Paul Shirley, Former Phoenix Sun, Disapproves Helping Haiti

Paul Shirley's inability to play in the NBA goes beyond his game. Apparently, he's not on the "NBA Cares" campaign either.

In a recent online article, Shirley blasts the Haitian government for their lack of preparedness, both for earthquakes in general and the ugly aftermath that follows such disasters.

That might stand well enough on his own, but Shirley takes it perhaps a step (or three) too far and compares the entire people and nation of Haiti to homeless people.

"I haven't donated to the Haitian relief effort for the same reason that I don't give money to homeless men on the street," he said. "Based on past experiences, I don't think the guy with the sign that reads 'Need You're (sic) Help' is going to do anything constructive with the dollar I might give him. If I use history as my guide, I don't think the people of Haiti will do much with my money either."

Other parts of this post have Shirley referring to the relief efforts as the "Save Haiti bandwagon." Shirley also directly lambastes the manner in which relief has been offered.

"My wariness has much to do with the fact that the sympathy deployed to Haiti has been done so unconditionally," he said. "Very few have said, written, or even intimated the slightest admonishment of Haiti, the country, for putting itself into a position where so many would be killed by an earthquake."

Apparently he's opposed to guys like Derrick Rose, Pau Gasol, Joe Johnson, and others who have already donated in the thousands in efforts to support the hard-hit country. I wonder what Shaquille O'Neal—who suggested (in vain) a high-tier slam dunk contest with winnings donated to Haiti—would think?

(Of course, Shirley may be worried about blowing his 10-day contract money for what he views as an unworthy cause).

Shirley goes on to justify his stance by comparing Haitians to cavemen, saying even those predecessors would have the smarts to move, or at least strengthen their homes, after a previous natural disaster.

Memo to Shirley: The last major earthquake to hit Haiti was in 1946.

Unsurprisingly, ESPN (a partner with the NBA, and thus its "Where Caring Happens" campaign) fired Shirley the same day his article was posted.

Fanster.com's and B/R contributor Greg Esposito pointed out how can Shirley not believe in charity when the dude lived off 10-day contracts and ESPN's sympathy for the last few years?

The former he lost from his inability to play. The latter, from his inability to care.