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Jimx29
12-10-2007, 10:23 PM
ESPN apologizes for Internet poll asking if fans want to see Kevin Garnett blow out his knee

http://i3.tinypic.com/85y1njb.jpg


ESPN apologizes for crass question
By Steve Bulpett / Celtics Notebook
Sunday, December 9, 2007 - Updated 1d 14h ago


CHICAGO - Several hours after removing an offensive poll question, ESPN.com offered an apology yesterday afternoon.

The question, based on the success of Boston’s professional sports teams, asked whether voters would rather see the Patriots [team stats] lose to the Steelers, Johan Santana be traded to a team other than the Red Sox [team stats] or Kevin Garnett blow out his knee.

The poll was switched by Friday night, but when Garnett learned of it, he told the Herald, “Wow, that’s really distasteful, man.”

Nor was Celtics [team stats] coach Doc Rivers pleased to hear about the feature, which appeared on ESPN.com’s Page 2. Celtics PR man Jeff Twiss expressed the team’s unhappiness with the item and said yesterday afternoon that ESPN was “apologetic.”

Later in the day, ESPN released the following statement:

“Friday’s ESPN.com Page 2 poll used very poor judgment in its option about Kevin Garnett. The poll was removed immediately upon the senior editorial staff becoming aware, and we sincerely regret the error in judgment. We are addressing the issue and apologize to Kevin Garnett, to the Celtics organization and to those offended by the poll question. Obviously, we wish good health to all athletes.”

The Garnett portion of the poll was obviously a poor attempt at humor, but it had to be particularly perplexing to Garnett, Paul Pierce [stats] and Ray Allen, who had taped promotional spots for ESPN.

Brandon Wallace is returning to Boston to have his right wrist examined. The Celtics rookie suffered the injury Wednesday while playing for the Utah Flash of the NBA Development League.

He is scheduled to be examined tomorrow. Among those he will see is a hand specialist. The Celtics are calling the ailment a wrist/carpal injury.

cw-3The C’s have a decision to make on Wallace, in that his contract for the season will be guaranteed if he remains on the roster Dec. 20.cw-2

“We’re going through the evaluation process,” said director of basketball operations Danny Ainge, who was in Utah and had hoped to watch Wallace play with fellow rookie Gabe Pruitt for the Flash. “It all depends on what other needs we may have and if there are any other needs that are more important than keeping Brandon and having him develop. But we think Brandon’s an NBA player.”
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1049686


He was probably the leading vote getter when they pulled it

Freak Out
12-10-2007, 11:35 PM
That is pretty low.

Badgerinmaine
12-11-2007, 08:40 AM
Even if Garnett weren't basically a good guy, that would have still been a horrible thing to post...I don't believe in wishing that on anybody. Rehab of that kind is horrible.

Furthermore, that's an odd set of questions coming out of ESPN HQ, which is here in New England...