Racism? Jr. Seau, meet Fuzzy Zoeller.

[Character Assassin]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/10/22/sports1623EDT0275.DTL

Dolphins linebacker Junior Seau insists he meant no harm when he suggested the way to stop former teammate LaDainian Tomlinson is to feed him fried chicken and watermelon.

Tomlinson, whose Chargers face the Dolphins on Monday night, could not immediately be reached for comment. The Dolphins had no immediate word on whether Seau would be disciplined for the remark.

Asked Wednesday how to limit Tomlinson, San Diego's running back, Seau told reporters: "You give him watermelon and load him up with fried chicken and tell him to keep eating."

Seau, who is of Samoan descent, later said he and Tomlinson, who is black, are friends and the comment was meant in jest. Seau was wearing a Tomlinson jersey when he made the comment.

"We ate that all the time. We'd have fried chicken every Friday," Seau said. "I'm sorry you guys took it that way. I should have realized it was an oversight on my part. I'm sorry it came out that way."

(snip)

When Tiger Woods won the Masters in 1997, golfer Fuzzy Zoeller created a stir by saying: "Tell him not to serve fried chicken next year ... or collard greens, or whatever the hell they serve."

Zoeller was referring to the Masters' champions dinner, when the reigning tournament winner chooses the menu.

You know, I can't help but wonder if it had been, for example, Zach Thomas who had made this remark if he'd still have a job.

[kwolf68]

1. Will be interesting

To see how this plays out. Junior is a bit eccentric, but I take him for a good guy. I think this is just Junior's brain going on hiatus for a few minutes.

Fuzzy was a elitist golfing snob who has to be seriously questioned when taking shots at black people.

[trumad]

2. Junior say's they are good friends

who while playing together whould get together every Friday Night and eat Fried Chicken and Watermellon... Maybe...just maybe..they actually did.

[Character Assassin]

3. I see zero evidence of that

Fuzzy was a elitist golfing snob who has to be seriously questioned when taking shots at black people.

I've never seen anything about him, either directly or in comments from other golfers, that indicate his statements were anything other than made in jest, or that he is an 'elitist snob' in anything.

Why would you think Jr. is a good guy whose brain went on hiatus but not Zoeller?

[RummyTheDummy]

15. Junior is a bit eccentric.....

And he's also a bit overrated as a player. Actually, he's very overrated.

[displacedvermoter]

4. Actually Jason Taylor, his black teammate, is also Zack Thomas'

brother-in-law. Very doubtful he'd make such a comment! I'm sure he wouldn't, but I'm also sure that if he did, he, too, would keep his job. It is just the way things go when you are a professionl athlete.

[CatWoman]

5. I think you are mixing apples with oranges

Friend can and do rag each other. Zoeller didn't have this type rapport with Tiger.

Jr. and Tomlinson are friends.

Fuzzy and Tiger were competitors.

[Character Assassin]

6. Ah, but racist comments are racist comments, aren't they?

Jr. and Tomlinson are competitors as well, and Zoeller was reputed to be a good-natured, goofy prankster on the tour.

Rather than apples and oranges, I see this rather more as sauce for the gander.

[DrWeird]

7. If a black man says "nigger" is it racist?

(insert Jeopardy theme music)

[Character Assassin]

10. I'll look around here for a Samoan and ask him.

Until then, what does that have to do with Seau?

[CatWoman]

12. does junior consider himself caucasion?

[Character Assassin]

16. I highly doubt it; he's Samoan.

[CatWoman]

18. I know he's Samoan

but how would you think Samoan's classify themselves?

[Character Assassin]

19. Not as blacks.

I've known a few when I lived in San Diego, and not one of them considered himself as anything other than Samoan.

[CatWoman]

8. Yes, they are competitors

but they are still friends.

Which was not the case with Fuzzy and Tiger.

[WilliamPitt]

9. I think they're friends

and friends are alolowed to give each other shit. For anyone hunting a reason to be offended, this'll do.

[Character Assassin]

11. OK, fine. So what if one of Tomlinson's white friends had said it?

Would it still be an acceptable reason?

[WilliamPitt]

13. You'd have to ask Tomlinson

Personally, I'd say no.

But let's wait. If they do, in fact, often eat fried chicken and watermelon together, where's the crime here?

[Character Assassin]

14. None, it that's the case.

[WilliamPitt]

20. So we wait and see

If Tomlinson comes out angry, I'll side with him. If he laughs, then...

[CatWoman]

17. ummmmmmmmmmmmmm chicken...............................................

watermelon............................................

:9

[trumad]

21. Is this guy Samoan?

[CatWoman]

22. goddamit, Tru

you got me good!!!!!

ROFL!!!!!!!

[trumad]

23. Tomlinson said he laughed when he heard Seau's words.

"I wasn't offended at all," Tomlinson said. "You just have to know Junior. He's silly like that."

CASE CLOSED!

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20031022-1612-fbn-seau-tomlinson.html

[trumad]

24. Yah Cat...

We've kind of slacked off on our OJ's...;-)