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

The other night I was watching some of the NBA/NHL playoffs while surfing twitter on my netbook and came across ESPN NFL analyst Marcellus Wiley on twitter discussing Dez Byrant and Jeff Ireland at a feverish pace with his followers.

For those of you who don’t know about the Dez Byrant/Jeff Ireland story I will give a brief synopsis here:

Dez Byrant apparently told a Yahoo! sports reporter that in a pre-draft interview Jeff Ireland, a representative of the Miami Dolphins asked if his mother was a prostitute. The story came out rather slowly and picked up steam throughout last week. Soon after, Jeff Ireland issued a public apology for asking the question and did not defend himself at all in the apology. During the week the talking heads commented on the situation. Michael
Wilbon went off on the ignorance of NFL ad nauseum on PTI. Mike and Mike debated the merit of the question daily. About the only person who you didn’t see in the media discussing it was Dez Bryant himself.

I must say when I first heard this story as it was reported on ESPN I was just as shocked as everyone else to hear that this question was asked.

In the height of all this, Marcellus was tweeting his thoughts on the story. I was shocked to see a former NFL player coming out in defense of someone on the ownership side of a team. A lot of other people were shocked also and were attacking Marcellus and his view.

I will try to gather the highlights of his interactions here:

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Kentrell Lockett took to twitter during the 2010 NFL Draft.  He has since taken down his live-tweeting draft adventure so I don’t have the actual images of what he posted but I do have the text! Please enjoy Kentrell Lockett’s take on the 2010 NFL Draft.

We provide you with some highlights:

“#random Dwion Sanders must have sent up a special prayer for them straight ass teeth!!”

Notice the use of the #random twitter tag, this guy knows his social media

“Marshall Faulk looks like the dude of Bay Bays kids!!”

He isn’t done commenting on the NFL network’s coverage team at all

“I bet Michael Irvin could snort a whole butter finger through them cocaine abused nostrils!!”

It only gets better…

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The NFL Draft for 2010 was the first one to be held during prime time. There was many trades and picks were made. I know that read like a third grader discussing his trip to the zoo but what do you want? You really can’t determine if a draft was good or not for at least 3 years and by then no one gives a shit.

We grabbed some of the best twitter moments from this years draft for you:

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So you have to admit, Roger Goodell is one of the most boring and wooden public figures since Ben Stein.

Did you know this man tweets?

nflcommish

(Roger Goodell)

great seeing current and former stars announcing picks On 11:57 PM Apr 23rd 2010 from mobile web

The rest is just about as interesting. I can picture the meeting where some intern all hyped up about the power of social media convinced him to do this.

And of course, we’re never going to see him bitch out Big Ben via twitter.

So start following Roger Goodell. Or don’t. It wont matter much either way.

Pete Carroll, who apparently has a lot of time on his hands with the draft in about an hour, took to twitter yesterday and today trying to give away who his team, the Seattle Seahawks would be picking in the draft.

How did he go about this? Music and movies references of course!

Here is how it started:

PeteCarroll

(Pete Carroll)

we're gonna tweet songs thru out the day to give u hints about our draft picks... try 2 figure it out! #seahawksdraftclues On 4:08 PM Apr 21st 2010 from web

Soul Sacrifice by Santana
Let the Beat Build by Lil Wayne
Smooth Criminal by Micheal Jackson
California Love by Tupac
Superman’s Song by Crash Test Dummies
Licking Stick by James Brown
Big Balls by AC/DC
Jeremy by Pearl Jam
Today was a Fairytale by Taylor Swift
Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd

PeteCarroll

(Pete Carroll)

don't forget the davinci code too... there may be clues from inside the museum! #seahawksdraftclues On 9:47 PM Apr 21st 2010 from web

He actually posted this playlist and links to listen to all the songs.

I have no idea who this could be. All I learned from this is that Pete Carrol has the oddest taste in music of anyone I ever met. In high school a buddy of mine brought over a Blind Mellon CD. Pete Carroll destroys him with this list.

He took a break here to taunt the world:

PeteCarroll

(Pete Carroll)

come on everyone! this should be as clear as rosebud from citizen kane!! #seahawksdraftclues On 10:25 PM Apr 21st 2010 from web

Then defended his fall into old man lunacy

PeteCarroll

(Pete Carroll)

in their inability to solve the mystery, they're masking the #seahawksdraftclues as a joke.... but the joke may be on them! On 11:07 PM Apr 21st 2010 from web

Claiming then that some people have it and others are close, yet giving more clues:

PeteCarroll

(Pete Carroll)

others of you are so close... this song should help you out: fingertips pt 2 by stevie wonder http://shwks.com/f6u5 #seahawksdraftclues On 5:06 PM Apr 22nd 2010 from web

PeteCarroll

(Pete Carroll)

you might want to watch the taser scene in hangover... if that doesnt give it away... #seahawksdraftclues On 5:37 PM Apr 22nd 2010 from web

And finally, this was literally two hours before the draft:

PeteCarroll

(Pete Carroll)

there's 1 line in the movie risky business that should help you complete your search for the answer... #seahawksdraftclues On 9:06 PM Apr 22nd 2010 from web