B-Hop's venom for McNabb traced back to '04 snub
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B-Hop's venom for McNabb traced back to '04 snub
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Bernard Hopkins made waves once again a couple of weeks ago when he ripped Donovan McNabb while training for his match against Jean Pascal.
It was not the first (or even the fifth) time Hopkins had slammed McNabb.
I wrote about his comments in November of 2008 and again in June of 2009.
Hopkins has previously mentioned an incident several years ago in which McNabb did not show him any love when Hopkins showed up to the NovaCare Complex for an Eagles practice. But, yesterday on DNL, Hopkins described the "snub" in more detail. And it seemed clear that every jab he's taken at McNabb over the years can be traced back to that one day.
Here's Hopkins' version of the snub and why it bothered him so much:
"T.O. had just came into town, 2004. I won my title and I think I had another fight with Oscar, and they invited me down to the locker room, Novacare, and I went there, and that's how me and T.O. got to having a conversation. They gave me mad love... T.O. ran and they got me helmets, they got me this, they came out, they gave us love, they took me to the kitchen, one guy was soaking in the tub, his knees, and Jon Runyan and just everybody...
"And next thing we see, two guys, two coaches or whatever, trainers, they looking out. Then we see McNabb looking out. ... And it reminded me of being in Chestnut Hill because I'm from Germantown. And when you go up to Chestnut Hill in the early 70s and 80s, you get looked at funny. I felt that way. I felt like I was up in Chestnut Hill, like near Whitemarsh, where I'm looking like 'Am I supposed to be in this neighborhood?'
"And I'm seeing this guy hide and wait until we leave, peek out every now and then. It's like you go on the block and you know somebody's home. Did he leave yet? Did he leave yet? Did he leave yet?"
Hopkins went on to say he watched McNabb closely after that day and repeated many of the things we've heard from him before - that McNabb has never reacted well under pressure, that he didn't have the confidence or the intangibles necessary to be great, that Michael Vick gives the Eagles a better chance to win a Super Bowl, and so on.
But again, it seemed clear that all those observations came out as a result of that one day at the NovaCare Complex.
When asked if he was done finally done talking about McNabb, Hopkins said, "Absolutely."
We'll find out if he's telling the truth the next time Hopkins is promoting a fight.
VICK ON BURRESS
A couple days ago, after a report in the New York Daily News suggested the Eagles could be interested in Plaxico Burress when he's released from jail, I offered my take on whether such a move would make sense.
I didn't think so, but many of you disagreed. Of nearly 1,000 people who voted, 68.7 percent said the Eagles should explore adding Burress to the wide receiver mix.
And Michael Vick feels that way too.
As a guest of Anthony Gargano and Ike Reese on 610 WIP, Vick was asked if he'd be in favor of the Birds bringing Burress aboard.
"Absolutely. I think he'd be a great addition for our team," Vick said. "I think with the guys that we have now, I think we can fit him in and we can make it work. Obviously, the ultimate goal at the end of the day is to put that ring on your finger at the end of the year. I think certainly Plaxico's going to come out with a chip on his shoulder the same way I did, and he'll go out and help this football team to whatever capacity he can. I think the guys would embrace him and bring him in and treat him like family. If that happens, who knows, we're talking about what-ifs now, but it'd certainly be a good thing."
Vick explained that he has not been allowed to communicate with Burress but is friends with the wide receiver and his family since they're both from the same part of Virginia.
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"B-Hop is a champion many times over and therefore Mc5 has no room to say anything."
DennyP, you're brain dead.
— p-diddy- I find it hilarious how philly fans trash mcnabb and act like hes the only athlete never to win anythin, last time I checked the"greatest" sports city in america has won one championship in the past 30 years— smiggs13
- Obviously seanmmm didn't watch Hopkins fight, Stupid comment.— mike l
- smiggs i agree..they act like mcnabb was the first qb since this franchise was first started. how many qbs didnt win a super bowl and mcanbb came the closet than any of them even the beloved jaws...as far as hopkins he is a racist and the main problem with whats wrong with the black commumity now...u not blk enough if u never been to jail, dont live in a one parent home, and dont live in the ghetto. If u work hard and come up from all of that then others get jealous, just pathetic. If thats the case bernard i dont see u giving back to the community, still living in the hood, or see u giving up that condo..so what r u now? dont see ya kids growing up in the ghetto..guess your kids not black enough either..right? smh— bigjay215
- MichaelZoe: GREATEST QUOTE EVER!!!!!— bkg126
- Buddy Ryan never won a playoff game in his life and he's still revered by the Fans. Dick Vermeil LOST a Super Bowl to a wild card team and he's still revered in this town,but yet somehow Donovan McNabb gets treated like dirt? Solid numbers for years,class act off the field and yet some 46 year old ex con,who's bitter about the poor choices he made in his youth feels as if he is the arbiter of all things Black. Bernard is jealous of McNabb,pure and simple. Guys like him who refuse to accept responsibility for their lot in life always direct their anger at others who they perceived ,had it easier than them. BHop,you put yourself in that prison years ago and while in there you learned how to box and through hard work you were able to make a life for yourself outside of those prison walls. Sadly,you seem content to carry that prisoner mentality with you instead of embracing your success,you seem Hell bent on destroying all the strides you made by refusing to accept that no one owes you anything sir. You were not a victim of the system,you were a criminal. Sam and Wilma McNabb raised their family the best they could and what they gave their son,no one gave you, Sad as that may be,be a MAN and take responsibility for yourself and stop spewing forth the foolishness that you do!— bkg126
- Wow, who knew Bernard Hopkins was such a little girl...that is one of the most pathetic things I've heard in my life. I used to think he was tough.— Not Rich Vos
- if mcnabb didnt know who he was then, i am sure he know who he is now...maybe mcnabb should reach out to hopkins and say something like...hey man, didnt mean to diss you, can we put this behind us...then maybe, just maybe hopskins will drop it— danielboyer
- Tough life, Hopkins. You get treated like royalty in the locker room, like no other fan would, and all you can remember is that a few people didn't fawn over you. This is not Planet Hopkins. There are 6 billion people here, all of them as important as you. From now on, you should pay to enter the Linc or Novacare.— armchairGM
- Can Hopkins get any more full of himself...I guess when he "arrives" somewhere he expects everyone to stop and bow as they ask for his graces. Nice job by his parents of teaching him humility.— Gray Areas
- Grow up, Bernard.
- Anyone who steps into a ring to fight as many times Hopkins earns my respect. There is no where to hide in the squared circle. When people criticize someone, you should always consider the source. Hopkins is a winner in one of the most dangerous and individual sports that exists. I always rooted for Mcnabb and never booed him, though his comments and actions were sometimes frustrating. When a multiple champion in a professional sport says something, I tend to listen.— airbuzz
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