Asspociated Press
CHARLOTTE— NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne has apologized for comments he made on his Twitter account about public breastfeeding.
According to multiple media reports, Kahne posted messages on his account that he saw a mother breastfeeding a child in a supermarket, calling it “nasty” and saying he didn’t “feel like shopping any more or eating.”
Reports say Kahne then sent a crude reply message to a Twitter user who took issue with his comments.
After apparently deleting the offending posts from his Twitter feed, Kahne posted an apology on his Facebook page Wednesday, saying it wasn’t his intention “to offend any mother who chooses to breastfeed her child, or, for that matter, anyone who supports breast feeding children. I want to make that clear.”
Kahne said he understands his comments were “offensive to some people” and apologized.
“In all honestly, I was surprised by what I saw in a grocery store,” Kahne said. “I shared that reaction with my fans on Twitter. It obviously wasn’t the correct approach, and, after reading your feedback, I now have a better understanding of why my posts upset some of you.”
Kahne said he respects the mother’s right to feed her child “whenever and wherever she pleases.”
Kahne also posted a personal reply to the user he’d insulted.
“I wanted to apologize for saying what I said to you yesterday,” Kahne wrote. “It was out of line.”
NFL
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville running back Maurice Jones-Drew wonders how much of the NFL’s efforts to prevent or properly treat concussions have to do with lawsuits brought by former players against the league and its teams.
The NFL rushing leader rusher spoke out about the issue nearly a week after telling The Associated Press he would hide a possible head injury so he could stay in a game.
“I’ve had concussions before, and it wasn’t this big deal about concussions,” Jones-Drew said. “The only reason they’re making a big deal about concussions right now is because the league is getting sued over it. Before this, you never heard about it. A couple of years ago, you didn’t hear anything about it.”
• DAVIE, Fla. — Linebacker Jason Taylor is retiring after this season, his 15th in the NFL and his 13th with the Miami Dolphins.
Taylor leads all active players with 1391/2 sacks and is sixth on the sixth career list. He also has six fumble returns for touchdowns, an NFL record.
• ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Upon further review, Tim Tebow has one fewer interception, and the Buffalo Bills lost a franchise record. In a scoring change announced by the Bills, the third of Tebow’s four interceptions in a 40-14 loss last week has been ruled a fumble. As a result, the Bills have returned four interceptions for TDs this season, matching the team record.
• NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Titans coach Mike Munchak said he isn’t heading to Penn State.
Munchak said he’s flattered to be mentioned for his alma mater, but insisted he loves what he’s doing in Tennessee. This is the third time since Joe Paterno was fired that Munchak has denied interest.
• HOUSTON — Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips returned to the practice field, two weeks after kidney and gall bladder surgery. The 64-year-old Phillips went on medical leave Dec. 14.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Southeastern Conference has unveiled its 2012 football schedule with new members Missouri and Texas A&M opening play Sept. 8, and Alabama visiting LSU in a rematch of the Bowl Championship Series national championship Nov. 3.
Missouri will play the 2012 season in the SEC East and hosts Georgia on Sept. 8. Texas A&M will be in the West and hosts Florida. The first conference game will be Aug. 30 when South Carolina visits Vanderbilt.
NHL
PITTSBURGH — Jaromir Jagr and Max Talbot both scored in their return to Pittsburgh, leading the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-2 win over the Penguins on Thursday night.
Kimmo Timonen and Matt Read also scored for the Flyers, and Claude Giroux added two assists as Philadelphia ended the Penguins’ four-game winning streak.
HURRICANES 4, MAPLE LEAFS 3, OT
RALEIGH — Eric Staal scored a power-play goal 3:09 into overtime to lift Carolina to a comeback win over Toronto.
Staal had two goals and an assist, and Zac Dalpe and Brandon Sutter also scored for the Hurricanes. Cam Ward made 21 saves for Carolina, which rallied from a two-goal deficit.
It was the Hurricanes’ third straight home win, their longest streak there since March.
ISLANDERS 3, FLAMES 1
UNIONDALE, N.Y.— John Tavares scored a goal and added an assist, and Evgeni Nabokov made 29 saves to lead the New York Islanders over Calgary.