In the second time in less than one month, another NBA player has had nude pictures surface on the Internet. George Hill of the San Antonio Spurs apologized after several nude pictures of him were posted on the Web site www.thedirty.com.
“A year ago, I made a mistake and take full responsibility for my actions,'” Hill said. “I have matured and learned from this episode. I would like to apologize to my girlfriend, my family, all of our great fans and the Spurs organization.”
In an attempt to control the damage, the San Antonio Spurs threatened thedirty.com with a lawsuit if the pictures were not removed from the site. However, the Web site’s attorney, David Gringas, countered by saying, “Trademark law does not apply to criticism of celebrities making fools of themselves.”
Unfortunately, Hill and the Spurs are in a losing battle. Once salacious images of celebs hit the net, they usually end up being transmitted around the world. Hill can only teach others in his position to not make the same mistake. Although sexual desires can be strong, it is important for public figures to think five times before capturing themselves nude or in sexual acts on video. While the talentless can make a career out of nudity, that tactic can backfire for celebrities that seek corporate sponsorships. –amir shaw
