Athlete Death Threats

Serious Issue or Device to Gain Sympathy?

Let me start off by saying that Death Threats are bad… Duh

However, I recently got into a Twitter altercation with an Astros fan who insists that these Cheaters lives are in danger because Josh Reddick says he has received death threats. Some will say Josh had nothing to do with the cheating scandal, Even if he wasn’t a trash can banger, he at least knew what was happening. Silence is compliance my friend.

Is his life really in danger? Let’s take a look.

I am of the belief that sports fans are radicals, deeply invested lunatics that live and die with the rise and fall of their beloved sportsballplayerguy/ team. I know because I am one.

I also believe Twitter is a lawless place where idiots run rampant, saying whatever they want with little/no recourse.

So naturally when you combine the two, you get a wild combination of vitriol and a place that lets you voice it to the world. Did your hated rival make a game winning 3 pointer to sink your hopes of making the NCAA tournament? You should definitely tell them how much you hate them. Favorite player throw a touchdown to hit the over on the football game you bet your last $100 on? Send them all the love and praise, they might even retweet you.

So, what about when these eggs on twitter send death threats to players? Whether through a private DM or a tweet, what do we think? Obviously it’s never right to threaten someone’s life over a game, but are they real threats? Is some Grey Avatar, no picture user named YankeesFan543258745 going to show up to your house and punch you in the face? Probably not.

I contest that after these controversial events unfold in the sports world such as the Astros Cheating Scandal and the keyboards are on fire with rage calling for revenge, these players are tired of being the bad guy almost instantly. They know what they did was wrong, they gave an “apology” and now they think it should just go away. Fans are ripping into them, MLB “punished” the team, Other baseball players are not exactly happy with the Astros or the MLB. Next the media is asking what else can be done and constantly picking the scab of every player in front of a microphone.

So what do they do? Players come out and say, “Yea well, I received death threats… you should feel bad for me too.” Did they? Have we seen any record of this? Did anyone in the clubhouse pull up their phones and show anyone? Let’s say Josh Reddick did get death threats, that sucks man, I’m sorry that you have to put up with it and feel uncomfortable with your family, I get it. But are these actually a REAL Threat? When has a player ever been viciously attacked by a fan?

I would hate for an outfielder to catch a mustard covered wiener to the face in the 7^th inning. Actually that would be awesome.

Unless what Josh Reddick is really worried about is the ever rabid, drunk baseball fan, which we all are aware have been known to cause disaster on the field.

Fans are crazy, and say shit they regret sometimes. Who knows? maybe they don’t regret threatening someone who they thought robbed their team of a fair outcome. But if these threats were credible, why would you be going to the MLB or media to say you need protection? If your life was in danger, or physical health in jeopardy, you would ask Twitter to find out who this person was then involve the Police or even the FBI. This is the United States, we have law enforcement and great security at every sports event. If you are actually threatened, then pursue legal action.

This is simply a move by a group of dudes who are under fire and having to defend their actions or dodge questions they simply don’t want to answer.  People like Josh Reddick want you to feel bad for them because it’s not their fault they cheated and didn’t have any negative consequences as a result. He was trying to get sympathy from the media and turn the conversation in a different direction.

Verdict

I wholeheartedly do not believe any Houston Astros players’ life is in any sort of danger, I think that Josh Reddick said is trying to shift the story and this is a practice commonly used by people to garner sympathy.

Real death threats exist in certain circumstances, No one should ever mention someones loved ones, Wives, Kids, or otherwise. In this case, however, things are getting blown out of proportion.

Unless Josh Reddick moves to Argentina and becomes a soccer player, he will be just fine.