hotfudgedetroit.com

LeBron James was firm in his tweet Tuesday night that seemed targeted at his former owner and teammates. But when asked to explain his thoughts Wednesday, James turned evasive.

Speaking before the Heat took on the Clippers at Staples Center, where the Cavs suffered a historic 112-57 loss to the Lakers the night before, James hedged on the meaning of his missive and then even the source.

In the tweet James wrote: "Crazy. Karma is a b****. Gets you every time. It's not good to wish bad on anybody. God sees everything!"

It seemed that James was speaking about the Cavs, who have lost 11 in a row, and their struggles while taking a shot at team owner Dan Gilbert. Last July, in a letter to fans, Gilbert had predicted bad karma for James.

But James declined to fully explain his thoughts and then attempted to imply they weren't even his.

"It's just how I was feeling at the time," James said. "It wasn't even a comment from me, it was someone who sent it to me and I sent it out. It wasn't toward that team. It definitely wasn't a good showing by that team last night, I know they wish they would've played better."

The entry on James' Twitter account did not indicate it was a re-tweet from another user. James also did not fully explain the meaning behind the statement, though he did say that karma is a word and concept "I've kinda always used my whole life."

"I don't think there was intent at all," James said.

"I think everyone looks into everything I say. Everybody looks too far into it. No hit toward that organization. I've moved on and hopefully that organization is continuing to move on. But I'm happy where I am as a Miami Heat player."

When asked to clarify his confusing comments, James and the questions were cut off by a member of the Heat public relations staff.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said that the team has taken steps to educate players about Twitter and other forms of social media. James' teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have been users of Twitter longer than James and several other Heat players use it including Mario Chalmers and Carlos Arroyo.

"We have [talked to players] and guys have scaled it back quite a bit," Spoelstra said. "The world has changed. Social media is a part of our world whether we want it to be or not. Every team is dealing with these type of issues."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/ ... id=6016717

Surf Shop Apologizes for 'All Black' MLK Day Sale

The store offered 20% off black-colored items on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The store's online advertisement featured a digitally-altered picture of Martin Luther King Jr. in a wetsuit.v (January 20, 2011)

A Laguna Beach surf shop is apologizing for its black-themed Martin Luther King Jr. holiday sale, saying the promotion was not meant to offend or hurt anyone.

Thalia Surf Shop placed an advertisement on its website Monday titled "Respect," offering 20% off black-colored products like wet suits and T-shirts.

The digitally-altered ad featured Martin Luther King Jr. in a wet suit holding a surf board.

After receiving several negative comments, the ad was taken down.

Owner Nick Cocores also posted an apology on the shop's blog Tuesday, saying there was no harm intended.

"We took down the ad for our sale to hopefully calm the waters and in the future will be more careful in our selection of promotions," Cocores said in the post. "We appreciate the support from customers and patrons of Thalia Surf that know us and know that we meant no harm."

Cocores said the store was just trying to get creative with its promotion.


— KTLA News

Jones-Drew says he didn't intend shot at Cutler

(AP) – 8 hours ago

Pro Bowl running back Maurice Jones-Drew says he never meant to take a shot at Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler or question his toughness.

The Jacksonville Jaguars star told The Associated Press on Monday that his tweet comparing Cutler to former Florida coach Urban Meyer was merely a joke — one that clearly backfired.

Jones-Drew said he was rooting for Cutler and the Bears in Sunday's NFC championship game, and when Cutler left in the third quarter, Jones-Drew thought it was the perfect time to poke fun at the Gators.

"Hey I think the urban meyer rule is effect right now... When the going gets tough........QUIT," Jones-Drew posted on his Twitter page.

Jones-Drew has received death threats and plenty of ill will from Bears' fans. The Bears also defended Cutler, who was diagnosed with sprained MCL on Monday.

Jones-Drew was caught off guard by the backlash.

"I never attacked him, called him soft or a sore loser," Jones-Drew in a telephone interview Monday. "I never questioned his toughness. I think people took my joke out of context. I was taking at shot at Florida fans."

Jones-Drew acknowledged that Cutler's injury — the Bears said he sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee — was serious enough to leave the game. But when Jones-Drew sent the tweet, he was unaware that anything was wrong with the quarterback.

"All I thought about was being in that position, being in that game," Jones-Drew said. "I've never been in a title game, so my first thought was why wouldn't you want to play in that situation."

Bears fans turned it on Jones-Drew, with many pointing out that he missed the final two games of the season even though the Jaguars were in the AFC postseason hunt. Others said they hope he blows out his knee this season.

Jones-Drew played all season with torn meniscus in his left knee, saying there were days when he would wake up and not be able to walk. He learned the severity of the injury during training camp — he basically had bone scraping against bone — but tried to keep it hidden because he didn't want opponents taking shots at his knee.

