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 ...
Being paralyzed doesn't entitle one to beg for expensive jewelry or gifts by capitalizing on the situation and making the most of an embarrassing moment.
No.
What else? Let's see - other than what he did (up until the point he took the gift back)? How about grin and offer to meet the kid after - maybe visit with him and give him some other smaller gift.
But the fact is - he publicly gave it to the kid. Then privately took it back.
And I understand the financial value of the jewelry - but dang - what's $75G to a superstar multi-millionaire like Cullpepper?
What a Jerk.
Just a bunch of over paid thugs.
Professional players raised by their parents to be animals.
Thats what happens when fans and teams lower their standards.
You get and deserve what you pay for.
If I met Rush Limbaugh I would ask him for a cigar box. If he gave me a tie or a cigar box, I wouldn't expect to come back later asking for it.
So lets say you make 100K a year at your job and I come over to your house and knock on your door with reporters and say "Hey, gimmie 500 dollars" and then you say no and then I cry like a retard and say "JERK, whats 500 dollrs to you!?!?"
This family is despicable and comes across like they live on welfare and used to hand outs, very, VER tacky to expect someone to GIVE them 75K worth of jewels
The kid didn't approach Cullpepper like you described - In fact, from all accounts, it was a statement more "in jest" than a real request.
Cullpepper is the one who took advantage of the circumstances - not the kid.
Thats not the same thing AT ALL! He was surrounded by reporters! I can only IMAGINE what you people would be saying if Daunte had said "No, you cant hold them"
You all would be saying "DC is a JERK, its not like the kid is gonna RUN OFF with them" etc...
I respectfully disagree.
Oh your right, The kid in the wheel chair and his tacky family had every right to believe that a tanger was just going to give them 75K worth of jewelry while surrouded by reporters from around the country.
"Better put some ice on that"?
We all have our weaknesses. Some people fall victim to addiction. Other people can't detect moments when they should just shut up.
Yep, they're different, all right! NOT! They both have made a decision to use the drugs "recreationally"... after using them for whatever reason, regardless of how they started. They both hide it, and get their drugs by sneaking around! They obtain them any way they can get them, and it is usually through illegal sources (and your maid...).
It also depends on who they are! Some folk are given a pass, or excused, since they are credited with an un-earned halo... (dammit, my back hurts, but i'm not a star...)
The HS kid had no business soliciting bling in the first place. Culpepper's first mistake was trying to play Big Man in that situation.
bling bling ping
The $#%@@% it has, you @#$#@%@! You #$r#@%#$@ better #$@%#@ take that back right $##@$$@# now, #@$#@%!#@!
8]
"Hey Daunte, can I get some of that ice?"
I would think he wanted a snow cone.
For Daunte... Thrown the jewelry at him and missed?
I think Mr. C can afford to buy himself some new bling and let the kid have his old ones.
Thats pretty harsh.
He's one of the few decent fellas up here on the team.
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