Nowitzki Seeks Custody of Unborn Child

According to court papers filed last week, Dirk Nowitzki is seeking sole custody of his ex-fiance's unborn child, pending paternity tests that confirm he is in the fact the father, according to the Beaumont Enterprise. Crystal Taylor, the mother of the child, is currently an inmate in the Jefferson County (TX) jail after being arrested last month for violating her probation and alleged theft.

Nowitzki has been estranged from Taylor ever since he alerted the police after discovering her secret past, which includes a lengthy police record, multiple aliases and, oddly enough, a previous relationship with former NFL quarterback Tony Banks.

Taylor claims to have learned of her pregnancy only after being arrested and taking a urine test at the police station.

Nowitzki would obviously prefer to deal with this extremely personal situation in private, but as embarrassing as it must be for him to see intimate details of his life splashed across the newspaper, it's refreshing to see the relatively mature manner in which he's handling the situation. All too often professional athletes make headlines for failing to provide for illegitimate children, but here's a guy taking steps to claim his child before its even born.

Infamous Mugshots

Cristal Taylor, a 37-year-old ex-stripper, has a history of legal woes. From jail this week, Taylor said she is pregnant with Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki's child and that they planned to marry before her recent arrest. Click through the gallery for police booking photos of sports stars.

AP/AP/ZUMA Press

Dustin Johnson: The PGA Tour golfer was arrested in March and charged with driving under the influence in South Carolina.

J. Reuben Long Detention Center / The Sun News / AP

Matt Jones: The NFL wide receiver was arrested in 2008 and charged with felony possession of a controlled substance. Police say they found a substance that tested positive as cocaine and traces of marijuana in a car Jones and others occupied. In March, he violated his probation when he failed a test which showed that he had alcohol in his system.

Washington County Sherriffs Office

Carl Eller: Former Minnesota Vikings great Carl Eller, seen here after being arrested last April, was convicted in January for assault on a police officer and refusal to take a sobriety test.

Hennepin County Sheriff's Office/AP

Jamal Anderson: The former Atlanta Falcons star was charged with felony cocaine possession and misdemeanor marijuana possession in February.

Fulton County Sheriff

Rampage Jackson: The UFC star was arrested on July 15 after a 3-mile chase and multiple collisions. Jackson was hospitalized for a mental health evaluation following the arrest.

Costa Mesa Police Department, AP

Antoine Walker: The former NBA player was charged with suspicion of drunken driving in Miami Beach in January. Police say officers smelled alcohol and that Walker looked sleepy.

Miami-Dade County Corrections and Rehabilitation Dept., AP

John Daly: The golfer was taken into custody in October by Winston-Salem, N.C., police after he was reportedly found drunk outside a Hooters restaurant. Officers said Daly "appeared extremely intoxicated and uncooperative."

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, AP

Charles Barkley: The former NBA star was arrested on suspicion of DUI after police say he ran through a stop sign in Scottsdale, Ariz., on New Year's Eve.

Gilbert Police Department / AP

Michael Rayfield Hodges: Police said that Hodges, a former football player for the Tri-Cities Fever of arenafootball2, bit off the fingertip of an officer during a jail scuffle in November.

Franklin County (Wash.) Corrections

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 10)

6-19-2009 @ 7:54AM

mrxtw63 said...

thats funny nobody has commented on this if it was a black basketball player my lord it would be a thousand response.All I want to know if she is black or white.

6-19-2009 @ 1:39PM

milton said...

what does it matter of her race? the fact is he had unprotected relations with this shaddy person. it happens to the best of us man or woman

6-20-2009 @ 7:47AM

Pam said...

From the looks of her and the fact that she is a felon and an ex stripper, he's lucky all he got from her is a baby. lol.

6-20-2009 @ 8:23AM

D. said...

It's hard to say what her race is, she could be both, but having seen her picture, she looks more black than white.

6-20-2009 @ 11:49AM

muffin said...

Bet, you hit the nail on the head. Thanks for a true heartfelt response.

6-20-2009 @ 6:43PM

superfreakcindy said...

I don't remember ever hearing about a black athlete doing this. Has it ever happened?

6-20-2009 @ 7:53PM

Chom-Chom said...

AllTheAnsw: your comment is funny I must give you that. But it's grossly inaccurate...examples Barack Obama (black man/president of u.s.), Colin Powell (black man/ 65th U.S. secretary of state), Condoleezza Rice (black woman 66th U.S. secretary of state), Percy Julian (black man/famous chemist), Madam C.J. Walker (black woman/inventor). So basically it's not true that all black people go after escalades, bling or loud stereos. Many have, are, and will go after professional and successful careers.

6-20-2009 @ 8:00PM

royjones18 said...

so true but it would of been more than a thousand comments if it was a black basketball player you know how RACIST WHITE PEOPLE are

6-20-2009 @ 9:57PM

Octavia said...

mezrq63 it is plain to see that Ms Taylor is a mixed race something that includes Black. Under our old oppressed status in the U.S. she would have to check Black on any legal paperwork.

6-22-2009 @ 6:19PM

dennissbr said...

Why does some idiot, such as yourself, always have to focus on the issue "not at hand"; the race of the parties involved. Why does this matter? The lesson you (& other readers) should be getting from this story is that a man is stepping up & doing the right thing. Simple, end of story. Must be a real bitch for you to focus on the reality of situations. Keep your comments to yourself & maybe get back into school or society or something that will help you to keep things in perspective.

6-19-2009 @ 9:34AM

grumpyoldman said...

That's her picture above your comment. Good for Dirk for thinking of the welfare of this unborn child.

6-19-2009 @ 9:49AM

J CHRISTOPHER said...

u mean like all the real upstanding football players(Stallworth,Little,Burress,Vick,ect..ect)

6-20-2009 @ 11:11AM

into228 said...

OR LARRY BIRD WHO WALKED AWAY FROM HIS DAUGHTER FOR YEARS SHUT UP WITH THIS BLACK/ WHITE BS IM SICK OF IT AND I AM BLACK DAMN ENOUGH ALREADTY DIRK IS TRYING TO SAVE FAC BECAUSE HE FEELS LIKE A SUCKENE HAD UNPROTECTE OUT OF WEDLOCK SEX WITH A STINK ASS STRIPPER.