The injury became more painful after his sixth consecutive 100-yard game, but he still tried to play at Indianapolis on Dec. 19 — a game in which Jacksonville could have clinched the AFC South. After that, and with the team no longer in control of its destiny, Jones-Drew shut it down.

Cutler's defenders didn't seem to care on Twitter.

"I don't have a problem with people coming back at me," Jones-Drew said. "That interaction makes it fun. But some people took it too far by threatening my life. ... I'm not going to stop tweeting. I've never attacked anyone and never will."

Jones-Drew watched the game "as a fan with friends" and wanted Cutler to play well since he drafted him in a postseason fantasy football league. He later tweeted that "All I'm saying is that he can finish the game on a hurt knee... I played the whole season on one..."

"I threw out this joke and the backlash came in," Jones-Drew said. "I tried to make it right, but it backfired."

The Bears are still miffed by the tweets. Receiver Earl Bennett, Cutler's teammate at Vanderbilt, called the criticism "very unprofessional." Defensive tackle Anthony Adams labeled it "garbage" and "unfair."

"I expect them to stick up for Cutler," Jones-Drew said. "That's your teammate, that's how this league works. I hope they realize I don't have any hard feelings toward Cutler. I never questioned his toughness. It's not a matter of toughness. You have to be tough to play this game.

"I don't think anyone was questioning his toughness. Some guys were questioning his body language on the sideline at the end of the game. I wasn't even doing that. I was making a joke for the Florida fans and people took it out of context."

"I don't know if anybody can play the game when they're not 100 percent or not well," Ditka, an ESPN analyst, said on "Mike & Mike In The Morning" on ESPN Radio. "I can't speak for Jay Cutler. I can't speak for anybody.

"Myself, I would have had to have been paralyzed to come out of the game. I don't want to say that word. I would have had to be completely knocked out to come out of that football game."

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/n ... id=6054047

Lions' Zack Follett refers to Matthew Stafford as 'china doll'

Asked what he thinks of Stafford in an interview on ESPN Radio (1430 AM) in Fresno, Calif., linebacker Zack Follett said the Detroit Lions' starting quarterback is “a china doll right now.”

“Stafford, good guy,” Follett said. “He’s a china doll right now. Anytime he gets hit, he goes down. But the kid is -- hopefully, it’s just patiently waiting for him, because the kid is an awesome talent. He has a tremendous arm. The throws that he makes during practice when no one can touch him, he looks like an All-American quarterback, but put him in a game, and you hit his shoulder. So hopefully, say a couple prayers, keep him healthy next year, and the Lions can do some damage in the NFC


Read more: Lions' Zack Follett refers to Matthew Stafford as 'china doll' | freep.com | Detroit Free Press http://www.freep.com/article/20110125/S ... z1C4kBx9Vl

After his radio interview, Follett spoke with the Free Press and said the term “china doll” was a poor choice of words.

“I was just, basically, referring to how he’s been injured,” Follett said. “I guess I’d say it’s a wrong choice of words, obviously. I didn’t mean anything real impactful by it in saying that he can’t lead this team. In the quote, after I got done just saying that, I definitely have all the faith that he can lead us and be that quarterback that we know he can be. I know the challenge that he has, and we’re just trying to keep him healthy. So basically, if I could re-say it, I would just say he’s been injured; I wouldn’t call him a china doll.”

Follett said he had not spoken with Stafford nor coach Jim Schwartz about his comments.

“I’m not sure if Schwartz wants to talk to me,” he said. “I talked to our media (spokesman, Bill Keenist). I can probably get in touch with Matt. I think he knows me, and I know him. There’s nothing personal by it whatsoever. I mean, I’m a good friend of Matt. I think he’s a great leader for this team. I mean, definitely, I didn’t mean any harm by this or didn’t want to cause a stir-up. I just used the wrong word.”

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti ... ullarticle

T-Bone wrote:And there it is:

After his radio interview, Follett spoke with the Free Press and said the term “china doll” was a poor choice of words.

“I was just, basically, referring to how he’s been injured,” Follett said. “I guess I’d say it’s a wrong choice of words, obviously. I didn’t mean anything real impactful by it in saying that he can’t lead this team. In the quote, after I got done just saying that, I definitely have all the faith that he can lead us and be that quarterback that we know he can be. I know the challenge that he has, and we’re just trying to keep him healthy. So basically, if I could re-say it, I would just say he’s been injured; I wouldn’t call him a china doll.”

Follett said he had not spoken with Stafford nor coach Jim Schwartz about his comments.

