PITTSBURGH — Rashard Mendenhall has created a stir with comments made Monday on his official Twitter page regarding Osama bin Laden’s death.
The Steelers running back tweeted: “What kind of person celebrates death? It’s amazing how people can HATE a man they have never even heard speak. We’ve only heard one side . . .”
Mendenhall also made a reference to the Sept. 11 attacks.
“We’ll never know what really happened. I just have a hard time believing a plane could take a skyscraper down demolition-style.”
The Steelers felt compelled to act. On Tuesday, team president Art Rooney II released a statement saying: “I have not spoken with Rashard, so it is hard to explain or even comprehend what he meant with his recent Twitter comments. The entire Steelers organization is very proud of the job our military personnel have done and we can only hope this leads to our troops coming home soon.”
Mendenhall led the AFC champions in carries (324), rushing yards (1,273) and rushing touchdowns (13) last season.
Among his other bin Laden tweets:
• “Those who judge others, will also be judged themselves.”
• “For those of you who said you want to see Bin Laden burn . . . I ask how would God feel about your heart?”
• “There is not an ignorant bone in my body. I just encourage you to think.”
Court sets June 3 for lockout hearing
MINNEAPOLIS — A federal appeals court agreed to fast track the NFL’s request to put its labor lockout in place until a new deal is worked out.
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis set a June 3 hearing, with 30 minutes of oral argument for each side, before Judges Duane Benton, Kermit Bye and Steven Colloton.
The Associated Press
