has been decided yet as the process moves on.

Bryant, 25, a Los Angeles Lakers professional basketball player, is charged with felony sexual assault. He has said he had consensual sex with the woman at a hotel in Eagle, Colo. A preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 9.

If Judge Frederick Gannett denies the request, Thompson is asking that the live broadcast be delayed for at least 10 seconds so that a court-appointed official could delete the sexually explicit material.

Here's a another idea: If Thompson is so worried about what his son might hear if he watches the trial, how about switching the channel on the television set to less objectionable programming? With dozens of channels available -- including several that cater exclusively to childrens' programming -- a suitable alternative should be available.

Or better yet, since Thompson's son is such a big basketball fan, why not turn off the TV, go outside and experience quality father-son bonding while shooting some hoops one-on-one?

Parents need to exercise their own judgment in rearing their children instead of totally relying on government institutions such as the schools or the courts to make their decisions for them.

No one should know one's child better than his parents. Provide that personal guidance to him now, and he'll make sound decisions on his own as he grows up -- ones that won't require the intervention of the courts.