“I’m not sure if Schwartz wants to talk to me,” he said. “I talked to our media (spokesman, Bill Keenist). I can probably get in touch with Matt. I think he knows me, and I know him. There’s nothing personal by it whatsoever. I mean, I’m a good friend of Matt. I think he’s a great leader for this team. I mean, definitely, I didn’t mean any harm by this or didn’t want to cause a stir-up. I just used the wrong word.”

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti ... ullarticle

After criticizing Eagles management and comparing the team's front-office to people who play fantasy football, cornerback Asante Samuel backtracked Wednesday night, saying he let his emotions get the best of him.

"Everything's good and I'm happy to be here," Samuel said in a statement to the Philadelphia Inquirer. "I had a talk with coach [Andy] Reid this afternoon and I now have a better understanding of how business works in the NFL. Let's get a win Sunday."

Unhappy he was trade bait earlier in the season, Samuel ripped into unnamed Eagles executives after practice Wednesday afternoon.

"Couple people upstairs might not want me, but who cares. They've probably never played football," Samuel said Wednesday. "It's a business and they run it like a business and they're going to do what they need to do. They're playing with a lot of money, playing fantasy football, doing their thing."

Asked if he was referring to general manager Howie Roseman and president Joe Banner, Samuel replied: "Howie and Joe? I don't know, do they fit the comment I made? "There ya go. You think they're upstairs playing fantasy football with the owner's money?"

Samuel, a four-time Pro Bowl pick, said he doesn't have any problem with coach Andy Reid.

"Me and Andy talked, cleared it up, everything is good," Samuel said. "Everything has been good with me and Andy. That's my guy, that's who I play for, that's who I continue to play for. I go to war for Andy. It is what it is, all the other stuff upstairs."

Samuel's name has been mentioned in trade rumors since Philadelphia acquired cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in July.

"When they traded for Dominique, I was happy. When they signed Nnamdi, definitely was happy," Samuel said. "But when they made the call to me and said they were trying to trade me, that's when it went bad. I know it's not a rumor. I know it's a fact. They called me. They called me and my agent. Talked to both of us."

Reid spoke to reporters early Wednesday, and said neither he nor Samuel were going to discuss the trade speculation.

But after Samuel's critical comments post-practice, Reid issued the following statement:

"I am aware of how Asante felt and we have since talked. We both left with a positive feeling going forward. As I have said previously, when we acquired Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Nnamdi Asomugha, we had received numerous calls on the availability of our cornerbacks.

"After discussing significant trade offers with other teams, we decided to keep all three cornerbacks on our team. Asante is a valuable member of our team and we appreciate all that he brings to this organization. As far as my relationship with Howie and Joe, I have a great deal of respect for both of them and I know we are all on the same page."

Samuel signed a six-year, $57 million contract with the Eagles in 2008. He's due to make $8.4 million next year and $10.4 million in 2013.

The Eagles (2-4) meet the Cowboys (3-3) in Philadelphia on Sunday night.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/71533 ... ll-remarks

One day after apologizing via Twitter for his controversial tweet on the George Zimmerman not-guilty verdict, New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz took the national stage Monday to issue another mea culpa.

Cruz, a guest on ESPN Radio's "Mike and Mike" show, said he was "wrong" for criticizing the outcome of the trial with a tweet that could be perceived as pro-violence. On Saturday night, he tweeted, "Thoroughly confused. Zimmerman doesn't last a year before the hood catches up to him." He quickly deleted it.

"I took it back because I understand how things can be taken," Cruz said on the radio. "There are a lot of children that follow me, a lot of kids that follow me, and I don't want them to think I'm trying to incite violence on anyone. That's not what I'm here for. That's not what my intent was -- or is -- at all."

Cruz mentioned his upbringing in Paterson, N.J., where there was "violence happening all around me when I grew up -- and I don't want to incite any of that."

The popular receiver, who recently signed a five-year, $43 million contract extension, said his immediate reaction was based on paternal instinct, how he'd feel as a father if he lost a teenaged son. Zimmerman was found not guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter by a Florida jury in the death of teenage Trayvon Martin. Cruz said he quickly realized his tweet was inappropriate.

"It was wrong," he said. "I'm human and things happen and I own up to it."

Cruz was one of many professional athletes who tweeted about the verdict. Atlanta Falcons receiver Roddy White also tweeted an apology on Sunday for a tweet he made after the verdict where he wrote the jurors on the case should "go home and kill themselves."

Cruz on Monday said he learned a hard lesson about the power of Twitter.

"You have to understand, when you're in a position where kids can look up to you, and you're a role model to these kids, you really have to watch what you say," he said.

If he had to do it again, Cruz said he would have used his Twitter account as a forum to encourage a discussion among his followers on the controversial outcome to the trial.

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_ ... weet-wrong