Comments on: Shawn Kemp – The Unfathered Father

By: Dimon

Dimon — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:09:22 +0000

Shawn Kemp – best of the best!
He – MAN!
He goodman!

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:51:11 +0000

Mike: Researching and writing about Shawn Kemp, I began to feel an intimacy of sorts. I do not feel that way about “Karl.” So sorry this came across as racist. No disrespect intended. I hope the affection and respect I came to feel for Shawn Kemp is obvious.

From a technical writing perspective, always referring to a person by their full name for an article of this length causes the writing to feel stale and disconnected. I would like your opinion on this. Would it have been more respectful of me to never refer to him as “Shawn” and only use “Kemp” as an alternate reference?

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:07:46 +0000

Egads! Seattle AND Cleveland! :)

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:06:57 +0000

Great article and I really enjoyed learning about Kemp’s ultimaet triumphs over the many hardships and adverse situations he’s faced during his life and career. Just wish you hadn’t indulged in the annoying and racist habit if referring to adult Black men by their first name. 20 years later he’s still ‘Shawn?’

“Karl promises to evaluate Shawn for a potential comeback, says some kind words about the hard work Shawn has put in and not another word is heard.”

EVERYONE in Seattle knows the gents referenced in this paragraph; why use the surname of one but not the other? Other than that, the article was cool. Sorry to hear of the taunts (banana peels?!!!) faced by Kemp in high school; I thought that sh!t ended with Pat Ewing’s graduation. (Sigh). The more things change…

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:34:14 +0000

Thanks for the kind words. I’ll have to recheck my source about the rebounding and apologize if I got the McIlvaine year incorrect. Sigh. So many numbers. Next article will be strictly words. :)

By: Alexandru Jelev

Alexandru Jelev — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:31:27 +0000

Great article. I enjoyed reading every line. there was just a little mistake in there with the signing of mcilvaine. that was in 1996, not 1994. and i don’t think shawn ever led the league in rebounding as it says he did in 1996.

By: Mark Murrell

Mark Murrell — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:03:31 +0000

Great to see Shawn in a different light. I know he is considered one of the best bball players in history, but he also has a not-so-good rep for his off-court explorations.

By: Dot Maver

Dot Maver — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 03:02:59 +0000

sharing our authentic stories is so very healing thank you Carolyn for your tireless efforts to bring us to our senses with your honest and loving blogging about the best in all of us