So the Chicago Cubs’ would-be-outfield Dave Sappelt and I had a little run-in tonight on Twitter. Before you all assume this was my fault, let’s take a look at a bunch of the tweets put forth by the obviously- intelligent Dave Sappelt recently:
There was this:
And then this:
And then, when I and several other Cubs fans (of both sexes) pointed out the sexist nature of Sappelt’s tweets, we got this typical athlete response:
So, let’s take a moment to review what we have here:
A backup outfielder, who can barely speak English properly (as far as I can tell from his tweets), and who apparently poops dog shit (for reasons yet undetermined), insulted 50% of his team’s fan base. Upon having realized that (GASP!) people were offended by his tweets, Dave Sappelt proceeds to tell the fan base to “grow up” and “stop being so sensitive.”
Did I mention he also blocked me?
Looking at the big picture, I don’t really care. I mean, I didn’t even know Dave Sappelt was ON Twitter (or the 40-man roster, for that matter) until tonight. But this kind of thing is a problem for the Chicago Cubs. Why? Well, because there aren’t a ton of reasons I want to go watch this team play right now, anyway. And frankly, why do I want to pay to go to Wrigley Field, one of the most expensive ballpark visits in baseball, to see jackasses like Dave Sappelt play when I can spend a lot less to watch the up-and-coming talent play with the Kane County Cougars?
This isn’t the first time a Cubs player has gone off the rails on Twitter, as the previous Ian Stewart unpleasantness taught us. And while I’m all for people being able to speak their mind on Twitter, it might be in the Cubs’ best interest to reign some of these guys in. Bottom line: the Cubs have an unhappy fan base right now. Having the players act like jerks on Twitter isn’t going to send anyone running into the virtual waiting room for tickets.
And one more issue before I sign off for the night: There seems to be an epidemic of celebrities on social media (though it’s really a stretch to call Dave Sappelt a “celebrity”) who seem to think that they are entitled to love and devotion of the masses, no matter how ignorant the remarks they push out to the masses are. If you disagree with their idiotic ramblings, then YOU need to grow up, because they’re just A) having an opinion, B) Keeping it real; C) some other equally idiotic thing.
But here’s the thing: a lot of us have said stupid things on social media that have offended people. God knows I’ve done it, and, if you spend any amount of time on social media, you’ve probably done it, too. The difference is that most of us realize we’ve said something dumb and have apologize for it. I’m not sure why celebrities fail to get this message, but it would go a long way towards establishing good will with the fans if guys like Dave Sappelt learned a little bit of humility.
In conclusion, Chicago Cubs, part of my job is train people to use social media, both in technical terms and in online etiquette. I’m available any time, free of charge, to teach the Dave Sappelts and Ian Stewarts of the world how not to not ostracize 50% of the fan base.
Frankly, I don’t think you can afford it.
I’m with you on this one Julie. I’m sick of people telling me that they have rights, but forget about the responsibilities that go with those rights. Everyone has a right to their own opinions, but if you’re a public figure and think it’s okay to insult a large percentage of the people who pay your salary, then you don’t deserve the salary. I see a way right now to free up some roster space on a roster that has too many outfielders.
The saddest thing is all the women who are telling him he did nothing wrong because they’re thrilled to be interacting with a baseball player.
Dave Sappelt should never have attempted a battle of wits,since it’s clear he is unarmed in that area…
That IS sad. I raised my two daughters to have more respect for themselves than that.
Is there something about former Reds outfield prospects? Chris Dickerson (un-verified) once called a blogger “a skirt” after she referred to him as a 4th outfielder-type.
HA. Was Ian Stewart ever one of your prospects?
I’m a sort of celebrity. I can say what I want without consequence. Also, I can’t spell. – Every celebrity on Twitter
“Bqhatevwr” — Scott Brown
I just get so sick of athletes putting out all these thoughtless statements about women without any inkling that what they’re saying it insulting. It’s like we’re the last group that it’s appropriate to discriminate against.
If you’re bored tonight, you really should take a gander at my Twitter feed. I wasn’t aware that so many guys like this existed. Neanderthals.
Julie – you’re the Lead Cubs Correspondent and you didn’t know Sappelt was on the 40 man roster?
Why didn’t you cut and paste what you said to him?
