Athlete Bonehead story of the week

[Lyion]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/f ... index.html

The Minnesota Vikings quarterback presented a paralyzed high school football player two diamond necklaces worth about $75,000 during an NFL awards ceremony, but then awkwardly asked for them back after it was finished.

Nice boy, kinda dumb.

[Eziekial]

Not to jump to his defense, but you tend to do silly things under the lights of TV cameras.

[Harrison]

I'd like to know what he will give in compensation. It would look good on his part for something such as full college tuition ^_^

[Martrae]

All he woulda had to have said was, "I don't have anything to give you right now but you can wear mine for a bit."

[xaoshaen]

Culpepper's the bad guy here? No, he didn't handle the situation as well as he could, but the dude asked for $75,000 worth of jewelry. What sympathies I have lie with Culpepper here, who was put in an extraordinarily awkward position.

[Lyion]

Well, it's the idea a guy with a 102 Million contract would Indian Give to a paralyzed kid puts him in a bad light.

How in the FUCK does this not make him look like a bad guy? He didnt have to give him anything. He chose to do this. If he changed his mind, he shoulda sucked it up and moved on.

[Tikker]

well, I got the impression it was never intended as a permanent gift

the media's twisting it to make it look a lot worse than it is


I mean really, who gives a shit the dude is paralyzed, how fucking rude is it to ask some guy for his jewellry

that's just lame

[Xaiveir]

Culpepper did nothing wrong. He didnt "present" the gift to him. The kid, during a Q and A session asked if he could get some of that ice (referring to the 2 necklaces he had around his Neck). Culpepper jumped out of his seat and placed the necklaces around the kids neck, at no point saying here keep these, or these are for you.

I would think it was pretty obvious that he was just letting him wear them, and if he actually thought he was giving them to him then the kid is an idiot.

After the event, he went up to the kid and asked for them back, and said he would send him something. Even though he was not asked too, needed too, or required too.

Go Go media blowing something out of proportion.

[Diekan]

Culpepper did nothing wrong. He didnt "present" the gift to him. The kid, during a Q and A session asked if he could get some of that ice (referring to the 2 necklaces he had around his Neck). Culpepper jumped out of his seat and placed the necklaces around the kids neck, at no point saying here keep these, or these are for you.

I would think it was pretty obvious that he was just letting him wear them, and if he actually thought he was giving them to him then the kid is an idiot.

After the event, he went up to the kid and asked for them back, and said he would send him something. Even though he was not asked too, needed too, or required too.

Go Go media blowing something out of proportion.

Exactly.

Culpepper is one of the *good* guys of the league. The kid was the one who was rude. Culpepper just did the best he could to deal with the situation.

The kid has no business asking him for his "ice."

[Xaiveir]

One thing that really bothers me is when he put the necklaces around the kids neck it says that his mother cried.....ok perfectly understandable....but his dad was thinking of buying a safe to store it in. Does anyone else think that is fucked up. One of the first thing he thinks of is buying a fucking safe.

Not hey that was really cool of an elite NFL player first off recognizing his boy, but second getting out of his seat and off stage to come down and third putting his necklaces around his kids neck.

Oh no.....all he thought about was CHA CHING. I can buy what i want now.

Give me a break.

[Martrae]

If it were me, that would have been my panicked thought as well. OMG what am I gonna do with this???

[Phlegm]

I think he should just grab it and take off. What the kid going to do? Culpepper runs a 4.6 in the 40 and kid is in a wheel chair. No way he is going to catch him. If the kid's wheel chair is motorize, Culpepper could alway straight arm him np.

[Captain Insano]

unless the kids like christopher reeves and shoot culpepper with his lazer eyes... Hopefully he has cryptonite in his ICE... then he could just kick him in the face with his football shoes making him look like a waffle.

[Lyion]

Don't ever post on this forum again, Ralf, or I keel you with banstick.

[Lyion]

From the startribune.com
-------------------------------------------------------
Last update: February 4, 2005 at 8:02 AM
Inside XXXIX: Culpepper blindsided by erroneous reporting
Kevin Seifert
February 4, 2005 SUPE0204.DIARY


JACKSONVILLE, FLA. -- This is what happens when there is too much media and not enough stories.

One of the NFL's most genuine and kind players carried out a genuinely kind act Wednesday. And what did Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper get for his thoughtfulness?

National scorn, thanks to an Associated Press reporter who misinterpreted the scene and never bothered to follow up with the key players.

Here's what happened: While participating in a news conference Wednesday, Culpepper fielded an awkward question from a paralyzed 17-year-old boy. "Hey Daunte," said J.T. Townsend. "Can I get some ice?" -- a reference to the $100,000, diamond-encrusted necklace around Culpepper's neck.

With cameras rolling, Culpepper walked over to Townsend and thrilled him by hanging the necklace around his neck. Later, Culpepper sought out Townsend and put the chain back on. At Culpepper's request, Townsend's parents wrote down his address and contact information. Culpepper promised to send him gifts and memorabilia.

We were standing at Culpepper's side when the transaction took place. There was no animosity, no hurt feelings and no accusations of impropriety -- only thank-yous from Townsend, his parents and a doctor nearby.

The AP version of the story, however, in essence painted Culpepper as a spoiled athlete who "sheepishly" took away a gift from a paralyzed teenager once the cameras stopped shooting. Newspapers and Internet sites picked up the story nationally. One problem: Nothing could have been further from the truth.

Anyone who has met Culpepper knows he wears the necklace every day. He has for years. Garish as it might be -- its main ornament is a 6-inch hot pepper -- it carries sentimental and personal value. Since when is anyone -- athlete, actor, politician or average schmoe -- obligated to hand over personal possessions permanently when someone asks? Or should Culpepper have shot down the request and embarrassed Townsend on television?

If that's your story, then the next time someone asks you for your wedding ring or a sweater your grandmother knitted, you better cough it up. Or else find some real news to write about.

[Phlegm]

two completely different stories... which is the actual truth ... inquiring minds want to know.