In the Name of the Grandmother

Washington Post ^ | 4/23/06 | Les Carpenter

[rmgatto]

The gift had to be right, something she would never forget. After all, Adaline Davis had reared her grandson like he was her own, making him everything that he had become. He even called her "Ma."

So on her birthday two years ago, Vernon Davis did what only a college freshman would do. He had her name tattooed to the inside of his left arm. Then he raced home with his surprise.

[rmgatto]

The Bill Cosby secrets of success. Vernon might be a high school dropout and lifelong victim if his grandmother had listened to Rev. Jackson and his kind who advocate feeling sorry for yourself and angry at others.

[estrogen]

what a heartwarming story. That grandmother sounds like a jewel. Too bad most high paid atheletes don't have the same roots

[toldyou]

Thanks! Nice story, and your comment is so true.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

What an awesome story. Best wishes to him and his family.

[norwaypinesavage]

"what a heartwarming story."

But, it's in the WaPo. Is it true?

[Coldwater Creek]

Actually most high paid athletes are raised by their grandmothers. Sometimes the grandmother is only 30. What chance do they have?

[Fairview]

He looks like a very sweet young man.

[rmgatto]

But, it's in the WaPo. Is it true?

Based on other sources, this looks like an exception that proves the rule for the Wapo.

[MoralSense]

Why do black people get tattoos? Does anything look uglier than a tattoo on black skin?

[El Gato]

The woman sounds like a saint, but maybe she wasn't always.

And not just her own, but eventually most of Vernon's brothers and sisters as well as some from the neighborhood and of course the ones that other parents dropped off for a week when work got too hard or they needed a vacation.

She obviously didn't do too well with Vernon's mother.

[El Gato]

Why do black people get tattoos? Does anything look uglier than a tattoo on black skin?

I hadn't noticed they look any uglier, in general, on black skin than on brown, yellow white, purple or green skin. I think they are generally pretty nasty. But it's his skin, not mine or yours.