(Eagles) McNabb, Trotter no-shows in parking court

NFL.com ^ | March 3, 2006 | "Wire Reports"

[End Times Sentinel]

McNabb, Trotter no-shows in parking court

NFL.com wire reports

GLASSBORO, N.J. (March 3, 2006) -- Philadelphia Eagles players Donovan McNabb and Jeremiah Trotter, charged with parking their cars in handicapped spots, failed to show for a hearing.

Glassboro Municipal Judge Charles J. Springman Jr. cited each player for failing to appear at a March 2 hearing. A courts administrator told The Philadelphia Inquirer that if the athletes, or their attorneys, failed to attend rescheduled hearings, contempt charges could result.

The men are among an estimated 300 people in the New Jersey community who have received police complaints filed by Maryann Cottrell, a crusader against those who park in spots of spots reserved for the physically handicapped. The 53-year-old Cottrell, who cares for an adult child with autism, last fall photographed the athletes' vehicles parked in handicapped spots outside the Landmark Americana sports bar.

McNabb's doctor wrote to the municipal court, saying his client was hospitalized on the date of the alleged infraction. The bar's owner also wrote, saying nearby construction forced Trotter to use the handicapped spots.

[1L]

I am my parents' adult child. One's children last forever.

[SengirV]

Maybe not, as long as snyder still spends in a haphazard fashion like he did in 2000 ;)

It might be a bit harder for Snyder to dominate the NFL as you think. He has to deal with the $$$ he still owes on the building of Fed-Ex field. It's the teams who have tax payer funded stadiums who might really make out like bandits here.

[Liberty Valance]

Go Colts! ;o)

[Gondring]

Why in the HELL does a sports bar need to have handicapped parking spots?

Yeah, nobody in a wheelchair should be drinking a beer or watching sports--or even socializing!! </sarc>

For those who don't know and haven't bothered to find out, the autistic 20-year-old daughter in question also has physical disabilities; the mother doesn't use the placard when the daughter isn't with her.

[Gondring]

Im afraid the Salary Cap loss will turn the NFL into the NBA..

What....you mean boring tennis matches of back and forth down the field with meaningless scores, no defense to speak of, total focus on flash and style rather than results, "good strategy" consisting of intentionally getting penalties, narcissistic individualism, etc.? ;-)

[NerdDad]

OK. I will take that pop. That question was a bit insensitive.

Permission to revise and extend my remarks (err, questions)...

Do this woman and her autistic 20 year old daughter frequent this sports bar? Does this mother allow her underaged daughter (regardless of physical or neurological limitations) to drink while frequenting this sports bar? If they do not frequent the bar, why do they care who parks where in the bar's parking lot? Is this parking lot on public or private property?

My question about how long she had to stalk these people before being able to file her complaint still stands.

It is not my intent to come off sounding adversarial. I have a nephew who is wheelchair bound because of cerebral palsy so I do have some understanding of the issues. Because of that personal connection, I make it a point to challenge people who park in handicapped spots without the proper tag or decal.... but I do it when I see it, in person, and in places like Wal-Mart or the supermarket. I don't make a crusade of it and I don't see the point of mounting such a challenge at a bar.

[george wythe]

Update

April 5 2006

Two Eagles guilty in handicapped parking

GLASSBORO, N.J. Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb and linebacker Jeremiah Trotter were found guilty Wednesday of parking their trucks in zones for the handicapped, although both players said they were not behind the wheel at the time.

McNabb was ordered to pay a $256 fine and $33 in court fees. Trotter, who had parked illegally twice, was ordered to pay $512 and $66 in fees. The Philadelphia players were in court during separate proceedings.

[oldenuff2no]

I'm a physically disabled Nam Combat vet, and yes I do have disabled plates on my truck. I'm not in a chair but I am mobility impaired and the handicapped parking places do make the difference on my ability to go some places.
A doctor is the only one who can make the decision about who gets the plates and who doesn't. How many of you have a medical degree and can discuss each individual case on an equal intellectual level with those doctors?
I know one Lady who has the plates because she a bad case of asthma. Sometimes walking a few yards will set it off. Sometimes in life we see those people who try make themselves look bigger and better by attacking others who are unable to speak up for themselves or who get embarrassed by their disabilities and won't speak up for themselves. I've seen and heard a lot of that. It is more rare to find people attacking the less fortunate when they are posting on boards such as this and are trying to impress the world with their intelligence. In reality their comments show them to be stupid, insensitive, cruel, bullies. They sound like a bunch of intellectually muddled hypocritical liberals in full squawk.

[george wythe]

Thank you for posting a personal perspective on this issue.

Athletes have no need to park in handicapped spaces. They can even afford a taxi in case they are going to a place [like South Beach or Manhattan] where finding parking is difficult.