Corp000085 Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1982747 given to a paralyzed HS football player during a press conference, asks for it back after the cameras are off. 50cent playoff choking daunte can afford new bling... not like his 18 caret gold, diamond studded cadillac necklace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockpile Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1982747 given to a paralyzed HS football player during a press conference, asks for it back after the cameras are off. 50cent playoff choking daunte can afford new bling... not like his 18 caret gold, diamond studded cadillac necklace. 226991[/snapback] What an incredibly thoughtless thing to do! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fezmid Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 What an incredibly thoughtless thing to do! 226996[/snapback] I agree, however I'm not quite as outraged as some. He *definately* should've made it clear that the kid was only getting it during the press conference. Something like, "Sure kid, you can wear it during the press conference and we'll talk afterwards" would've made this a non-story. However, there may be a reason (other than money) why Culpepper wanted his necklaces back. Maybe they were the first things he bought as a pro, or have some other sentimental value to him. I know that I still have the first baubal I bough when I got my first paycheck (from K-Mart no less. ). Regardless, he handled it really badly... CW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toledo Bill Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 Can someone "paste" the story? We have ESPN blocked at work. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevestojan Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 seems like an honest mistake. I'm sure he'll make up for it.... I mean, the kid is paralyzed, not retarded. He asked for the "ice", which is awkward anyway... Does Dante have to give every underprivelged person that asks all of his personal possessions? I feel bad for the kid, and Dante will hook him up, but $75,000 just because the kid asked? Umm, no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mead107 Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 the kid should be happy that he got to put it around his neck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Like A Mofo Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 Can someone "paste" the story? We have ESPN blocked at work.Thanks 227000[/snapback] 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. "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." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJsackedagain Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 With the way Daunte turns over the ball, I wonder if he's gone up to opponents after games and asked for interceptions back too. Perhaps he can bring the kid to Moss's house for the weekend for some blunts and babes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2003Contenders Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 We're not talking about a $200 jersey here. We're talking $75K. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffalo1 Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 The kids parents seemed to be the ones who blew it out of proportion. They should have realized Dante was being nice. Even if he did give the ice to the kid it would have been on Ebay 2 days later anyway. And I would have bid 10 bucks for it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KD in CA Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 This doesn't add up. He was just handing over $75k in jewelry? What is that kid going to do with a $75k necklace? If Dante had intended to help the kids family defray medical costs, he would have written them a check. It sounds to me like Dante was misunderstood and now the parents are trying to shame him via the media into a $75k windfall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corp000085 Posted February 3, 2005 Author Share Posted February 3, 2005 After second though, i agree that the family is crazy over this thing... However, it is somewhat culpepper's fault for not making it obvious that it was a joke/temporary type of thing. I guess this just goes to show that you should never pretend to give away your bling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaska Darin Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 And people wonder why pro athletes are so stand offish with the public. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRH Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 People, read the article again. Nowhere does it say the family was upset with Culpepper. When he gave the kid the bling, the mother cried and the dad said "I gotta get a safe." But there's no reportage of what the parents or the kid said after C-Pep asked for the bling back. If you're gonna be upset with anyone, be upset with the reporter or ESPN. Not the family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fezmid Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 And people wonder why pro athletes are so stand offish with the public. 227250[/snapback] Come on AD, Culpepper should've made some statement when he handed it over. He was obviously trying to get some positive press by "giving" the jewelry to the kid. He could've easily qualified it by saying, "Sure kid, take it for the rest of the press conference." But he didn't. The kid asked for the jewelry, Culpepper gave him the jewelry. Then afterwards, he took it back. Assuming that's really how it went down (and that the article isn't slanting anything), I'd bet that the kid actually has a *legal* leg to stand on. If I ask you for $20 and you give it to me, I don't have to give it back unless you clarify that it's a loan. Granted $75,000 is more than $20, but again, Culpepper should've clarified. Then again, athletes aren't always known for their intelligence I guess... I'm not saying the kid deserves to get the stuff by any stretch of the imagination; but Culpepper was definately an idiot. CW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRH Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 Come on AD, Culpepper should've made some statement when he handed it over. He was obviously trying to get some positive press by "giving" the jewelry to the kid. He could've easily qualified it by saying, "Sure kid, take it for the rest of the press conference." But he didn't. The kid asked for the jewelry, Culpepper gave him the jewelry. Then afterwards, he took it back. Assuming that's really how it went down (and that the article isn't slanting anything), I'd bet that the kid actually has a *legal* leg to stand on. If I ask you for $20 and you give it to me, I don't have to give it back unless you clarify that it's a loan. Granted $75,000 is more than $20, but again, Culpepper should've clarified. Then again, athletes aren't always known for their intelligence I guess... I'm not saying the kid deserves to get the stuff by any stretch of the imagination; but Culpepper was definately an idiot. CW 227256[/snapback] I'm not sure a court would read "Hey Daunte, can I get some of that ice" as a request for Culpepper to GIVE him $75,000 worth of jewelry. And I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and say he was just trying to make a paralyzed kid feel like a king for a few minutes, and he would have done it regardless of whether there were cameras there. To paraphrase AD.... and people wonder why pro athletes are so standoffish with the press. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaska Darin Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 Come on AD, Culpepper should've made some statement when he handed it over. He was obviously trying to get some positive press by "giving" the jewelry to the kid. He could've easily qualified it by saying, "Sure kid, take it for the rest of the press conference." But he didn't. The kid asked for the jewelry, Culpepper gave him the jewelry. Then afterwards, he took it back. Assuming that's really how it went down (and that the article isn't slanting anything), I'd bet that the kid actually has a *legal* leg to stand on. If I ask you for $20 and you give it to me, I don't have to give it back unless you clarify that it's a loan. Granted $75,000 is more than $20, but again, Culpepper should've clarified. Then again, athletes aren't always known for their intelligence I guess... I'm not saying the kid deserves to get the stuff by any stretch of the imagination; but Culpepper was definately an idiot. CW 227256[/snapback] I don't trust any initial media reports in stuff like this. They live to build people up, only to tear them down later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fezmid Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 I don't trust any initial media reports in stuff like this. They live to build people up, only to tear them down later. 227264[/snapback] Yeah, I definately agree with you there; it's probably especially considering it's Superbowl week, I'm sure it's probably a case of the reporter trying to get a good headline... ...and apparantly it worked. CW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickJames Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 D o u c h e B a g Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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