Athletes and Twitter Mix Like Oil & Water: Please Stop Tweeting

Athletes are tweeting these days, and it’s doing a lot more harm than good. Sure, it’s a nice way for them to directly connect with fans, but it’s getting outrageous. Every other day I’m hearing something about an athlete’s controversial tweets.

Charlie Villanueva kicked this all off, tweeting at halftime of a game.

JR Smith closed his twitter account because it was discovered he’s probably a gang member. Apparently, the way he typed words gave it away, replacing “c” with “k”.

Michael Beasley posted a picture of him with new tattoos and what looked like a bag of weed next to him. Wise! Then he got suicidal on us, via twitter, saying “Feelin like it’s not worth livin!!!!!!! I’m done” and “Y do I feel like the whole world is against me!!!!!!! Back on my FTW!!!!! I can’t win for losin!!!!!!!!!!” Michael, keep your thoughts to yourself.

Kevin Love broke the news on twitter about Kevin McHale not returning as head coach for the Timberwolves next year. He didn’t even know he was breaking it, either. He assumed the word had already gotten out.

Ron Artest is making people question his sanity even further, now that he’s tweeting. Several times, he tweeted out what he said was his phone number, and told people to call him. It was later found out that it wasn’t his number. Are you kidding me?

How about this gem, from TJ Ford: “Up early.. Takin a dump then wash my hands brush my grill & off to be the best PG.. Doubt me if u want. Hard work pays off” Thanks for that, TJ! I was concerned about your bowel movements!

Washington Redskins rookie Robert Henson is now done with Twitter, and has apologized for calling fans “dim wits.” Henson sent multiple tweets at fans who booed the Redskins. Henson asked how people who “work 9 to 5 at Mcdonalds” could know what’s best for the team.

Stephon Marbury promoted his Ustream marathon on twitter, once eating vaseline, filming himself smoking pot, and getting into a minor car accident.

Chad Johnson said he wanted to tweet during the games this year, when on the sidelines. The NFL won’t allow it. Then he started calling out Skip Bayless on twitter, which led to a face to face 1st & 10 war of words.

Allen Iverson confirmed he decided to sign with the Memphis Grizzlies on twitter.

Antonio Cromartie was fined $2,500 from the Chargers for tweeting about how crappy their training camp food was. You have got to be kidding me. Ridiculous, on both ends.

Antonio: is it really necessary to tweet that? Chargers Management: Was a fine really necessary? Then about five weeks later, Cromartie almost got fined again for posting a picture of him taking notes during a film session. This stuff has gone so far that the NFL now has a twitter and social media policy, limiting when players can use it.

Even athletes in the college ranks are tweeting, and getting in trouble for it. Arkansas point guard Courtney Fortson made the comment on twitter, “Im gettin it at workouts like a dude who doesnt understand the word no from a drunk girl lol” two days before the investigation became public of fellow players involved in an alleged rape. Fortson was apparently punished for this.

It is pretty cool that athletes can now bypass reporters to let fans know what’s new with their contract status’ and such, but so many bad things are coming from this, overall. Athletes now have their own media outlet. And people listen. Dwight Howard and Shaq have been some of the few who have used Twitter responsibly. NBA and NFL players have obviously been getting into a ton of trouble off the court/field in the last few years. Their twitter accounts are not going to help this trend. It’s just a whole new way for them to get busted for stuff they shouldn’t be doing. [Sports news you can drink a beer to - Bareknucks.com]