Sorry Ted, but we’ve got a new front-runner for “Best Homeless Success Story” of 2011.
Nathan Harrington of Salem, Massachusetts, finished first in ESPN.com’s prize-eligible fantasy football competition. That’s first place out of 3.1 million other teams. And he did it without a computer or a home, all on the heels of a car accident that left him without a job and with nerve damage.
In 2009, after a car accident, Harrington, 33, was forced to take medical leave from his marketing job. Then, Harrington, his fiancée, and their 3-year-old son were evicted from their apartment because of a rat infestation taking over the building. They moved into a cheap motel, and Harrington put his computer into storage.
Harrington told the Salem News:
My fantasy football was the one thing that kind of seemed to be going right at the time. There was a lot to be upset about, but the one thing that was steady and heading in a positive direction was the fantasy football. So I thought I might as well stick with it and ride it out. Thank God I did.
Harrington said he knocked on strangers’ doors asking to use their computers, snuck online at his dad’s nursing home, called in roster moves to friends, made pit stops at the library, and swung by his mom’s house when he could.
Going into the last week of the season, Harrington’s team, the Boston Beatdowns, sat in seventh place. While hoards of deranged Floridians might tell you Harrington was saved by God, he said that his decision to start Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Tim Tebow is ultimately what vaulted him to the top of the standings—0.8 points clear of second place.
ESPN awarded Harrington with a $3,500 Best Buy gift card, which he then sold to his mother—a cold-hearted, but savvy businesswoman—for $2,500. He plans to use the money to move his family into a new, rat-less apartment.
—Photo eltravdotcom/Photobucket
About Ryan O'Hanlon
that is a great story, other than the part about his mother. What is THAT about!
his mother should be ashamed of herself a real winner she is , how can you treat your child in that way
Good to hear something positive came his way. Don’t think it’s a big deal that he gave his mom a $1000 discount on the gift card. But he could have sold it online for a little more, lol.
Gee mom what a big heart you have………. shame on you!!
well i’m gald that he did all of that – and i’m all so gald that it worked out for him in the end (all good thing come to doese who wait) good bless
this was the STUPIDEST story in the internet today, yet I’m thankful it’s this and not another shooting. Really, did you have to include the pic of Christ like that and the story about the mom? You just disrespected religion and somebody’s mother. pathetic.
Did you ever think the mother bought the gift card with great intentions. Maybe she could barely afford to do what she did for them. We do not know all so I find it offensive that you would call her cold and heartless.
Wow, what a heartless mother she has turned out to be !! Why wouldn’t she take them in if they were homeless?? I am sure(almost) that they would do the same for her. Of course, maybe she only offered him 2500.00 for the best buy card because she was going to buy him “stuff” for the new apartment…hmmm NOT.
Speaking of 3500.00, what is THAT ABOUT? all those hours of working on it, and the stress to say the least, should have been 10,000 !!
Whta a joke you all are this guy has 4 children by differnt mothers whom he has never ever payed a drop of support to he is wanted by the police for unpaid child support ditching court in differnt court cases he probably doest stay at his mothers house could the cops could find him there oh did i mention the years of criminal behavior and drug use nice story my butt any bad luck he has had has been his own doing
I don’t think cold hearted was a right choice of words.
BTW his cold mother rasied his oldest son while he was out getting messed up and in jail how mean she is
He definitely could have sold that best buy card online for more than $2500 and like someone else said, “Why didn’t his mom take him and his family in if he’s homeless. That is cold hearted.