Did A-Rod explode over popcorn?

Much of America got a chuckle Sunday out of a strange TV image during the Super Bowl: actress Cameron Diaz feeding Alex Rodriguez popcorn as they watched the game in Cowboys Stadium.

Play-by-play man Joe Buck suggested on the air Rodriguez might not be thrilled to be pictured in that situation, and he might have been right.

Tuesday the Chicago Sun-Times reported that A-Rod was angered and confronted Fox personnel after the shot appeared, warning them not to show him and his girlfriend anymore. (The couple was not shown again during the game.)

Dan Bell, a Fox Sports spokesman, said he was not aware of Rodriguez expressing his displeasure to the network. He did issue a statement stressing that Fox did not intend to make him look bad.

"In no way, shape or form would we ever intend to show a celebrity in any type of negative manner on this or any other of our broadcasts," Bell said. "These shots are purely random and were just used to show the audience all of the unique personalities who were in attendance to watch this great game.

"Furthermore, Alex has been nothing but tremendously gracious and cooperative to us throughout the years on our MLB on Fox coverage and we would never do anything to jeopardize that relationship."