Salon (the real one, not the parody) decided to troll America today with an article by Steve Almond entitled, “The NFL’s toxic lies: Here are the worst excuses fans use to justify watching football.” Almond, proprietor of againstfootball.org, proposed to examine why millions of fans choose to justify to themselves why they watch “a violent, commercialized sport that we now know can cause brain damage.”
The piece was fair game for the usual dose of Salon ridicule.
You make it sound like watching football is like reading Salon
“@Salon: Here are the worst excuses fans use to justify watching football"— 4th-Party Pol (@PointlessPol) September 2, 2014
@Salon just a wee bit preachy there
— 武則天/فاطمة بنت محمد الفهرية القرشية (@temacube) September 2, 2014
https://twitter.com/commonsenseCOLO/status/506816772717019136
Things got interesting, though, when “Mitch Johnson,” chief of staff for the nonexistent Rep. Steve Smith of Georgia’s nonexistent 15th congressional district, called out Almond.
Boss @RepStevenSmith, like anybody needed further proof @stevealmondjoy is a wuss, he also writes for @Salon
— CoS TJ Mitch Johnson (@TJMitchJohnson) September 2, 2014
@TJMitchJohnson @RepStevenSmith @Salon Okay Mitch, howzabout we have a public debate about football? Happy to include your boss. I'm serious
— Steve Almond (@stevealmondjoy) September 2, 2014
@stevealmondjoy @TJMitchJohnson @Salon Challenge accepted. I refuse to sit idly by while the left ruins every American tradition.
— Rep. Steven Smith (R-GA) ?? (@RepStevenSmith) September 2, 2014
@RepStevenSmith You @stevealmondjoy don't help your case any by writing for the Metrosexual Times AKA @Salon…do they pay you in tampons?
— CoS TJ Mitch Johnson (@TJMitchJohnson) September 2, 2014
Oh, it’s on.
@RepStevenSmith Lets debate. You name the venue. Radio would be best.
— Steve Almond (@stevealmondjoy) September 2, 2014
@stevealmondjoy @TJMitchJohnson We'll need a neutral moderator, someone like @seanhannity.
— Rep. Steven Smith (R-GA) ?? (@RepStevenSmith) September 2, 2014
Could I make a suggestion? We don't you two @RepStevenSmith @stevealmondjoy just do it over twitter at the earliest convenience?
— CoS TJ Mitch Johnson (@TJMitchJohnson) September 2, 2014
@TJMitchJohnson @RepStevenSmith How about a real debate in full sentences? Call Hannity. Something tells me you have him on speed dial.
— Steve Almond (@stevealmondjoy) September 2, 2014
R @stevealmondjoy sure U want to do that? Sean & @RepStevenSmith go way back to Sean's early days WGST/ATL Steve is a big influence on Sean
— CoS TJ Mitch Johnson (@TJMitchJohnson) September 2, 2014
@TJMitchJohnson @RepStevenSmith Great. Then have the Rep set it up. Seriously. Bring it. Happy to give you my contact info.
— Steve Almond (@stevealmondjoy) September 2, 2014
I hate to ask, but what are UR @stevealmondjoy credentials? R U a good researcher? It's no problem but his @RepStevenSmith time is valuable
— CoS TJ Mitch Johnson (@TJMitchJohnson) September 2, 2014
@stevealmondjoy @TJMitchJohnson Mitch will contact Sean and set this up. It's time to score a touchdown–for America.
— Rep. Steven Smith (R-GA) ?? (@RepStevenSmith) September 2, 2014
@RepStevenSmith @TJMitchJohnson Excellent!
— Steve Almond (@stevealmondjoy) September 3, 2014
@RepStevenSmith If @stevealmondjoy can post UR bonafides & credentials, I'll get it together & pitch it to Sean (well, Jason first) tonight
— CoS TJ Mitch Johnson (@TJMitchJohnson) September 3, 2014
@TJMitchJohnson @RepStevenSmith Just wrote a book called "Against Football" Reviewed by LAT, NYT, WP. Try Google. It works.
— Steve Almond (@stevealmondjoy) September 3, 2014
Yes, definitely try Google.
Related:
Lizz Winstead taken in by nonexistent Rep. Steven Smith; Update: Tweet deleted
Sally Kohn fooled by fake congressman and his fake chief of staff
David Sirota falls for fake congressman from nonexistent district
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