The Why and the How Twitter Makes Sports so Much Better

Mar 13, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Tyson Chandler (6) and guard Monta Ellis (11) and forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) and forward Chandler Parsons (25) share a laugh while sitting on the bench during the second half against the Los Angeles Clippers at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Clippers 129-99. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

3. The Trolls

I feel like I’ve seen a dramatic rise in articles titled “so and so trolls so and so on Twitter” recently, and have been unsure how to feel about it. Part of me still thinks of “trolls” in the more traditional negative connotation – annoying people online who say annoying and offensive things solely for the sake of getting a rise out of others.

But the action of “trolling” has been both making a comeback and turning itself around to something not quite positive, but possibly lighthearted and definitely humorous. Trolling, or essentially targeting a well constructed jab/retort at someone, has become an opportunity for someone to really test his own cleverness and wit.

Here’s an example. The New York Yankees and the New York Mets have always had a major crosstown rivalry in the world of baseball. During this year’s Subway Series between these two teams, the Mets trolled the Yankees offhandedly via Twitter with this exchange:

So casual, yet so biting. A standard Twitter score update from the Mets turned into an opportunity to land a perfect jab on their Big Apple foe. Here’s another example, coming to us from the great sport of hockey. Just a few weeks ago, the New York Rangers faced off against the Washington Capitals in their second-round NHL Playoffs matchup. As soon as the Rangers found out that they’d be playing the Capitals, the team Twitter account sent out this comment:

This troll is much more subtle, but equally worthy of respect. To show the Capitals just what the Rangers thought about playing them, this Rangers tweet used no capitals. Turns out capital letters aren’t that important after all to getting your message across on Twitter, as the Rangers proceeded to tweet a whole slew of things without a single capital.

Our last example comes from college football, and more specifically revolves around a head coach and one of his players. Spring practice for college football has come to a close, and Jeremy Sprinkle, an Arkansas Razorbacks tight end, was about to enjoy that fact by the Tweet that he sent.

Just a guy, trying to ball. Well, apparently his head coach, Bret Bielema, had something to say about that:

Ouch, Sprinkle. Looks like you shouldn’t have let your head coach follow you on Twitter after all. And I know what you’re thinking about Bielema. #TwitterCoachoftheYear?

Next: Trash talk