Social media is one strange world. It’s a world where hot takes and opinions take center stage. Comments, Tweets, photos, videos or any post on a major platform like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram can get read the wrong way at certain times.
A pair of Bruins are finding that out first hand over the last 48 hours. One player in the center of it all doesn’t come as a surprise. The other does.
The buzz started Tuesday when Brad Marchand tweeted out an endorsement of sorts to Maple Leafs young star and RFA to be Mitch Marner. Yet, the aftermath of the less than 140 character tweet saw a wide range of responses toward the veteran ranging from clever GIFs to accusations of tampering.
Toronto’s cap situation following the off-season signing of John Tavares and recent extension to Auston Matthews puts them in a tough spot. GM Kyle Dubas will have to be creative to ink Marner to an extension this off-season.
That, of course, is just speculation. So let’s get back to the point.
The Bruins were fresh off their thrilling 4-3 overtime victory over the Hurricanes when Marchand made his first comments following the Marner tweet. And he had a little fun with the assembled Boston media hovering around his locker at TD Garden.
“You people really took that the wrong way,” Marchand said. “You’ve got to give the kid credit, he’s a great player. That’s all I was trying to get at. He’s having a great year, it’s a big milestone for him. I was just giving some credit where credit’s due, that’s all.”
Maybe there was some incentive for Marchand to comment on Marner. After all, the Bruins and Maple Leafs are on another collision course toward a first-round matchup next month.
Or maybe Marchand was just having fun, as usual. He even threw a friendly jab in toward Torey Krug’s direction.
Krug didn’t go down quietly responding to Marchand with a friendly jab of his own.
Which then prompted a response from Marchand resembling “Honey I Shrunk the Kids.”
Some good-natured fun between Marchand and Krug, indeed. Then, there are the passionate social media responses, where Wagner fell in line.
The Walpole native and loyal Boston Celtics supporter took to Instagram to comment on Kyrie Irving’s words regarding his rather bizarre postgame interaction following the team’s loss to the Rockets on Sunday. No word yet on whether or not Uncle Drew himself saw Wagner’s comment, but here’s the screenshot of that Instagram response.
Like Marchand’s tweet about Marner, Wagner followed up with a few words after notching his 10th goal of the season against the Hurricanes. The fourth line winger downplayed any alleged beef with Irving.
“I was just making a joke with my buddy. I didn’t think anyone would see it,” Wagner said. “I mean, I’m gonna go watch them when I get home. I have the utmost respect for him. He’s making money doing other stuff than basketball. I probably wish I could too.”
Well, Wagner caught the Celtics playing one of their better games of the season against the two-time defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors. Now he gets to enjoy the perks of reaching double-digit goal totals for the first time in his career.
And the fans got to enjoy some social media banter between athletes. Heck even Bruce Cassidy, who doesn’t have a social media account, got to weigh in on the friendly personality clashes on Twitter and Instagram.
“Between teammates, it’s great if they can joke [around]. I know Wagner — I think something was misconstrued with one of the Celtics, so he’s kind of bailing himself out today, and I read something about that. I think he’s the biggest Celtics fan in the room, so I wouldn’t take that one too seriously,” Cassidy said following Monday’s practice.
Can’t imagine Cassidy joining social media anytime soon. He’s in the same boat as legendary Patriots coach Bill Belichick in that regard.
Wagner might be a little more careful with his social media usage going forward. Marchand will still be Marchand on Twitter, Instagram and his other verified social media accounts.
It’s all in good fun, though. At the same time, the Bruins should avoid such platforms as SnapFace. Just ask Belichick.
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