Paul Shirley Fired Over Haiti Comments

By Sam Brand Posted Jan 27th 2010 01:46PM

Paul Shirley was a much better blogger than he ever was a basketball player. His ESPN column on music, sports and culture was read by thousands. But that gig is kaput after the journeyman forward dropped some controversial words on Haiti relief. In a nutshell, he doesn't believe in helping the earthquake victims. ESPN no longer believes in helping him. In other news, today is Apple's iPad day, and Barack Obama is set to give his first official State of the Union Address. This is What You're Searching for Today...

Paul Shirley Haiti – The 6'10" blogger published a scathing denunciation of Haitian earthquake relief efforts on FlipCollective.com. His stance did not gel with employer ESPN. "I haven't donated a cent to the Haitian relief effort," Shirley wrote on Tuesday. "And I probably will not." Shirley went on, "Shouldn't much of the responsibility for the disaster lie with the victims of the disaster?" Sounds a lot like the views of an old televangelist we know. "How could humans do this to themselves," Shirley continues. Sports blog The Big Lead points out "Shirley's words were inexplicably ignorant." Haitians "weren't given a choice." On Wednesday, ESPN released a brief statement announcing Shirley's views "do not at all reflect our company's views on the Haiti relief efforts. He will no longer contribute to ESPN."

Apple Announcement – In the biggest public speaking engagement of the day. Steve Jobs announced the release of a device trigger-happy tech fans called "Apple Tablet," but Jobs announced as the iPad. Analysts say the over-sized iPhone could be a game changer, giving users a whole new platform on which to read, write, game, and surf the web. Wired reports the device can connect to other tablets via Wi-Fi, it features two cameras, and will cost somewhere between $600 to $800.

State of the Union Address – In the second biggest public speaking engagement of the day, Barack Obama will give his first official State of the Union address in the House chamber at 9 p.m. EST tonight. You can find the speech on each major network, and if you want you can play the State of the Union Drinking Game (there are a few, here's the Huffington Post's).

Tags: apple, barack obama, BarackObama, haiti, paul shirley, PaulShirley, steve jobs, SteveJobs, what youre searching for today, WhatYoureSearchingForToday

Comments

(26)

Wednesday 27 January

By susansdjewel

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I believe that we should have helped them, but we have now done enough. You all know the saying..."give a man a fish and he eats for a day; teach a man to fish, and he eats for a lifetime..."
It is time the Haitian people learn how to get themselves out of poverty. It is NOT our job to continue to support this nation at the expense of our own.
I also want close accountability for where all that money is going and it better not go to rebuilding a palace!!!!

By PAULZ

WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY OF GREEDY AHOLES, HAITI'S GDP IS 7 BILLION, EXECUTIVE BONUSES LAST YEAR WERE 16 BILLION

By nhdakota17

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I support him 110% Our government does not have the funds or resources to go aid people who chose the way they lived instead of making it better. I could have donated but, i chose to keep my dog living a little longer.

By Michelle

Nhdakota17, God is watching you. I'm guessing he isn't pleased.

He is watching me. He know my situation. How I take care of my disabled grandparents and struggle myself. The US doesn't need to support others before itself. Soon, if the economy doesn't pick up, we will all live like they do. I do what I can to help the environment and people around me but, helping a country that doesn't and did not want us there is different.

Well said Paul!

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