Want to learn more about an athlete or celebrity? It’s easier than you think, thanks to social media. Kevin Durant, the 7-foot NBA forward who recently won a championship with The Golden State Warriors, recently took to Twitter to vent against the creepers who posted negative comments about him, his performance in the NBA finals, and his move to free agency.
The hateful comments ranged from calling Durant “soft,” to questioning his leadership, to calling out his work ethic:
so I can’t even use twitter anymore? Where do I go to get validated?
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) June 19, 2017
but u wasn’t with me shooting in the gym tho, so how do u know my work habits?
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) June 19, 2017
Durant stated that waiting for his flight prompted him to take on the Twitter trolls:
nah I’m flying right now and the wifi kicked in. I don’t have anything else to do
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) June 19, 2017
This is just the latest in a long string of Twitter rants from athletes who feel the need to fight back. Sometimes they argue with the public, other times they fight the power. Occasionally, they have beef with other athletes. But most often, they just vent.
Here are five reasons athletes should think before tweeting, or stay away from Twitter altogether:
5. Boredom is no excuse
Dear Kevin Durant, you’re a multi-millionaire. Check your stocks, watch a movie, or buy a fidget spinner if your flight is delayed.
4. Trolls don’t play
Twitter can be a great vehicle for sharing ideas, news, and hashtags. It can also be a dark place of hate and anonymity. The pure relentlessness of Twitter comments is like the fiery pit of Mount Doom.
3. Inflated egos impair judgment
Athletes can have massive egos, thanks to how much the public loves and flatters them. A few negative callouts to your athletic ability can topple the mountain, more than an actual hit. Mental preparation for the game is as important as the physical prep. Social media isn’t for you if you can’t handle the critics.
2. Public consumption
People already have their own pre-conceived notions of who their favorite athlete is since everything is up for grabs online: an athlete’s stats, divorces, arrest records, court records, and other personal information. Don’t give the public more fuel for the fire when they want to criticize from the safety of their man caves.
1. Enjoy your victory
Dear Kevin Durant, don’t second-guess your hard work because some neckbeard hiding in their mother’s basement is calling you a flopper. Do you want this idiot to track you down and roll up after you go a couple of brutal rounds on Twitter? You have better things to do, like sipping champagne in your jacuzzi or buying your thousandth pair of sneakers.
Of course, many athletes can use Twitter without any repercussions, because tweeting is an amazing way to communicate and self-promote. And interacting with their fans can help athletes promote foundations and other charitable causes that they care about. So shout out your victory loud and clear! Just don’t stoop to the haters.
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