Culpepper's Gift/Gaff

bkred · 02-03-2005, 01:55 PM

Did you see the story about Dante Culpepper giving a paralyzed kid $75,000 in jewelry during an awards ceremony then taking it back afterwards. Pretty funny story. Culpepper is fixing to get skewered in the press. He better show up fast at the kid's house with some serious stuff that glitters and maybe a car.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...x.html?cnn=yes

jruck37 · 02-03-2005, 04:48 PM

I think that SI may have mis-interpreted what happened. Check out this link:

http://nypost.com/sports/39733.htm

ninja · 02-03-2005, 04:57 PM

I don't know if it's really that big of a deal. What if he had told the kid where he got it from and that he was going to need a lot of money to buy it? What did the kid expect for an answer? That he would actually get the jewelry? I'm not in any way defending Daunte, but I just think it's a little overblown.

bkred · 02-03-2005, 06:31 PM

Wow. SI and the NYPost reported substantially different versions of the same event. jruck, thanks for posting the NYPost version. The SI version makes Culpepper look like a jerk, the NYPost version not so. It will be interesting to see what version is reported by other media outlets.

This is pretty funny, but it may be an indication of how skewwed the information we get from the media is on bigger issues as well.

jruck37 · 02-04-2005, 09:15 AM

I have always heard that Culpepper was a good guy. I hope that it turns out that that NY Post story was more factual.

Axis · 02-04-2005, 11:44 AM

from the Minneapolis Star Tribune

Inside XXXIX: Culpepper blindsided by erroneous reporting
Kevin Seifert

Published February 4, 2005

JACKSONVILLE, FLA. -- This is what happens when there is too much media and not enough stories.

One of the NFL's most genuine and kind players carried out a genuinely kind act Wednesday. And what did Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper get for his thoughtfulness?

National scorn, thanks to an Associated Press reporter who misinterpreted the scene and never bothered to follow up with the key players.

Here's what happened: While participating in a news conference Wednesday, Culpepper fielded an awkward question from a paralyzed 17-year-old boy. "Hey Daunte," said J.T. Townsend. "Can I get some ice?" -- a reference to the $100,000, diamond-encrusted necklace around Culpepper's neck.

With cameras rolling, Culpepper walked over to Townsend and thrilled him by hanging the necklace around his neck. Later, Culpepper sought out Townsend and put the chain back on. At Culpepper's request, Townsend's parents wrote down his address and contact information. Culpepper promised to send him gifts and memorabilia.

We were standing at Culpepper's side when the transaction took place. There was no animosity, no hurt feelings and no accusations of impropriety -- only thank-yous from Townsend, his parents and a doctor nearby.

The AP version of the story, however, in essence painted Culpepper as a spoiled athlete who "sheepishly" took away a gift from a paralyzed teenager once the cameras stopped shooting. Newspapers and Internet sites picked up the story nationally. One problem: Nothing could have been further from the truth.

Anyone who has met Culpepper knows he wears the necklace every day. He has for years. Garish as it might be -- its main ornament is a 6-inch hot pepper -- it carries sentimental and personal value. Since when is anyone -- athlete, actor, politician or average schmoe -- obligated to hand over personal possessions permanently when someone asks? Or should Culpepper have shot down the request and embarrassed Townsend on television?

If that's your story, then the next time someone asks you for your wedding ring or a sweater your grandmother knitted, you better cough it up. Or else find some real news to write about.

© Copyright 2005 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.

TDPurcell · 02-04-2005, 01:15 PM

Axis, good article. The AP report, in my opinion, also kinda made the the kid's parents look bad. The substance of the report made the kid's parents look greedy by implying that they actually expected to leave with $75,000 of Daunte's jewery and were upset that they could not. Daunte is a class act and it pisses me off that he was unfairly bashed by stupid, piece of crap reporters.