Culpepper = No Class

[Dave66]

Associated Press

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Daunte Culpepper showed off his scrambling ability Wednesday -- in a crowded convention center ballroom.

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.

The apparent gift prompted a mother to cry, a father to think about buying a safe to store it and Culpepper to find a way out of the mess.

HE TOOK THEM BACK!!!!!

What a guy!

You can read the whole story here hxxp://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1982747

[mckerney]

:rolleyes: (http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/showthread.php?t=35541)

[Eaglesfan27]

There is already a thread about this. Also, if you read a few different sources, there are different views of what happened. From reading the conglomeration of reports, I don't think he did anything wrong. It was a miscommunication that he tried to make right.

[VPI97]

http://www.fof-ihof.com/upload/VPI97/big-rolleyes.gif
Fixed

[Cap Ologist]

$75000. What's $75,000 to me? I could pay that in straight cash.

[Schmidty]

I liked DD's title better.

[bosshogg23]

Any parents who thought Culpepper was giving $75,000 worth of jewelry to a kid in the audience are idiots.

[Schmidty]

I just think that poor, unsuccessful people like to have any reason to get mad at rich, successful people in order to make their own sad lives feel less pathetic.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I just think that poor, unsuccessful people like to have any reason to get mad at rich, successful people in order to make their own sad lives feel less pathetic.Wow, Schmidty, I think you just described the whole Michigan State/Michigan dynamic as poetically and concisely as I have ever heard! Well done, mate! :D

[Surtt]

Must be a slow news week for the NFL.

[Schmidty]

Wow, Schmidty, I think you just described the whole Michigan State/Michigan dynamic as poetically and concisely as I have ever heard! Well done, mate! :D

I hate you. I wish you nothing but ill-will. :mad:

[SunDancer]

Dave,
Here is the original thread.

http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/showthread.php?t=35541

[Honolulu_Blue]

I hate you. I wish you nothing but ill-will. :mad:
Heh!! :D

[Joe]

he has no class because he didnt give away $75,000 worth of jewels? What the fuck ever. Its not his fault people use their kids to try to con him.

[SunDancer]

he has no class because he didnt give away $75,000 worth of jewels? What the fuck ever. Its not his fault people use their kids to try to con him.

Not to sound insenitive if I do, but from a media viewpoint, would this even be a story if the player wasn't paralyzed?

[sovereignstar]

Associated Press

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Daunte Culpepper showed off his scrambling ability Wednesday -- in a crowded convention center ballroom.

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.

The apparent gift prompted a mother to cry, a father to think about buying a safe to store it and Culpepper to find a way out of the mess.

HE TOOK THEM BACK!!!!!

What a guy!

You can read the whole story here hxxp://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1982747

Hey, Dave. Dick Nixon just called. He wants his stupidity back.

[Axxon]

Hey, Dave. Dick Nixon just called. He wants his stupidity back.

And you need Dave's permission to give it back to him?

[mckerney]

Culpepper blindsided by erroneous reporting (http://www.startribune.com/stories/503/5221966.html)

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.

[Draft Dodger]

in all honesty, I'd like to see that AP writer canned.

[Axxon]

in all honesty, I'd like to see that AP writer canned.

I'm trying to play devils advocate here but it isn't working. I agree that writer should be canned.

[mckerney]

Why fire the writer now, when he's already got big plans for a post-Super Bowl article:

Kraft takes back trophy from paralyzed player

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Robert Kraft show that he has scrambling ability Wednesday -- in a crowded convention center ballroom.

The New England Patriots owner presented a high school football player who is paralyzed from the waist down with the Super Bowl trophy at a victory celebration, but then awkwardly asked for them back after it was finished.

The apparent gift prompted a mother to cry, a father to think about buying a case to store it and Kraft to find a way out of the mess.

"I'll get him something else," Kraft said sheepishly.

The confusion began at the Patriots official Super Bowl victory party, where Kraft and several members of the Patriots organization were on stage.

When the master of ceremonies opened the floor for questions, Bryan Porter spoke up from his wheelchair in the front row.

"Hey Kraft, can I get some that trophy?" he said in a low voice, referring to the the Lombardi Trophy in Kraft's hand.

Kraft jumped down from the stage and brought the trophy over to Porter, a junior quarterback at Jacksonville Episcopal High School who was paralyzed from the waist down while being tackled tackle in October.

Porter spent the last four months in various hospitals and was released Wednesday -- just in time to go to the Super Bowl event.

After Kraft handed the trophy to Porter, his mother started to cry. His father talked about needing to get a case for the expensive trophy.

Kraft, meanwhile, went back to the stage and finished the celebration. After it was over, Kraft patiently answered dozens of questions while keeping a close eye on his trophy across the room.


"Where's that kid at? I've got to get my stuff back," Kraft said.

Kraft then walked over to the Porter and asked them to write down their address so he could send them something else. Kraft wasn't sure what it would be.

[Draft Dodger]

nice

[Maple Leafs]

This came up over lunch during a conversation about what Owens' super bowl touchdown celebration should be, if he scores.

How funny would it be if he ran over and gave the ball to a kid in the front row, left for a few seconds, then came back and took the ball back, followed by the Culpepper "keep rolling" hand signal?

[Dave66]

sovereignstar and axxon

can kiss it!!

[duckman]

Kiss what?
His dog?

[sovereignstar]

sovereignstar and axxon

can kiss it!!

Kiss what?

[mckerney]

sovereignstar and axxon

can kiss it!!

What can honest reporting do?

[Axxon]

sovereignstar and axxon

can kiss it!!

Wow, last time I stick up for you, dipshit.

[SunDancer]

Kiss what?

Do you really wanna know?

[Tekneek]

Embarass the kid? Why not just say, "I will talk to you when this press conference is over." Despite the other article attempting to explain it, doesn't it still seem odd? How does it embarass the kid to not put the necklace on him? I'm confused about that.

You don't have to worry about the AP writer being canned. My impression has been that wire reporters have a tough time getting stories accepted once they have 1 story pulled. The same goes for photographers who have photos picked up by a wire service.

[sovereignstar]

Do you really wanna know?

Sure. Are you Dave?

[SunDancer]

Sure. Are you Dave?

Nope. I'm SunDancer.

[SunDancer]

Embarass the kid? Why not just say, "I will talk to you when this press conference is over." Despite the other article attempting to explain it, doesn't it still seem odd? How does it embarass the kid to not put the necklace on him? I'm confused about that.

You don't have to worry about the AP writer being canned. My impression has been that wire reporters have a tough time getting stories accepted once they have 1 story pulled. The same goes for photographers who have photos picked up by a wire service.

Eh, I though that the kid meant it as a joke, and Culpepper played along with it.

[Tekneek]

Eh, I though that the kid meant it as a joke, and Culpepper played along with it.

Hmmm. A possibility that I did not consider for one second. Now it makes a bit more sense. Very trusting of him, considering even a person in a wheelchair can be whisked away quickly if they want to be.

[SunDancer]

Hmmm. A possibility that I did not consider for one second. Now it makes a bit more sense. Very trusting of him, considering even a person in a wheelchair can be whisked away quickly if they want to be.

Yeah..I'm just guessing. The kid can "Can I get some of that ice?". Either the kid was joking, or has no manners (he should not be asking such a question). Culpepper might of playing along with his joke and being a nice guy, and went over and put his ice around his neck. It all depends on how Culpepper reacted, and how the kid asked.