ESPN Scribe to Haiti: Drop Dead

[Judi Lynn]

ESPN Scribe to Haiti: Drop Dead
— By Tim Murphy
| Thu Jan. 28, 2010 10:44 AM PST

Until this week, Paul Shirley had built a nice career for himself as the globetrotting basketball player with a gift for writing. He'd published a well received first book about his benchwarming endeavors and parlayed his candid, down-to-earth style into a semiregular column at ESPN.com. That all changed on Tuesday, when Shirley, writing on his group blog, published a—let's just say contrarian—take on the situation in Haiti. "I do not know if what I’m about to write makes me a monster," he began. And then he very deliberately eliminated whatever doubts we might have had. Here's a taste:

Dear Haitians –
First of all, kudos on developing the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Your commitment to human rights, infrastructure, and birth control should be applauded.

As we prepare to assist you in this difficult time, a polite request: If it’s possible, could you not re-build your island home in the image of its predecessor? Could you not resort to the creation of flimsy shanty- and shack-towns? And could some of you maybe use a condom once in a while?

The response was swift: Sports Illustrated's Seth Davis called Shirley a "dumbass," which is a little uncouth but we can't really argue with it. And yesterday, ESPN released a statement announcing it had severed its ties with Shirley.

More:
http://motherjones.com/riff/2010/01/former-espn-writer-haiti-drop-dead

http://www.wickedinfo.com.nyud.net:8090/images/stories/interviews/paul_shirley.jpg http://a.espncdn.com.nyud.net:8090/photo/2007/0916/nba_paul_shirley_195.jpg http://www.nba.com.nyud.net:8090/media/suns/shirley_plane_050429_200.jpg

[Chulanowa]

1. "Dumbass" may be uncouth, but it's spot-on

Maybe Shirley will be chastened by the outpouring of criticism, be inspired to research the reality of Haiti, and reform himself as a humanitarian helping those plighted people.

Or he'll go "Lol guys was just a joke srsly!"

[Blue Owl]

2. stick to chasing balls, Mr. Shirley

because you, son, are a DUMBASS.

[Quasimodem]

3. Just my observation, but . . .

The only reason Paul Shirley is a "dumbass" is because that is where his head presently resides.

[era veteran]

4. The Shirley family should have used condoms more.