I try not to get too involved in gossip-type stuff, but this one is too rich to ignore.Minneapolis Star Tribune "gossip" "columnist" C.J. writes regularly for the newspaper and its website. You may have read about some recent journalistic work of hers.
Needless to say, she's not going to threaten to steal Charles Gibson's job or anything like that. She fills her role at the newspaper, and the newspaper is smart enough not to assign her to cover anything serious.
In her latest hard-hitting investigation, C.J. tracked down Vikings safety Darren Sharper as he was showing up for a television appearance at a Twin Cities station.
Sharper must have been late, because he parked in a handicapped space. While he didn't respond to C.J.'s repeated attempts to get comment, she did track down a P.R. guy for the Vikings, who offered up a perfectly rational explanation.
Or not.
(Bob) Hagan groaned when informed of the handicapped parking matter: "Awww, are you going to go after him? Did he know it was that spot? ... All right," said Hagan. "Nothing I can do. But he's a very good guy. He does a lot of really good [charity] stuff. Obviously, if he did it, he did it. It was probably some misunderstanding."(Give Hagan credit. At least he didn't try to use the "Some of Darren's best friends are handicapped" line on the "reporter".)
I'm all for leaving athletes alone when they're out and about, but I'm not about to condone an in-his-prime professional athlete parking in a space designated for use by the handicapped.
I don't care if he was going to be there 45 seconds and parked there at 3:30 in the morning.
That said, it's also not a terribly big deal, and I'm kind of amused it's getting major play on the newspaper's website. I guess gossip sells.


















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-24-2008 @ 5:06PM
ROBERT said...
IGNORANCE OF THE LAW IS NO EXCUSE . HE SHOULD BE GIVEN A TICKET FOR THE VIOLATION.
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12-26-2008 @ 10:16AM
bob said...
which is it??? bruce???
""""I don't care if he was going to be there 45 seconds and parked there at 3:30 in the morning.""""
or is it......""""That said, it's also not a terribly big deal, """"
make up your mind, you contradict yourself, haha and you call yourself a journalist. you are a joke to the profession. it is either not a big deal or he shouldnt be doing it. you cant have your cake and eat it too, ....idiot
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12-25-2008 @ 10:22AM
David said...
CREEP!
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12-26-2008 @ 7:31AM
Lilly said...
Seriously, lay off the guy. We've all made mistakes, and in the grand scheme of things, this is not nearly as bad as what some other NFL players have done. If he parked in a handicapped space, then he did it. It's not THAT big a deal in the bigger picture of life.
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12-26-2008 @ 9:29AM
JW said...
"...It's not THAT big a deal in the bigger picture of life." Oh really? Try telling that to the handicapped person who desperately needs the handicapped spot that this inconsiderate jerk took...
1-03-2009 @ 9:34AM
KEN said...
Myself being handicapped see this all the time I see People who pull into the spot ( and at time's the spot I am trying to get into and yes they look right at my place card and the DV plate ( disabled veteran) and still park there ) they get out of the car and either RUN or WALK PRETTY FAST into were they are going. I understand some people you can not tell if they are or not handicapped some people get the PLACE CARD due to not being able to walk 50 yards with out being in pain I been asked for my ID many times to check to see if the place card is mine by the POLICE even when i am wearing a huge knee brace and a AFO on my left ankle/leg on the other side and a noticeable back brace. I do not mind being asked for teh documentation I will love it when they grab some of the people who """BORROW """ someone's place card who is handicapped and I believe the person who lends out his placecard should loose the right to have the PLACECARD DUE TO THE FACT HE HAS NO CONSIDERATION FOR OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE A PLACECARD LEGALLY I hope someone come's out with a picture of him parking there and they fine him for it since a picture is proof and the police can leaglly ticket you with the picture as evidence When I lend out my TRuck I tell people who are using it do not park in the handicapped spots if I find out they did they will not use the truck again.
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