And since you said “there aren’t a ton of reasons I want to go watch this team play”, maybe you should just write about a team you want to cover – maybe you’d then be familiar with the 40 man.
One other thing – why were you trolling Sappelt and why are you writing about it? He was writing about his girl friend, not you.
He was NOT writing about his girlfriend. He said “WOMEN,” not “MY WOMAN.”
Also, I wasn’t trolling him. He popped up in my timeline because someone else was ripping on him for being a jackass. I didn’t even know he was on Twitter.
And yes, I knew he was on the 40-man roster, I wrote about it a few days ago. I was just being snarky.
“to see jackasses like Dave Sappelt play when I can SPENT a lot less to watch the up-and-coming talent play with the Kane County Cougars?”
Spend maybe? I agree with most of your argument, but don’t assault someone’s knowledge of the English language when it’s displayed through social media. ANYONE can make a mistake eh Julie?
Thanks for pointing that out. FIXED. But I will say that I think Sappelt’s crimes against the English language are far more severe and habitual than just a typo.
And besides, he has no excuse for all those crappy emoticons he puts at the end of a every tweet.
I’ve been told, now repeatedly by guys on Twitter, that Sappelt was “telling a joke” and that I blew it out of proportion.
I wonder if they would feel the same way if I said that I’m terrified when black people drive or that Jews get carried away while shopping.
Generalizations aren’t cool about any group. And it’s not okay just because women are 50% of the population.
If your that sensitive maybe you should just stay off twitter. It was a joke..hahahaha. Not that big of deal at all. You constantly change player’s names around and we all make fun of em…same difference.
I agree 100% w/ fossilhippie here.
If you really think that making a generalization about an entire segment of the population is okay, then I’m not sure what to say to you. It’s not okay. It’s not funny. And the fact that so many guys seem to think it’s okay is really disturbing.
And of course, even though Sappelt is the one insulting half the population, I’m the one who should stay off Twitter. That makes a lot of sense.
It’s petty and your making a big deal out of next to nothing. Hell people say it’s raining cats and dogs outside…its not literally raining cats and dogs and no one is mistreating animals. There are blonde jokes etc…There are jokes that men only think with one head etc. Its not that big of a deal….if you that are offended by that are that sensitive, you should prob stay off his twitter feed.
You degrade players near daily but you take offense to something like this.
I don’t “degrade players daily.”
And you’re not answering my question. What if I tweeted “Black people driving scares the dog shit out of me.”
Would that be construed as a “joke” and would you say African Americans are overly-sensitive if it bothers them? Hell, some other guy called women who like hockey “puck sluts” last night. Why is all of this okay?
Again your making a big deal out of nothing. My wife used to say all the time, men are worthless during hunting season. She didn’t mean all men in the world are worthless, of course she meant me.
And yes if you want to start pegging others for being insensitive or what have you, might oughta look in the mirror. You take to the web and make fun of players all the time. We here as a members of this blog change Cubs names around, call them by nicknames we make up etc. I know several people that absoluletly hate their names being mispelled or said the wrong way. Do we ask them permission to call them something other than their name their parents gave them? No and its not that were really being disrespectful were just poking a little fun.
I’ve followed your blog for along time and like you Julie but this here just seems ticky tacky. My grandfather never said the words men and women. He would say what are you “boys” up to? Of course I was a grown man and not a boy. To many people thats very disrespectful. I could go on and on with these tongue and cheek examples but all I’m saying is, its not that big of deal.
Look, we can agree to disagree. I respect that. But you have to understand that, as a woman, you see this crap every damn day on social media. I get sick of it. And if you’re going to have a social media account that is verified because of the team you play for, then at least be a little bit careful about the things you put out there.
But we don’t have to agree. This isn’t a nuclear sub, we don’t both have to turn our keys.
I see it too and in many cases people are definitely being insensitive, ignorant, and often times racist or sexist. I just think in this case, no harm was meant and its being blown way way out of proportion.
On a daily basis if you go back and read what you say or I say or hell most of us on this particular blog say, you can find something that could potentially be insensitive, disrespectful, or emotionally harmful to someone else.
I agree 100% everyone should at least try to know your audience but society as a whole needs to lighten up a bit.
Political correctness in all its forms is BAD.
It reeks of Right think.
WE MUST ALL CONFORM is bullshit.