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

Vernon Davis, star tight end for the San Franciso 49ers tweeted a story yesterday from a flight he was on. It was rather boring with a couple funny points here and there about a fat guy next to him eating a burger with the cheese dripping all over the guy. He then told his followers about how he slept the whole flight. It was the usual mindless drivel twitter is known for. Then things turned a bit.

ddockett

(DARNELL DOCKETT)

RT @VernonDavis85: I slept the whole way it's so beautiful this morning<- did u think about #24 and u know what #24 I'm talking bout!!! On 5:41 PM May 11th 2010 from UberTwitter

#24 for the Arizona Cardinlas is the 3 time Pro-Bowl safety Adrian Wilson. From here the smack-talk battle continued:

ddockett

(DARNELL DOCKETT)

RT @VernonDavis85: @ddockett last time I checked I was standing over top of #24 with a football stuck to my glove TD! <- Its on I can't WAIT On 6:00 PM May 11th 2010 from UberTwitter

ddockett

(DARNELL DOCKETT)

@VernonDavis85 u better pack a big ass lunch! U think adubb almost killed u last year, u aint seen shhh! U just wait ohhh u just wait buddy! On 6:02 PM May 11th 2010 from UberTwitter in reply to Vernon Davis

ESPN picked up on this story and naturally Dockett decided it was time to continue.

ddockett

(DARNELL DOCKETT)

RT @antoniosmith94: @ddockett hold on now I remember #24 Laid that SLAP STICK on #85 more than once and got fined for 1 of em!<- LOL me too On 12:14 AM May 12th 2010 from UberTwitter

VernonDavis85

(Vernon Davis)

well bro? @ddockett RT @burningdownSM: @VernonDavis85 ask ddockett where he was when gore avg 115yds & had 3 TDs against the cards last year On 2:57 AM May 12th 2010 from HootSuite

ddockett

(DARNELL DOCKETT)

@burningdownSM ok ask @VernonDavis85 where he was at week 18?- Oh that's right he was home watching the cardinals in tha playoffs! On 3:04 AM May 12th 2010 from UberTwitter in reply to Vernon Davis

ddockett

(DARNELL DOCKETT)

RT @Ando83: @ddockett @VernonDavis85 Hey Dockett how many Lombardi trophies you got? <-- just as many as Vernon Davis got!! On 3:18 AM May 12th 2010 from UberTwitter

And the final cutting blow that I am sure my friends who are fans of the 49ers hear all the time:

ddockett

(DARNELL DOCKETT)

49er fans keep talking bout the old championships they have lol I wasn't even in the NFL then. How pitaful stop talking bout the old baby! On 3:25 AM May 12th 2010 from UberTwitter

Then he just gets mean:

ddockett

(DARNELL DOCKETT)

RT @MosFuriousD @ddockett let's talk abt how @VernonDavis85 has failed 2 live up 2 expectations until his 1solid season last year<--- o_O On 3:58 AM May 12th 2010 from UberTwitter

As someone who owned Vernon Davis on fantasy team last year I have to disagree.

Thanks to The ExBeerience for the story.

VernonDavis85

(Vernon Davis)

came in today a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes for men. Yes! about to wear them right now. What y'all think? http://twitpic.com/1gvqyc On 7:55 PM Apr 19th 2010 from Echofon

Doesn’t seem that interesting, does it? I bet you didn’t even click through to that twitpic. Big mistake.

Holy shit those are bad ass shoes! Totally twitpicable.

If you’re anywhere near my age demographic, you immediately think of one person wearing those shoes.

VernonDavis85

(Vernon Davis)

Got a meeting, then im going to catch a few balls and get a massage On 5:20 PM Oct 20th 2009 from Sidekick

When your coach is famous for dropping his pants to motivate players, I’m going to suggest using the phrase “catch a few passes” instead.