Culpepper's jewels
 

seems kind of an unfair slam at Culpepper...for not giving away $75,000 worth of jewelry to a paralyzed kid in the audience.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...x.html?cnn=yes

ACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- 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.

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

The confusion began at the FedEx ground and air player of the year honors, where finalists Culpepper, Peyton Manning, Shaun Alexander and Curtis Martin were on stage for the announcement.

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

"Hey Daunte, can I get some of that ice?" he said in a low voice, referring to the two sparkling necklaces hanging around Culpepper's neck.

Culpepper jumped up, pulled them off and brought them over to Townsend, a senior defensive back at Jacksonville Episcopal High School who was paralyzed from the neck down while making a tackle in October.

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

After Culpepper put the necklaces around Townsend's neck, his mother started to cry. His father talked about needing to get a safe for the expensive jewelry.

Culpepper, meanwhile, went back to his seat and finished the awards ceremony (Manning won the air award, and Martin won the ground one). After it was over, Culpepper patiently answered dozens of questions while keeping a close eye on his jewelry across the room.

One of the diamond-laced necklaces was the No. 11, Culpepper's jersey number, and the other was a large pepper (for Culpepper).

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

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

In an unrelated note, Culpepper will appear in a 60-second NFL Network commercial to air during the Super Bowl along with several other players and coaches from around the league that didn't make it to the big game. They'll be singing Tomorrow, a tune from the musical Annie.

I don't think he did anything wrong. Kid shouldn't have been asking for his jewelry in the first place...

Agreed. When you read what the kid said, it's pretty plausible that Culpepper thought he just wanted to try them on, not take them. Once he realised the communication gaffe, he did his best to correct it, including the promise of sending something else.

Much ado about nothing from reporters tired of covering T.O.

Next on FOX: "When P.R. Ops Backfire"

This is why I don't wear diamond-laced jewelry.

i don't think it was a "slam". but fwiw even though he's rich he couldn't have been expected to give away such an expensive gift. that's absurd.

Inane crap- $75,000 in jewelry ? wtf is the kid thing ?

You can't be fucking serious. One more time.

You can't be fucking serious.

Clearly DD is begging for a parody thread.

Ditto. I don't see how anyone could fault Culpepper for anything.

the photo description was the worst:

"Daunte Culpepper's necklaces were very impressive, until he asked for them back after Wednesday's ceremony."

totally makes him out to be an asshole, which is unfair.
I happened to see this on the NFL Network (their angle, btw, was just that he was doing a nice thing for the kid, not that he's stealing jewerly from paralyzed children). I did not get the impression at all that he was giving away his jewelry...why the kid's parents and this idiot AP writer thought that is beyond me.

He's got the money, and can afford it. Whats the problem? I don't think its a matter about him being rich, so he could pay. I hate it when people do that.


I agree with Jeebs statement. He seems pretty cool to go over and put the jewelry on him, and then promise that he'll send him something else after the mix-up. Yeap, what a jerk. :rolleyes:

I think sov was complaining about the title of the article, not Culpepper's actions, SunDancer... :)

Haha, thanks Jebs. Sorry Sov. I just rolled out of bed, so I'm still alittle out of it.

I think you misunderstood- Im thinking that the kid thinking it was a gift is overdone.

Man, I am having an "off" day. I need some brain power today.

The best thing about this thread is that the title is it's own parody.

Does that mean when HA reads the title his head will explode?

its

I'm waiting for the idiot parents to sue.

I'm thinking 50 million for emotional distress. I don't think Culpepper did anything wrong.