Quick! How on Earth could there be a story that include both Justin Bieber and Kobe Bryant? Easy, Kobe has a running bet with an associate that Bieber’s career implosion is right around the corner.

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A story by The New Yorker's Ben McGrath explains that Kobe thinks Bieber's downfall is closer than the pop sensation thinks.

“Kobe Bryant and a business associate have a running bet on the staying power of the pop stars Katy Perry and Justin Bieber. Bryant, who wears self-discipline like a badge, has long favored the more predictable Perry’s odds, and found in Bieber’s recent tabloid episodes hints of a looming implosion: talent spurned. As he and the associate walked into the dining room at the Four Seasons, in downtown Miami, in late January, the associate, a Belieber, mentioned that Bryant had been giving him a hard time about it for years. He seemed almost ready to concede. That morning, elsewhere in Miami, Bieber had been caught drag racing and booked for driving under the influence.”

The story is an interesting piece of literature and explores multiple forms of entertainment from sports to music.

You can read McGrath’s piece here.

Bieber has had himself an interesting, yet tragic, 2014 thus far. He is currently going through the motions stemming from his arrest for drag racing and DUI as well as egging a neighbors home on a different night. Kobe looks to have the leg up in this bet, but whats more tragic is that Bieber’s life is getting this close to the drain at his young age.

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Kobe himself had successfully recovered from the possibility of implosion in 2003 when he had been arrested for an alleged sexual assault against a hotel employee. The case was settled out of court and Kobe publicly apologized, but didn't admit any guilt. Needless to say Kobe got his act together soon after that. Hopefully the 20-year-old Bieber will smarten up as well because he is awfully close to winning Kobe a bet.

What do you think of Kobe betting on Bieber’s downfall? Tell us @SportsWN