Ball Don't Lie - NBA

Nuggets guard J.R. Smith's Twitter page is drawing controversy because several of his recent tweets have been written in a way that apparently gives the impression of an association with the Bloods street gang.

Chris Dempsey of The Denver Post, um, reports:

"Words that would have a 'C' in them are replaced with 'K,' or if a word has both in them, the 'C' is removed altogether. [...]

'Those are still little messages that are being transcended back to some of the neighborhoods,' said Rev. Leon Kelly, executive director of Open Door Youth Gang Alternatives in Denver. 'Not to say in no way is he promoting a gang. But people got to understand that a lot of these kids come from gang neighborhoods. Their friends are still involved in doing what they do. Just because one was able to get out of that lifestyle, many of them don't forget where they come from.'"

Questionable tweets include "I just Kame home. ... I kouldnt have done it with out yall," which Smith posted last week, upon his release from jail, as well as "Vegas here I kome!" and "Kant wait to get bak in the swing of things."

I'm no expert on social gang networking, but I'm pretty sure there is a difference between writing in a particular style and actually being in a gang. As Mutoni at SLAM notes, this is a wild accusation for The Denver Post to make based on a few messages from Smith's Twitter feed.

And besides, how do you explain this "C" and this "C" and this "C" ...

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137 Comments

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  1. Kirby
    1. Posted by Kirby Tue Aug 04, 2009 12:26 pm EDT

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    J.R. is one of the most unintelligent people in the league so it could be that he just can't spell.
  2. Vittorio De Zen
    2. Posted by Vittorio De Zen Tue Aug 04, 2009 12:28 pm EDT

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    You've found C's! Nice investigation. JR is innocent, kase klosed.
  3. Jammer
    3. Posted by Jammer Tue Aug 04, 2009 12:35 pm EDT

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    remember during the playoffs when J.R. Smith (who I agree, is outstandingly stupid) did his little chicken dance? a lot of people were suggesting his little hand signs were signs that Piru Bloods use, and I even remember one blogger providing a link...if only i could find it now
    bottom line, J.R. Smith is an idiot. He could be one of the best players in the NBA, but his huge lack of intelligence clearly prevents him from being one.
  4. CB
    4. Posted by CB Tue Aug 04, 2009 12:35 pm EDT

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    kome on who kares!!
  5. mcwelk
    5. Posted by mcwelk Tue Aug 04, 2009 12:44 pm EDT

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    Just don't let him drive a kar!
  6. KneeJerkNBA
    6. Posted by KneeJerkNBA Tue Aug 04, 2009 12:45 pm EDT

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    Ask Stephen Jackson if JR's in the Bloods. Dude's got 'Bloods' tattooed across his belly. He'd know.
  7. Igrill88
    7. Posted by Igrill88 Tue Aug 04, 2009 12:45 pm EDT

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    perhaps he kould be the next to akkidentally shoot himself up in da klub...
  8. Brad K
    8. Posted by Brad K Tue Aug 04, 2009 12:56 pm EDT

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    #1 - I think you meant "kant spell"
  9. Andrew P
    9. Posted by Andrew P Tue Aug 04, 2009 12:59 pm EDT

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    kokks for lyfe
  10. SoCalindian
    10. Posted by SoCalindian Tue Aug 04, 2009 1:03 pm EDT

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    Wow... A Denver THUGget shows he has gang ties? NO Way!! I don't believe it...
  11. Phi D
    11. Posted by Phi D Tue Aug 04, 2009 1:05 pm EDT

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    J.R. Smith is definitely dumb, there is no denying that, pple like J.R. smith give blacks a bad rep
  12. the REAL Headless Chicken
    12. Posted by the REAL Headless Chicken Tue Aug 04, 2009 1:27 pm EDT

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    this is all about kode switching. next time you read him tweet, he'll do in perfekt oksford english.
  13. Hisham A
    13. Posted by Hisham A Tue Aug 04, 2009 1:43 pm EDT

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    Skeets, the correct spelling might've been done by a PR/friend. Celebrities sometimes hire somebody to tweet for them official announcements
  14. Liz
    14. Posted by Liz Tue Aug 04, 2009 1:46 pm EDT

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    Have you seen a lot of the #3wordsbeforesex Tweets & other such messages? Spelling is not a highly prized attribute among many on Twitter.
  15. K NEL
    15. Posted by K NEL Tue Aug 04, 2009 1:54 pm EDT

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    who cares seriously. even if he is in down with the Bloods he's got to be pissed every single day he puts on the POWDER BLUE Nuggets uniform
  16. Airlock
    16. Posted by Airlock Tue Aug 04, 2009 1:54 pm EDT

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    JR Smith gives human beings a bad rep, it doesnt matter what color he is or isnt, he's a loser plain & simple
  17. Airlock
    17. Posted by Airlock Tue Aug 04, 2009 1:56 pm EDT

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    JR Smith gives human beings a bad rep. It doesnt matter what color he is or isnt, the dude is filled up enema bag aspiring to be a douche bag....
  18. benpsg
    18. Posted by benpsg Tue Aug 04, 2009 2:34 pm EDT

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    texting the word "back" is easier and quicker when its "bak". a & c both use the 1. obvious to any texter. gangs? ok maybe. but texting IS a pretty plausible reason.
  19. David P
    19. Posted by David P Tue Aug 04, 2009 2:38 pm EDT

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    likely: the "C" button does not work on his blakberry...
    MOST LIKELY: he did not learn the "c" in the alphabet when he was younger, does not know the letter even exists..
  20. razzle dazzle
    20. Posted by razzle dazzle Tue Aug 04, 2009 2:55 pm EDT

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    Klippers! Kavaliers! Maveriks! Rokets! Magik! This is fun. :) I
  21. razzle dazzle
    21. Posted by razzle dazzle Tue Aug 04, 2009 2:56 pm EDT

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    oh, Bobkats! Keltics! Pakers! Kniks!!
  22. jay d
    22. Posted by jay d Tue Aug 04, 2009 3:01 pm EDT

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    I wonder how he feels about Chris"Vanilla Ice" Anderson?
  23. b chocalate smooth
    23. Posted by b chocalate smooth Tue Aug 04, 2009 3:10 pm EDT

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    he is only 24 years old. he will b fine. yall so hard on these guys!!! does look like he blazed a couple of funny cigarettes!!! :)
  24. Nutt-Dogg
    24. Posted by Nutt-Dogg Tue Aug 04, 2009 3:16 pm EDT

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    People don't realize while your playing with this that quietly, "YOU'RE ALL DISRESPECTING CRIP GANGS"! When you cross out the C's you disrespect them. For those of you that don't understand the nature of this it is very serious. It is the type of thing that will leave the Thugget out on the street laying somewhere half dead. Crips don't like this. In fact it is the most offensive thing you can do to a crip besides calling them the cousin of a lobster "*rab", all who don't know this let this educate you, it might save your life one day because you never know who you might run into while talking about this disrespectful stuff. Yes, it's a gang thing but, one that should still be respected whether it's street talk or street text it still is the reason today that society fears the gang community. Yes, little things like this create massive problems for people like Mr. Smith. Trust me in Los Angeles his arrival could soon become a problem by his own doing.
  25. Joshua N
    25. Posted by Joshua N Tue Aug 04, 2009 3:18 pm EDT

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    Didn't you just love it when Kobe sunk that 3 pointer in JR's face. That was awesome. He stayed quiet the rest of the game and stopped those stupid 3 point celebrations. lol

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