Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Toned-down tweets from Tar Heels players?

Clarification and update at the end of this story

It appears as if North Carolina's players got a talkin' to about what is -- and is not -- acceptable on Twitter.

About 5 p.m., rising sophomores Dexter Strickland and John Henson, plus rising junior Larry Drew II, all posted variations of the same message on their individual Twitter accounts: "well coach just talked to us about twitter and told us we offend some people n what not so this is a farewell to bein' myself..lata tweeps."

Strickland also added: "They told me I gotta watch wat I say..so I'm sry if any of my tweets offended anybody that follows me.."

Then Strickland and Henson later tweeted, "yeah these people be emailin coach n stuff smh....'self expression is a birthright and something you did PRIOR to hoopin...'"

The trio, who all have more than 4,000 followers apiece, are three of the most prolific tweeters on the team, commenting on everything from basketball to what they eat to what music and movie they enjoy -- all, usually, in shorthand-Twitter-slang.

But some of the team's tweets this season have also gotten individuals into hot water.

Team spokesman Steve Kirschner, for example, in April told a panel discussing social networking that one Tar Heel tweeted that freshman Travis Wear may have broken his ankle – which could, he said, have broken HIPAA violations and brought on a lawsuit. After the College of Charleston loss during the season, Henson tweeted that the Tar Heels had just made a guy's college career. Both posts were later erased.

Clarification on the HIPAA story: Kirschner called tonight to clarify the HIPAA story that he discussed during the panel in April. When the player tweeted the injury, he said, he told the player that it wasn't his job to discuss injuries -- that was up to Coach Roy Williams, the player and the head trainer.

Kirschner further pointed out to the player that if Kirschner discussed the injury without permission from the injured player, he could be subject to HIPAA violations. He was trying to make a point to the player who tweeted the injury, he said.

Kirschner also said he didn't know the details of the players' meeting today with the coaches, or who who they met with. "But we've always told them to be careful about Twitter."

-- Robbi Pickeral

20 comments:

isaac said...

maybe because they act stupid

Grace said...

The coach just needed to crack down on their language. It may be twitter, but those posts quoted in this article just make them sound dumb.

704Champ said...

"yeah these people be emailin coach n stuff"

Looks like these players need to be goin to English class n stuff

Anonymous said...

This is awesome! This UNC squad has given us so many things to laugh at I don't know where to start. The only let down is that I don't get to wear around a UNC/NIT champs t-shirt. They would have made great xmas gifts for my unc friends, too!

Anonymous said...

some people take life too seriously. Let it go.

Anonymous said...

Roy was tired of them losing so he had to take away some fun.They all sound like they need gold chains and gold grilles anyway.Go to duke,get a good education and win a few championships!!!!

Anonymous said...

I get the feeling Henson may be a bit of a tool based on those and the ones after the Wears left.

Anonymous said...

this is really news?

slow news day in Charlotte.

Anonymous said...

What did you people posting on here used to do when the Heels were going to final fours and winning national championships? Seems like you must have been pretty bored... Get a life.

Anonymous said...

people in the media and fans really do take things to serious, it's not a big deal and limiting their twitter account doesn't mean more w's.

Anonymous said...

Once again it seems that CO is determined to show that it favors only one or two colleges in the Carolinas. This article is nothing but silly fluff ... absolutely nonsense that one would expect of a young child or possibly a extreme teenage fan! CO is showing its total lack of journalistic judgment; but then if you haven't got any, you can't show it.

Anonymous said...

I've read a few of their tweets. They are pretty typical for kids their age. Roy needs to get his panties out of a wad and leave them alone.

Anonymous said...

Yeah people also acting like they want these kids to be robots. Like someone else said I don't see nothing wrong with their tweets imo.

Anonymous said...

UNC is bush. Duke epitomizes douchebaggery. N.C. State will reign supreme.

Anonymous said...

anonymous at 8:15, its not Roy who has his panties in a wad, its the grown adults in this world who are offended by what teenagers are doing.

Seriously, if a 18-19 yr old kids off the record thoughts are bothering you, you need to go get a hobby or something.

Surprised these people can actually email Roy displeasure b/c I figured they would be outside yelling for people to get off their lawn.

Anonymous said...

yeh wateva n stuf

Anonymous said...

yo yo yo, say word. I kno right. yo yo yo, say word. I kno right. You kno me, you kno me, yo yo yo, word. I kno right.

Anonymous said...

They are kids and should be allowed to express how they want...however the kids that are grounded aka tyler hansbrough, barnes and many others who have been very successful dont seem to constantly post this crap. If these 3 guys would have spent as much time in the gym and weight room as they do on twitter and facebook...they may not have gone to the NIT....fact

Anonymous said...

dem peoples just be clownin dem kids layoff em aiight dribble dribble cut crossover DUNK wordsonword namean? go heals

Anonymous said...

dey like ballin so much cuz dey can run, shoot and steal, uknowhatimsayin?