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Ice, ice baby (Vikes' Culpepper ungifts necklace from paralyzed HS player)
SI.com ^ | 2.2.05

Posted on 02/02/2005 8:41:48 PM PST by mhking

JACKSONVILLE, 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at sportsillustrated.cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Florida; US: Minnesota
KEYWORDS: diamonds; espnplayoftheweek; idiot; purezirconia; selfishplayer
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To: TheBattman

Whats $75 worth of jewelry to this kid.

He wouldnt keep it, the kid would prob sell it.

To DC it means something. Let him have it back and let him get the kid something meaningful.
DC is the kind of guy that will make the situation right.


81 posted on 02/03/2005 6:39:59 AM PST by wallcrawlr (www.bionicear.com)
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To: wallcrawlr

You are right. I was pretty harsh.


82 posted on 02/03/2005 6:40:17 AM PST by cyborg
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To: mhking

DC is one of the few decent people on the Vikes team.
I'm sure he'll make it right with this kid.


83 posted on 02/03/2005 6:41:12 AM PST by wallcrawlr (www.bionicear.com)
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To: mhking

What a gold plated ass. Where do the Vikings find these jerks?


84 posted on 02/03/2005 6:53:28 AM PST by em2vn
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To: L.N. Smithee
We all have our weaknesses. Some people fall victim to addiction. Other people can't detect moments when they should just shut up.

Excellent observation

85 posted on 02/03/2005 8:12:39 AM PST by WhyisaTexasgirlinPA
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To: trumandogz

I'm with Culpepper. When a kid asks that, the understanding is that it would be for him to try it out for fun and not to keep it.


86 posted on 02/03/2005 8:30:50 AM PST by GraniteStateConservative (...He had committed no crime against America so I did not bring him here...-- Worst.President.Ever.)
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To: mhking
I've seen another version of this story where the kid asked if he could borrow some of it, and Daunte let him. I think it was in the N.Y. Post.

Anyway, what kind of a kid and family yell out something like that to a guy on stage -- remember that they were only guests at this event -- and then complain about not getting to keep something they had no right to in the first place? I don't imagine either the organizers or Culpepper knew these people were going to try to convert this into a panhandling event.

Glad he took it back. And if the kid and family think they are entitled to something for nothing, and spit on his gesture of letting the kid wear the stuff for an hour or so, I have no sympathy.

He earned it.

87 posted on 02/03/2005 9:15:34 AM PST by XJarhead
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To: mhking
I think Culpepper just got a good dose of the liberal mentality. Give me yours!

Wonder what his political persuasion was and if it has changed any since this experience.

88 posted on 02/03/2005 9:16:40 AM PST by The Grim Freeper
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To: XJarhead

I agree 100%. Asking for someone's "ice?"


89 posted on 02/03/2005 9:18:11 AM PST by DTogo (U.S. out of the U.N. & U.N out of the U.S.)
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To: MizzouTigerRepublican
Why yes I am attacking the over rated Favre. He is an admitted drug addict. I say the same thing about Rush Limbaugh. All weak people if they have to use the crutch of drugs - Where can I obtain some of your righteousness?
90 posted on 02/03/2005 9:21:22 AM PST by SF Republican
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To: mhking
ugh...Everyone keeps calling the guy a kid. He's not. he's a HS senior, that puts him either at 18, or pretty darn close to it.

Kid implies that a 5 year old asked DC for his MR T outfit and that DC is a giant meany for taking what is his back.
91 posted on 02/03/2005 9:23:03 AM PST by tfecw (dolphins are the spawn of evil)
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To: mhking
Good to know he has his priorities in order
/s


92 posted on 02/03/2005 9:24:43 AM PST by reagan_fanatic (Liberalism is the disease - and Free Republic's the cure)
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To: mhking

Men should never wear jewelry that doesn't tell the time.


93 posted on 02/03/2005 9:26:44 AM PST by AmishDude
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To: mhking

bttt


94 posted on 02/03/2005 9:30:37 AM PST by redrunner
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To: mhking
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.

*************

Oy. The parents could have behaved in a mature way.

The high school kid was probably just being a wise guy, and Culpepper was on the spot. It's just an unfortunate situation all around.

In my opinion, Culpepper is less to blame than the parents.

95 posted on 02/03/2005 9:31:07 AM PST by trisham
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To: em2vn

The Minneapolis paper reported this morning that the kid gave the jewelery back to Culpepper in exchange for a promise of memorabilia.

Culpepper is a class act. Period.


96 posted on 02/03/2005 9:32:44 AM PST by Colonel_Flagg ("I speak Spanish to God, French to women, English to men, and Japanese to my horse."-Buckaroo Banzai)
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To: The Grim Freeper

I dunno, but Culpepper's a good candidate for a Southwest Airlines commercial: "Wanta get away??"


97 posted on 02/03/2005 9:33:47 AM PST by Inspectorette
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To: Semaphore Heathcliffe
"Chronic back pain is one mutha of a teacher. "Now let's see how much you can take, little man.""

By no means am I excusing what Rush did... but most people do NOT realize what severe back pain feels like. I used to dismiss my girlfriend because she has had back trouble for a long time. Until one day I fell asleep in a weird position laying on the floor. I was exhausted from work. The next morning I tried to get up and I could not even get to my knees.

I have a very high pain threshold. Growing up on a farm I played Hot Shot (cattle prod) wars and I got to the point where I could shrug off a hit from an 8 cell cattle prod without flinching.

Let me tell you that back pain was like NOTHING I had ever felt before. The problem is you can't move any way. The least little movement sends pain down your legs. Not fun!
98 posted on 02/03/2005 9:42:59 AM PST by Syntyr
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To: stainlessbanner
"You are right on the money. He's a p-u-n-k

You are badly mistaken. It's amazing that some FReepers take any old view of liberal jounalists when it fits their own agenda. You must be one of those racist types.

A poorly written article like this and you condemn someone? Dante is a stand-up guy and I defy you to note any evidence that he is a punk, other than this sensationalist article.

99 posted on 02/03/2005 9:43:37 AM PST by subterfuge (Call him "Slick Willie"---he hates that.)
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To: COEXERJ145
You forget that Brett was not only a Vicodin addict, but also an alcoholic. I am not bashing the great Martyrdom that is Brett Favre, but this guy is certainly no poster boy for clean living.

I applaud Brett for getting over his addictions, but let's not act like it was just a minor prescription drug problem. I also have on very good authority that Brett was well known as a lush, and not a very nice one at that. I cannot and will not site my sources, so take them with a grain of salt if you want, but Brett was not the upstanding guy some make him out to be. He has matured greatly, and he is a great guy now, but a few years back that was not the case.

As for Daunte, he may have handled the whole thing poorly, but what the hell is wrong with the kid's parents? This whole event couldn't have been more than an hour long, and the guys Dad is talking about buying a safe? Give me a break, this was an extremely embarrassing situation for all involved, and I will with hold judgment until I hear if Daunte follows through to send the kid something, and what that something is.

100 posted on 02/03/2005 9:44:08 AM PST by codercpc
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