From WNYC in New York, this is NPR's On the Media. I'm Brooke Gladstone.

And I'm Bob Garfield.

This week, the Kobe Bryant Bond hearing, a routine step in a criminal case,

a hearing in which Bryant said two words drew wall-to-wall coverage.

It's all Kobe all the time, especially on cable news.

And even Fox News channel's Shepard Smith sounded surprised.

On televisions in our newsroom, we can watch live coverage on CBS, NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, ABC, ABC, ESPN, CNN, headline news, Fox, Fox News, Fox Sports, Court TV, the Yes Network, and E Entertainment.

The hearing on more channels than the president's state of the union address.

By many media accounts, the Kobe Bryant case has all the elements of the great American scandal.

Money, celebrity, sex, and yes, race.

Interesting issue there.

Is the race card going to be played?

Criminal defense attorney, Jana Spillbore, is with us again.

There has been some discussion about whether race is going to become an issue in this case.

And, John, let me start with you, is it?

You know, originally I wanted to say no, although I agree.

That was from MSNBC shortly before Wednesday's hearing commenced.

Joining me now is Leon Winter, author of American Skin, Big Business, Pop Culture, and the End of White America.

Leon, welcome back to On the Media.

My pleasure to be here, Bob.

Well, at the risk of belaboring the obvious, what is driving the media, particularly cable TV, into this particular

feeding frenzy with Kobe Bryant? Is it just the August doldrums? I'm sure that doesn't hurt,

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