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tulsad
 Posted:
Fri Nov 09, 2007 5:30 pm |
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Vikings fine WR for attending funeral
The Vikings mean business in 2007. But few knew they would take it this far.
The team has informed wide receiver Troy Williamson that he will be docked one game's pay for missing three practices as well as last Sunday's game against San Diego in order to attend his grandmother's funeral.
Williamson stands to lose $25,588.24 of his $435,000 base salary, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported.
"It's really kind of out of my realm," coach Brad Childress said, according to the Star-Tribune. "It's a business principle, organizationally. If you don't show up, how does that work? We talked about that today."
Williamson, who returned to the team Wednesday, said he did not regret his decision to spend the time with his family.
"I'd throw this football thing away for my family," Williamson was quoted as saying in the newspaper. "I know it's a business and I know (the Vikings have) got other obligations when it comes to them and their family also.
"I know how I feel towards mine. ... I feel like I wouldn't have been overdoing it if I had stayed home a little longer but you've got other people and their opinions."
Williamson took charge in coordinating arrangements for the funeral of his maternal grandmother, Celestine Williamson, who died in Aiken, S.C. As many as 75 family members returned to South Carolina for the funeral, with Williamson funding the trips for nearly 30 of them.
"This is a grandma I was always around," growing up, he told the Star-Tribune. "She taught me pretty much everything I know from cooking to driving to playing cards. I pretty much learned that from my grandma."
The death of his grandmother, however, is not the only tragedy that has affected Williamson. Williamson's older brother, Carlton, has been in and out of a coma since a September car accident in Georgia.
"He had some chairs on the back of his truck for one of my homeboy's wedding," Williamson said. "He was taking it to them. He was going too fast around the corner and the truck ended up flipping. It flipped like three times, and he ended up flying out of it."
Williamson spent a day with his brother after the accident, and several more during the Vikings' bye week. He was able to see his brother once again last week when he traveled to Georgia from Aiken.
"We get some signs that he's doing good one day and then it's back down," Williamson said. "It's fluctuating. Right now, he's just pretty much comatose.
"I tried to put my brother's thing on the back burner, but when this came up I had to get up out of here and try to take some time," he said. "When it came to my grandma, and I knew I wasn't going to be able to see her anymore, I knew I had to go home and handle this stuff pretty much for my family and my mom. My mom took it hardest out of all my aunts and uncles because she was the one there taking care of my grandma, trying to make sure my grandma was straight and stuff."
Childress would not say whether Williamson would be active for Minnesota's game this week against Green Bay.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7426438?MSNHPHCP>1=10637
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Sparkly Tree
Joined: 19 Aug 2006
Posts: 10139
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| tulsad
Posted:
Fri Nov 09, 2007 5:45 pm |
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If a player is arrested for DUI, drug-related incidents, wife/girlfriend abuse, domestic abuse of any sort, dog fighting - even being implicated in a homicide investigation, the NFL and teams take their time making a decision about the status of the player - as long as they show up for practice and games. But miss practice for your Grandmother's funeral? HA! Now that's unforgivable. And that coach should be kicked in the ass for being a coward; either defend the kid or shut up.
BTW - I so often read complaints and criticisms about young black athletes who have no values; spend all their $$$ on wine, women, and bling-bling. Here's a young man with family values so strong that he'd risk his career - the Viks showed him.
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Sparkly Tree
Joined: 19 Aug 2006
Posts: 10139
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| sarge
Posted:
Fri Nov 09, 2007 6:16 pm |
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I think Troy Williamson should be commended for doing what he did.
He showed where his heart was and his love for his Grandma. She helped to raise him and he never should have been even put in that position. The Minnesota Vikings coach should be ashamed and he deserves all the bad publicity.
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Joined: 24 Mar 2006
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Location: georgia
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| tulsad
Posted:
Fri Nov 09, 2007 6:29 pm |
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| sarge wrote: | I think Troy Williamson should be commended for doing what he did.
He showed where his heart was and his love for his Grandma. She helped to raise him and he never should have been even put in that position. The Minnesota Vikings coach should be ashamed and he deserves all the bad publicity. |
The members of the Fox Sports board are making comments about this, Sarge - if you want to add yours, you can do so; the link is the same as the article.
Troy Williamson's words are heart-breaking and heart-warming at the same time.
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Sparkly Tree
Joined: 19 Aug 2006
Posts: 10139
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| Schmerty
Posted:
Fri Nov 09, 2007 6:30 pm |
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I am really saddened by this coach's behavior. We try to teach by our example . Young people who show respect & affection for the families who support them should be commended. Kind of reminds me of school kids getting punished for hugging. WHAT A WORLD!
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Skipping along my own path.
Joined: 24 Mar 2006
Posts: 3335
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| tulsad
Posted:
Fri Nov 09, 2007 6:39 pm |
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delete
Last edited by tulsad on Sun Nov 11, 2007 5:47 am; edited 1 time in total
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Sparkly Tree
Joined: 19 Aug 2006
Posts: 10139
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| pax
Posted:
Fri Nov 09, 2007 7:46 pm |
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A few years ago Vince Carter skipped a playoff game to attend his college graduation. Some teammates gave him crap but I think he's great for doing that. Sandy Koufax never pitched on Saturday, which was his holy day. Respect.
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Joined: 23 Mar 2006
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Location: Wish You Were Here
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| tulsad
Posted:
Fri Nov 09, 2007 8:03 pm |
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| pax wrote: | | A few years ago Vince Carter skipped a playoff game to attend his college graduation. Some teammates gave him crap but I think he's great for doing that. Sandy Koufax never pitched on Saturday, which was his holy day. Respect. |
I have a great deal of respect for sportsmen/women who understand the concept of sports - and that there are times when other things come first.
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Sparkly Tree
Joined: 19 Aug 2006
Posts: 10139
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| pax
Posted:
Fri Nov 09, 2007 8:41 pm |
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| tulsad wrote: |
I have a great deal of respect for sportsmen/women who understand the concept of sports - and that there are times when other things come first. |
Me too. Same is true for people in all businesses.
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Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 16325
Location: Wish You Were Here
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