GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Carmelo Anthony said he understands why LeBron James was offended by Phil Jacksons use of the word posse to describe the Cleveland Cavaliers stars business associates.I would never want to hear that word about me and my -- I dont want to say crew -- but people that I consider family or people that I come up (with), been through thick and thin with, Anthony said Tuesday. Id want to be called a tight-knit group or family. Thats what I consider those close people to me.I think everybody would understand [why the term is offensive]. I dont think you would have to be a rocket scientist or an educated person to understand what that means to us.Jackson, who was not made available to the media Tuesday, referred to James business associates as a posse during an interview with ESPNs Jackie MacMullan that was published earlier this week.Jackson made the statement in response to a question about James decision to leave the Miami Heat and sign with the Cavaliers, in the context of Pat Rileys tenure as Heat president.James business associate, Maverick Carter, took issue with Jacksons use of the word in an interview Monday with ESPNs Dave McMenamin, and James echoed those thoughts Tuesday.I had nothing but respect for [Jackson] as a coach for what he was able to do, James said. Obviously he was at the helm of (the team featuring) my favorite player of all time, (Michael Jordan), and also being there growing up and watching him with the Lakers, but I got nothing for him, James said of his level of respect for the New York Knicks president.Anthony hadnt read Jacksons comments on James in the Q&A but said he was briefed on the matter before speaking with the media.I know him and I dont think he would just say something to be saying it, Anthony said of James, his close friend. Whatever was said, Im pretty sure it hit home and he responded to it. I dont know exactly what was said.Anthony said he doesnt think Jackson meant to use the word posse in a racial connotation, but he also didnt want to speak on Jacksons behalf.Its different words that different people use in different ways, the Knicks star said. To some people, the word posse might not mean anything. It might just be a word. To some other people it could be a derogatory statement. It all depends on who you mention it to and who youre talking about in essence.In this sense [Jackson] was talking about four, five black men. Do I think he meant it in any kind of way? I really dont know. I dont think he did. I would hope that he didnt. Sometimes Phil just say things and he says the first thing that comes to mind. Probably hes in his office right now regretting it. With Phil, you never know whats going to be said, whats coming, and depending on whos listening. People take it the right way and people take it the wrong way. I just dont understand him talking about LeBron right now in November.Anthony added that he isnt concerned with how the James-Jackson interaction may impact the way free agents view the Knicks in future offseasons.No, that dont worry me, he said. I dont really know what was the gist of the conversation, what was the topic or why Phil was even talking about LeBron in the first place. I dont think we play them anytime soon. Its a whole month away.The Knicks next play the Cavs at home on Dec. 7. Black Friday Shoes Free Shipping . Peter Gammons, an analyst for Major League Baseballs network and website, drew the ire of hockey fans on Sunday when he criticized the two NHL teams on Twitter for their physical game the night before. Black Friday Shoes Deals . All of the scoring came in the final 20:04. Lucic scored on a power play at 15:46 of the third period, when he tipped a shot over Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen for a 3-1 lead. http://www.shoesblackfriday.com/ . -- Matt Ryan needed one of the best games of his career to lead the Falcons and their depleted offence out of their three-game losing streak last week. Black Friday Shoes Sale . -- Ty Montgomery had 290 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, and fifth-ranked Stanford held on to beat No. Black Friday Shoes Deals .In my heart and mind Im competing for India, luge competitor Shiva Keshavan told The Associated Press in an email interview. Every day Im flooded with messages from Indians all over the world telling me they are supporting me. MINNEAPOLIS -- Tracy Claeys was a defensive coordinator for 15 years at four different schools before taking over as head coach at Minnesota, so he knows a thing or two about making adjustments to the game plan on the fly.Seeing three key members of a unit that is expected to lead the Golden Gophers to new heights be ejected for illegal hits? That was a new one even for him.Minnesota overcame the loss of linebackers Cody Poock and Jonathan Celestin and defensive end Taiyon Devers for targeting to beat Oregon State 30-23 on Thursday night.Im all for that rule, Claeys said. We just have to go back and look at the film and everyones got to lower their target down.Poock was flagged for a helmet-to-helmet hit on a receiver after a pass fell incomplete. Celestin launched himself head-first into sliding quarterback Darell Garretsons helmet and the freshman Devers came in high on Garretson on a late hit in search of his third sack of the game.It was kind of crazy and kind of nerve-racking seeing all of our starters go out like that, Minnesota defensive back Damarius Travis said.Rodney Smith rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns, the last coming in the fourth quarter to put the Gophers in front 24-23, and the short-handed defense held the Beavers scoreless over the final 15 minutes to hang on for a tense victory in a game they were favored to win by 13 points.You try to educate and get the young men where they need to be to handle the scenarios, Oregon State coach Gary Andersen said of the targeting penalties. Its hard. The quarterback now, he starts sliding, hes protected, which we want to protect the players. Youve got to show the game tape. Theres not a lot of game tape on that.Mitch Leidner was erratic as ever in going 13 for 26 for 130 yards. But he rushed for 76 yard and two scores, the last a 1-yard run with 1:27 left to give the Gophers a seven-point cushion.Garretson threw for 228 yards and three touchdowns for Oregon State. The junior transfer lost two fumbles on crunching sacks by Devers in the first half, but Garretson bounced back to throw TDs to Noah Togiai, Victor Bolden and Tim Cook.They were sttrong.dddddddddddd They were physical. They flew around, Garretson said. They knew what they were doing. They were comfortable. You could see. We put up a pretty good fight.THE TAKEAWAYOREGON STATE: After going 2-10 in Andersens first season last year, the Beavers were hoping Garretsons arrival would help speed the rebuilding process. The early returns are promising. He completed 25 of 40 passes and hung in there while being sacked four times.Youre not going to find a tougher kid than that, Andersen said. Hell stay in there and hell fight like crazy. He didnt just get hit. He got drilled numerous times.MINNESOTA: If the Gophers are truly going to contend in the wide-open Big Ten West, they will have to be much more disciplined and precise going forward. They had eight penalties for 70 yards. Center Tyler Moore snapped the ball over Leidners head twice, one resulting in a safety, and Leidner missed several open receivers down the field, an underwhelming performance all around.I think its a mixture of both being a little too amped and a little nervous, Leidner said. Unfortunately you dont get preseason games like the NFL does to get adjusted to things like that. But to be able to win a game and have some of that sloppiness, that will definitely help us moving forward.GOING FOR 2When the Gophers scored in the last 90 seconds to take a seven-point lead, Claeys elected to go for 2 to try to make it a two-score game. An extra point would have made it impossible for the Beavers to win the game in regulation.My opinion is 95 percent of the time those teams go down and score late, theyre going to kick the extra point and go to overtime, Claeys said. So I would rather take the chance on getting three yards and ending the game.UP NEXTOREGON STATE: The Beavers get next week off before hosting Idaho State for their home opener on Sept. 17.MINNESOTA: The Gophers host Indiana State on Sept. 10 for what should be an easy tune-up before they face Colorado State for a third straight home game. ' ' '