What’s Up With Steelers Baron Batch And Twitter?

You never quite know what ‘Batch’ you are going to get off the football field. Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

I’m scratching my head on this one….

As I was experiencing a lovely evening watching what turned out to be a tight matchup between the Texans and Bears on Sunday Night Football, I bounced around the Twitt-o-sphere for game reactions and other musings.  The media was obviously on top of the game, but players from across the league and on the Steelers roster were either watching along or engaged in something completely different.  And I couldn’t help notice one Steeler who was sharing much about a TV show he was watching and quickly moved into a venomous tirade against his own followers.

Steelers 2nd year back up running back, Baron Batch, was watching The Walking Dead last night, and decided to Tweet responses to things that were happening during the show – better known as spoilers.  Some followers didn’t take kindly to this.  And while agree with Batch that if people didn’t want to see the spoiler Tweets to just go ahead and ignore then, what I scratch my head with and somewhat take issue with is his reaction to those that spoke out.  Batch went from being a friendly Walking Dead watching guy, to an I don’t really care what you think or what you do so piss on you and unfollow me then guy – we call that being a jagoff.  Now I’m not saying Batch is a jag because I admire his story and what he’s become in this world, but he certainly was acting like one last night.

There’s a whole sundry of Tweets by Batch, but here are a few of the highlights:

Some followers of Batch didn’t take kindly to Batch’s responses to those who didn’t take kindly to the spoilers. When they Tweeted to him that they were unfollowing him, he responded:

Twitter can be a 140 character no holds barred of abbreviated thoughts and emotions.  And, it often gets players into hot water (i.e. Rashard Mendenhall 2011).  Usually, though, it seems as if players extend a courtesy and politeness to their fans even when they decide to go on a rant or vie for something outside of the mainstream.  I said usually.

What’s so strange about Batch’s rants (and this isn’t the first time he has gone off on Twitter) is that they are so atypical what people expect to see from this guy.  Batch’s story as to how he got to where he is at this point in his life is a pretty incredible one.  If you have never read his blog, you should.  If you already have, then I think you might share my same feelings on this.  If you separate Baron Batch The Blogger from Baron Batch The Tweeter, one would think they are two completely different people.  The blogging Batch is such a humble, caring, and empathetic young man.  His writing and ability to express is impressive.  It’s one of the main reasons why so many in Steeler Nation like him, admire him, and root for this guy every time he steps out onto the football field.

The Tweeting Batch is a crass, aloof, and dismissive juvenile who seems to only bait his followers so that he feels enabled in what he is doing.  It’s the kind of personality that will get fans to unfollow – which they are.  They aren’t unfollowing in droves, but Batch could care less.  Granted, it is indeed ‘his Twitter.’  He can do and say what he wants.  But what I don’t understand is the assumed license to be abusive to people who genuinely want to socially connect with him.  I guess you can predict the kind of guy you will get on the football field, you just never know what  kind of guy you will get away from the field.

Ultimately, it’s no big deal, right?  It’s Twitter.  I love the Baron Batch that is on the field.  I’ve admired his hard work and perseverance – especially after that crushing knee injury last year.  I guess I just need to understand that there are two sides to every person….