Garnett Furious at Stupid ESPN Poll

By KC Downey in Celtics ⋅ December 9, 2007 at 8:46pm ⋅ Post a comment

From the Boston Herald:

A poll on ESPN.com’s Page 2 yesterday may have been intended as edgy humor, but one of the poll’s subjects – Kevin Garnett – called this entry “distasteful.”

The poll, drawing on the sports world’s current enmity toward Boston, asked users to vote for the event they would rather see happen – the Steelers beating the Patriots [team stats], Johan Santana being traded to any team but the Red Sox [team stats], or Garnett blowing out his knee.

That’s right, blowing out his knee.

Garnett, his mouth ajar in disbelief upon hearing about the poll after last night’s game, recovered long enough to say, “Wow, that’s really distasteful, man. Man, I mean, that’s my life, my career. You don’t joke about something like that.”

Reaction: What a stupid poll idea by ESPN.com. I totally agree with Garnett’s dismay over the poll subject. ESPN.com was totally out of line (even though it was on Page 2) to poll whether someone wanted an athlete to blow out his knee. I mean, that’s like making a poll asking whether you cared if Sean Taylor died or not. Totally classless.

ESPN.com apparently felt bad too, rightfully issuing an apology:

“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.”