The Finger Wag – Athletes using Twitter and Social Media to their Disadvantage

Awhile back we did a story on Darren Sharper calling out Bret Farve’s ankle surgery. He implied that the ankle was going to be a target for him and the Saints in their season opening matchup this year using the term “X marks the spot”.

Naturally this didn’t sit well with some of Bret’s teammates and a
little war ensued:

Visanthe Shiancoe struck first:

VShiancoe

(Visanthe Shiancoe)

You went for my legs twice in the championship game.. it was mano y mano, I would think that the mighty "Sharper Shaker" wouldnt shy from... On 11:44 PM May 28th 2010 from mobile web

VShiancoe

(Visanthe Shiancoe)

.... a little thudding @sharper42 On 11:47 PM May 28th 2010 from mobile web

These seem mostly harmless, just some good smack talk. Visanthe’s teammate Bryant McKinnie joins the fray basically with nothing more than asking what’s going on:

bigmacvikings

(Bryant Mckinnie)

@sharper42 oh so I heard u was on twitter going in, but I missed it! Man u don't want these problems. On 12:44 AM May 28th 2010 from UberTwitter in reply to Darren Sharper

Darren Sharper has one of the worst over reactions I have seen:

sharper42

(Darren Sharper)

@bigmacvikings You know things ain't changed but the number on the range. I still back up what I say like in practice. But don't bring your On 2:49 AM May 28th 2010 from mobile web in reply to Bryant Mckinnie

sharper42

(Darren Sharper)

@bigmacvikings Big a.s out there trying to block me. On 2:50 AM May 28th 2010 from mobile web in reply to Bryant Mckinnie

Not only is that way overblown but the inability to type out “ass” is just disturbing.

A few days went by and then the ultimate bomb was dropped taking this from a somewhat lame rivalry to an all-out, probably going to see a fight on the field, flame war…

VShiancoe

(Visanthe Shiancoe)

"X- marks the spot".. Loved the idea, ehhh so I went for it http://twitpic.com/1t6nor On 4:02 AM Jun 2nd 2010 from Twitpic

Doesn’t read so bad right? Here’s the picture:

Yeah…

The best part of this picture is just how lame it is. This reminds me of when I do an impression of people and just say something like “I’m Bill Clinton, got any cigars?!?” in a high voice. It gets all the laughs from the ladies.

sharper42

(Darren Sharper)

@vshiancoe ok homeboy you done went too far, making me out to be something that has brought this country alot of heartache. On 9:51 PM Jun 2nd 2010 from mobile web in reply to Visanthe Shiancoe

sharper42

(Darren Sharper)

Imma bust you right under your chinstrap from the first play on. I don't care about the fine. F the money Imma do it for the red,white&blue On 9:53 PM Jun 2nd 2010 from mobile web

sharper42

(Darren Sharper)

And you'll see me cuz I'll be dressed in black & gold. Protect your neck that's all the warning you get. On 9:54 PM Jun 2nd 2010 from mobile web

BillyMiller83

(Billy Miller)

@sharper42 that boy was wrong for that pic so do ya thing boy On 10:03 PM Jun 2nd 2010 from Echofon in reply to Darren Sharper

Now here is Visanthe’s explanation, truth be told, I don’t really get it:

VShiancoe

(Visanthe Shiancoe)

Those statements were the epitome of a crooked politician.. have some class "homeboy" @sharper42 On 11:23 PM Jun 2nd 2010 from web

VShiancoe

(Visanthe Shiancoe)

That target was already set up for me... No insult was intended to anyone On 3:06 PM Jun 3rd 2010 from web

Dude, you called him Bin Laden, it is one of top insults you can have today.

I never predicted having to tell a public figure using Bin Laden was a bad idea.

Note:Thanks to @Shotofginn from Shot of Ginn for pointing this out to me!

sharper42

(Darren Sharper)

Well y'all seen Brett had surgery on that ankle we got after in the championship game. Come Thursday night 1st game. X marks the spot. On 3:41 AM May 22nd 2010 from mobile web

The most interesting part of this to me is, Darren Sharper had off-season knee surgery himself. It seems both him and Farve have some targets for the opposing players.

The Urban Dictionary defines twitter as:

A stupid site for stupid people with no friends, who think everyone else gives a shit what they’re doing at any given time.

Darryl Talley is a former 2-time NFL Pro-Bowl player. He also understands the true definition of twitter a lot better than most of the athletes we follow.

DarrylTalley

(Darryl Talley)

I'm watching NCIS if anyone gives a shit. On 9:41 PM May 22nd 2010 from Echofon

Earlier this week PFT leaked some interview excerpts from an ESPN The Magazine feature with Dwayne Bowe, the Kansas City Chiefs’ wide receiver.

During the interview the topic of social media came up, specifically Facebook .

The older guys get on MySpace and Facebook a week before we go to a city; when a pretty one writes back, they arrange to fly her in three or four days in advance. They call it importing.”

One of my favorite parts of this though is how he follows it up about why it’s only the older guys doing this:

“Younger guys don’t have the money to do it,” Bowe added.

According to this article the minimum salary in 2007 for any player in the NFL was $285,000. The NFL travels for 8 weeks on the season (more if you make the playoffs but come on Bowe is on the Cheifs) and the young guys can’t afford a hotel room on that salary? Where the fuck are they staying? A room at the Super 8 in Jessup Maryland is only like 50 bucks (A story for another time), you can swing it Dwayne.

Honestly, I did try to this one time. I was going on a shore vacation with some buddies and hit up myspace for the town we were going to. The rejection responses I got back were not nearly as mean and insulting as the ones I sent out in my home town. Ocean City you have yourself some kind women there.

For those of you unfamiliar with Follow Friday (or #FF) on Twitter, it’s pretty simple.

You just suggest people that you think your followers should be following and use the hashtag #FF.

But this just plain doesn’t make sense…

thurmanthomas

(Thurman Thomas)

#ff @thurmanthomas On 2:46 PM May 21st 2010 from Echofon