The AP noted the Seahawks yesterday "apologized for a tweet that linked their improbable NFC championship game victory to Martin Luther King Jr." earlier in the day. The team tweeted, "We shall overcome," accompanied by a picture of QB Russell Wilson crying "next to a quote from King and the hashtag MLKDay." The team later "deleted the tweet and sent out an apology for 'poor judgment'" (AP, 1/19). CBSSPORTS.com's Will Brinson called it a "pretty awkward mistake" by the Seahawks, though they deserve credit for later "owning up to the incident" (CBSSPORTS.com, 1/19). FOXSPORTS.com's Jimmy Traina wrote it is the "latest social media embarrassment from a pro sports team" (FOXSPORTS.com, 1/19).
VILLA LA VIDA: In London, Charles Sale reports there are rumors Seahawks and Trail Blazers Owner Paul Allen "could be interested in buying" EPL club Aston Villa from Owner Randy Lerner. Allen, who was "in talks to buy" EPL club Southampton in '07, also "part-owns" the Sounders. Aston Villa is "sceptical about any bid." But a source involved with Allen's investment firm, Vulcan Inc., said, "This is Americans talking to Americans" (London DAILY MAIL, 1/20).
HEAT'S EATS: In Miami, Carli Teproff notes the Heat yesterday made a "special food delivery" to a local homeless shelter, the Chapman Partnership, along with C1 Bank, Levy Restaurants and AmericanAirlines Arena. The delivery event yesterday "planned to highlight the basketball team’s efforts to package food not sold at games and donate it to either the Chapman Partnership or the Miami Rescue Mission." AmericanAirlines Arena Exec Chef Rufino Rengifo said that his cooks "prepare for about 15,000 meals a game and wind up donating about 1,000 to 1,500 meals to either organization" (MIAMI HERALD, 1/20).
NOTES: The MLB Cardinals "drew between 20,000 and 22,000 fans for the three-day Winter Warm-Up at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch" last weekend. The 19th annual event, "which raises money for the team’s charitable arm, Cardinals Care, was not a sellout, however" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 1/20)....The Eastern Conference-leading Islanders have had "five consecutive sellouts and 11 overall," which is "nine more than last season" (NEWSDAY, 1/20).
