Shutdown Corner - NFL

If you read any NFL blogs at all, you're probably familiar with the work of a fellow named Michael Tunison, perhaps better known as Christmas Ape, who writes at a site called Kissing Suzy Kolber, which you should read every day if you enjoy things that are hilarious and filthy.

Before Monday, he was known to the blogging community only as "Christmas Ape," but since someone decided to start paying the guys at Kissing Suzy Kolber, he decided to let the world know that he was a real person with a real job. He included this picture of himself. He's the one on the left.

In the accompanying post, he said he was "totally [freaking] hammered" at the time the picture was taken. He also included links to his work as a Metro writer at the Washington Post.

Forty-eight hours later, the Washington Post fired him, saying that he brought "discredit to the paper." For being drunk. Two years ago. And you wouldn't even know he was drunk in the picture, unless he told you.

If he was posting pictures of himself, nude, passed out in a bathtub, and covered in hooker's blood, I could see where the Washington Post people might be upset. But he's just hugging a parrot, for God's sake. You can clearly see his left hand on the parrot's shoulder. The parrot is not being molested in any way, despite clearly asking for it with that tantalizing yellow beak.

I just find it puzzling that he'd be fired over that picture. I've contacted the WaPo for an explanation. Hopefully, there's a follow-up coming, but I tend to doubt it.

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12 Comments

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  1. Matt Sussman
    1. Posted by Matt Sussman Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:15 pm EDT

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    Well, using his other hand (not pictured), he is fondling Howie Kurtz.
  2. WhiskerBiscuits
    2. Posted by WhiskerBiscuits Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:48 pm EDT

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    We've got a protest thread going in the comments on this Bog post: http://blog.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2008/04/bizarre_olympic_dreams.html
  3. Anthony S
    3. Posted by Anthony S Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:48 pm EDT

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    Fired. For Parrot Hugging.
    Not pictured - 15-yr-old daughter of WaPo Ed in Chief.
    Seriously, in 10 years most of us will look back on this and laugh as the WaPo won't exist.
  4. Koos
    4. Posted by Koos Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:53 pm EDT

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    It's a good thing my bosses don't know I had a beer the day I turned 21! Heavens to Betsy! WaPo's self-irrelevance is actually quite stunning.
  5. Jamie Mottram
    5. Posted by Jamie Mottram Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:28 pm EDT

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    Re: that protest thread ... Poor Steinz.
  6. Steve H
    6. Posted by Steve H Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:23 pm EDT

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    You sure he's the one on the left, MJD?
  7. The Walking Dude
    7. Posted by The Walking Dude Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:56 pm EDT

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    Sorry to hear about this, Ape. I was pretty impressed when you outed yourself this week. There's always that job as one of the dead presidents for the Nationals.
    I call for a boycott of the Post. Oh wait, I read it online anyway.
    Stay strong.
  8. TriceraJohn
    8. Posted by TriceraJohn Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:14 pm EDT

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    I decided to keep it regardless of the melodrama, hence the line "It also should be noted that I already took this too seriously"
  9. NathanS
    9. Posted by NathanS Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:23 pm EDT

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    I went to KSK to see whats the big deal with this guy. From what I can tell he is a pretty [profane]ty writer. Actually after spending an hour looking around the site I would say he is a horrible writer, but I will assume given more time I would reduce that assessment to pretty [profane]ty. So I will continue to not read KSK, and I will continue to read the post's blog about the Redskins and read Wilbon's articles when I remember to. For me this story is over; let me know if someone interesting gets fired for doing a blog, like Mike Florio or Gilbert Arenas.
  10. Unsilent Majority
    10. Posted by Unsilent Majority Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:16 pm EDT

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    let me know if someone interesting gets fired for doing a blog, like Mike Florio
    That is his job. And he's completely uninteresting.
  11. hghglov25
    11. Posted by hghglov25 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:18 pm EDT

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    + 1 to 289...looks like you've been doing some reading on the FoxSports website and their...interesting comment contributors
  12. The Mac
    12. Posted by The Mac Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:59 pm EDT

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    Why a link to the WaPo Olympics coverage regarding a politically-pitiful blogger firing?!?

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Shutdown Corner is an NFL blog edited by Matthew J. Darnell. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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