This Feb. 1, 2011, file photo shows Pittsburgh Steelers' Rashard Mendenhall wearing a sweatshirt as he answers questions during media day for Super Bowl XLV, in Arlington, Texas. Mendenhall has created a stir with comments made on his official Twitter page regarding Osama bin Laden's death. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)Mark Humphrey/The Associated Press
There's the U.S. First Amendment, and then there's Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall, who used the Osama bin Laden assassination to get all contrary on Twitter. "What kind of person celebrates death? It's amazing how people can HATE a man they have never even heard speak. We've only heard one side ..." Then Mendenhall ventured into the 9/11 attacks themselves. "We'll never know what really happened. I just have a hard time believing a plane could take a skyscraper down demolition style."
Mendenhall (who calls himself a "conversationalist") compared pro athletes to slaves in a previous stream of consciousness. "Anyone with knowledge of the slave trade and the NFL could say that these two parallel each other," Mendenhall tweeted. As John Cougar Mellencamp said, "Ain't that America." But if you believe in free speech, real free speech, then Mendenhall is entitled to his two cents.
Needless to say, the Steelers were unimpressed and furiously back-pedalled from their star's take. "I have not spoken with Rashard," Steelers president Dan Rooney said in a statement, "so it is hard to explain or even comprehend what he meant with his recent Twitter comments. The entire Steelers organization is very proud of the job our military personnel have done, and we can only hope this leads to our troops coming home soon."
Wednesday, Mendenhall (sorta') apologized if he'd stepped on toes, and he tried to clarify that he isn't against 9/11 victims or the troops. "I wasn't questioning bin Laden's evil acts. I believe that he will have to face God for what he has done. I was reflecting on our own hypocrisy. During 9/11 we watched in horror as parts of the world celebrated death on our soil. Earlier this week, parts of the world watched us in horror celebrating a man's death."
IT'S ALL RELATIVE
Our disappointment with Mendenhall's 9/11 denial was palpable - until we read the quote about having "a hard time believing a plane could take a skyscraper down demolition style" to a 20-year-old. "I agree with him," she said. "How could a plane take down a building like that alone?"
Then we realized Mendenhall's 23 and the young woman is 20. Both have been to university. They're also products of the Internet and a conspiracy-soaked society. From Obama's birth certificate to Osama's death mask, someone's got a theory about CIA operatives, the Mossad or extraterrestrials. (On cue Wednesday the NDP's deputy leader, Thomas Mulcair, said he doubted the existence of death photos from OBL.) So we shouldn't be surprised when a young African-American man might believe the unbelievable.
DISCRETION NOT VALOUR
As the Steelers learned, the open portal of Twitter is both a promotional tool and a MacGyver-like bundle of fuses and explosives for sports teams.
We contacted the CFL about its policy, and director of communications Jamie Dykstra pointed out that players are responsible for opinions expressed at and away from the park. "All comments made through social media will be treated as public comments and therefore are subject to discipline." He said players and teams must use "discretion." But the policy does not define what issues are indiscreet. It only asks that players and employees check with their teams for guidance on matters of public taste. There's the rub.
NASTY BIZNESS
It was a debut much anticipated in Twitterdom, if not in the general population. Phoenix's Paul Bissonnette (@biznasty2point0) became the latest NHLer to pull up a pew on TSN's hockey panel. Bissonnette is the Vince Vaughn of hockey tweets, and laid some smack on the audience, ripping Washington players making "six sheets" ($6-million) for lacking on the "give-a-blank-meter (I can't swear cause it'll cause you guys some cash)." BizNasty also proclaimed TSN's Trade Deadline day "boring ... luckily I saved you guys ... you're welcome, I didn't even get a Christmas card."
Bissonnette's cameo - coming after similar appearances from Ryan Whitney, Steve Staios, Jamie McLennan, Aaron Ward and Colby Armstrong - is a deliberate strategy, says TSN vice-president Mark Milliere. "It's a great opportunity for them and for us. We like the idea of getting in other voices. It's a grind for our guys, with no days off, so it can't hurt to keep our regular guys fresh."
Milliere says TSN is always scouting talent. "There are a lot of people who want to be on. Some express interest through their team in a Canadian city, others we're actively tracking through Twitter or our reporters say 'This guy gives good interviews.' Then there are others thinking about a post-hockey career."
Tour Talk
PGA Tour pros are known for their political leanings (mostly Republican). U.S. Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger is also noted for his Twitter output. Wednesday, he combined both politics and Twitter on the subject of releasing Osama bin Laden's death photos.
PaulAzinger Paul Azinger: If you listed top 5 things America can do to incite radicals, would a photo of [bin Laden]be in top 5? I'm curious how you all will respond. Thx peterjkostis Peter Kostis @PaulAzinger So actually killing UBL won't incite radicals but showing pictures of it will? Curious thought process.
IanJamePoulter Ian Poulter @PaulAzinger Absolutely not. I want to see a photo myself! The whole world was in danger with him alive! They are def incited other ways!! matthughes16 Matt Hughes @PaulAzinger You can YouTube JFK's head getting blown off and we are worried about a pic of OBL?
PaulAzinger Paul Azinger It does RT @Dank34 It has to feel good that the Navy SEALS you studied (PODs) to help the US win back the Ryder Cup http://tl.gd/a7eldm