Writer dropped for comments regarding Haiti relief.

TheCardHolder

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/Former-NBAer-criticizes-Haitian-relief-efforts-012710

The link for the article he wrote is contained in the link above.

Personally I agree with a lot of what he is saying(but I am not saying that we shouldn't help, I made sure my donation was going towards helping the many children in trouble over there and not towards the government). It's ridiculous that he got fired for those comments.

chin_grin

What's this? News about the news? What'll they think up of next? More question marks? I'd love to think so..........?

tricky D

Hopefully someone will drop Pat Robertson too. (from a great height, pls)

ejmaztec

Most pro sports people aren't renowned for their brainpower.

meditraitor

Shirley is a girls name, ha ha

Paul Shirley has probably become public enemy No. 1 in Haiti and elsewhere.
Paul Shirley played in the Euroleague in 2008.
JEAN FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP

The former NBA player posted a long column online in response to the earthquake disaster in Haiti in which he criticized Haitian citizens and said he won't donate to relief efforts.

"I haven’t donated to the Haitian relief effort for the same reason that I don't give money to homeless men on the street," he wrote. "Based on past experiences, I don't think the guy with the sign that reads 'Need You're Help' is going to do anything constructive with the dollar I might give him. If I use history as my guide, I don't think the people of Haiti will do much with my money either."

And he didn't stop there, even writing a letter to the people of Haiti.

"Dear Haitians," he wrote, "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?"

He also asked what's being done to prevent this tragedy from happening again, using New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina as an example.

"We did the same after Hurricane Katrina," he said. "We were quick to vilify humans who were too slow to respond to the needs of victims, forgetting that the victims had built and maintained a major city below sea level in a known target zone for hurricanes. Our response: Make the same mistake again. Rebuild a doomed city, putting aside logic as we did."

Shirley has been dropped as a freelance writer for ESPN for his comments on Haiti.

NothingMan

He just told it like it is. I don't give to big charities either. I would gladly give to Barnardos or other smaller more open organizations but mostly i'd rather give any extra cash to my family who might be struggling a little.

He obviously had no business being a writer, it was a very ill thought and ill timed article, but what he said is pretty much spot on.

pickarooney

He wasn't fired; he was a freelancer. OP, learn to read or you, too may never write for ESPN again.

walshb

NothingMan wrote: »

He just told it like it is. I don't give to big charities either. I would gladly give to Barnardos or other smaller more open organizations but mostly i'd rather give any extra cash to my family who might be struggling a little.

He obviously had no business being a writer, it was a very ill thought and ill timed article, but what he said is pretty much spot on.

Have to agree, I'd much rather give to a family member than some NGO claiming to be saving the world.