Who could have possibly imagined that tweeting one of those $15 fantasy games with college basketball analysts would get people fired up?
(Everyone. Because everyone on Twitter has an opinion about everything. It’s a rule.)
Here’s the game:
You have $15 to build your broadcast team. pic.twitter.com/P5z4BUKXRa
— Mid-Major Madness (@mid_madness) May 19, 2017
Options, in descending order of dollar value:
Play-by-play: Gus Johnson, Jim “Hello Friends” Nantz, Verne Lundquist, Beth Mowins, Dave Pasch
Color 1: Bill Raftery, Bill Walton, Dick Vitale, Dan “Mad Online” Dakich, Reggie Miller
Color 2: Jay Bilas, Doris Burke, Grant Hill, Clark Kellogg, Jim Calhoun
Sideline: Holly Rowe, Allie LaForce, Tracy Wolfson, Molly “Not Britt McHenry” McGrath, Andy Katz
Studio: Jay Williams, Fran Fraschilla, Seth “Transfer Epidemic” Greenberg, Jon “Also Transfer Epidemic” Rothstein, Charles “In The Annapolis” Barkley
So those were the options. Here’s what we learned:
The people of Twitter don’t know how to follow rules
Seriously, guys. We’ve all played this game before. You have a $15 budget and need to pick someone from each column. That’s how it works. There’s no “I don’t need a studio guy” or “I’m going to move this person over to sideline.” You don’t get to make those decisions.
For example, you don’t get change back in this game.
@mid_madness @roybelly @JonRothstein @JayBilas @BillWalton @DickieV @RealJayWilliams @heydb @sportsiren @dandakich @SethOnHoops @TheAndyKatz How are you charging a buck for sir Charles... I want change back
— john beltrami (@worldbreaker84) May 19, 2017
You need to pick a color guy. We decided this for you.
@mid_madness @JonRothstein @JayBilas @BillWalton @DickieV @RealJayWilliams @heydb @sportsiren @dandakich @SethOnHoops @TheAndyKatz Gus, Holly, and Chuck. Save myself $4. Don't need color guy with Gus.
— Johnathan Micklos (@JEMicklos) May 19, 2017
You do not get to pick people not on the board.
Give me...
— Jeff D Lowe (@JeffDLowe) May 19, 2017
$0 - Ian Eagle
$5 - Bill Raftery
$5 - @JayBilas
$3 - Tracy Wolfson
$2 - THIS. IS. MARCH. https://t.co/X37mTnHlC6
The people of Twitter also don’t understand that the list is finite
Listen, there are a ton of excellent college basketball broadcasters and analysts who we could not include on here. It does not mean we don’t like them. This was meant to make it tough for you to pick a team, and it was tough for us to even pick the candidates. If your name isn’t on here, it doesn’t mean we don’t love you. In most cases.
This was one of many:
@mid_madness @JonRothstein @JayBilas @BillWalton @DickieV @RealJayWilliams @heydb @sportsiren @dandakich @SethOnHoops @TheAndyKatz No Mr. Nessler?
— Peacone36 (@Peacone36) May 19, 2017
Or that we are a college basketball site and this is a college basketball game
@mid_madness @JonRothstein @JayBilas @BillWalton @DickieV @RealJayWilliams @heydb @sportsiren @dandakich @SethOnHoops @TheAndyKatz How do you not have JVG, Ernie Johnson, or Lisa Salters?
— Ereca (@lazye97) May 19, 2017
Wait, what?
@mid_madness @JonRothstein @JayBilas @BillWalton @DickieV @RealJayWilliams @heydb @sportsiren @dandakich @SethOnHoops @TheAndyKatz I agree that they do not cover college basketball, but some of them aren't as entertaining I'm my opinion.
— Ereca (@lazye97) May 19, 2017
Marv Albert or Kevin Harlan
— David Williams (@DR1VENTimesland) May 19, 2017
Dr. Jack Ramsey
Hubert Brown
Craig Sager
Ernie Johnson #ClassicTeam https://t.co/7B56mSGga6
Or that this is not a game of marry, f***k, kill (or kill, kill, kill)
I'd kill Vitale and Miller and Barkley. What are my other options? https://t.co/w3V1G9mUNc
— مات جونسون (@twoeightnine) May 19, 2017
People think Molly McGrath is Britt McHenry
We didn’t include Britt McHenry on here because, well, she’s not a college basketball reporter. You know who is? Molly McGrath! And she’s great at it! I was confused when people started picking McHenry despite her not even being an option.
Verne, Dick, @JayBilas, @BrittMcHenry, Charles Barkley https://t.co/jtrE7ear2L
— Jordan (@JjWills_) May 19, 2017
Luckily, Britt cleared it up for us.
@sgoldsmith94 @mid_madness @BillWalton @JayBilas Lot of people confuse her for me. No worries
— Britt McHenry (@BrittMcHenry) May 19, 2017
People either love or hate Bill Walton
@mid_madness @JonRothstein @JayBilas @BillWalton @DickieV @RealJayWilliams @heydb @sportsiren @dandakich @SethOnHoops @TheAndyKatz Bill Walton is an insult to every other person on this list and their profession, INCLUDING (dare I say this) Doris Burke
— Jack Wantz (@wantzpantz11) May 19, 2017
You'd have to pay ME to pick that goofy mf Bill Walton lol https://t.co/r49v3G5wSf
— Logan Beatsdell (@Logan_Blaisdell) May 19, 2017
@mid_madness I feel like I should be PAID $4 to have Bill Walton.
— Joseph McBurney (@josephmcb) May 19, 2017
I'd go into the luxury tax and grab 5 Bill Waltons. https://t.co/4WcWOIijHj
— Brett Kane (@BrettKaneRadio) May 19, 2017
@mid_madness @JonRothstein @JayBilas @BillWalton @DickieV @RealJayWilliams @heydb @sportsiren @dandakich @SethOnHoops @TheAndyKatz What if I just want 5 Bill Waltons
— yung randy savage (@CSimeonNP) May 19, 2017
4$ on Bill Walton then the other 11$ on a Grateful Dead shirt https://t.co/eRcMUtPkU0
— Jake Ricciardi (@RicciardiJake) May 19, 2017
People don’t know who Uncle Verne is
$3 the fat jolly guy cause he's funny
— ☯ (@ReelSlimShaney) May 19, 2017
$1 Reggie
$5 the Bilastrator
$5 the top jawn cause we got bread
$1 sir Charles https://t.co/LQteBlsEWE
@mid_madness @JonRothstein @JayBilas @BillWalton @DickieV @RealJayWilliams @heydb @sportsiren @dandakich @SethOnHoops @TheAndyKatz Dick cheney lookin guy, raftery, kellogg, brunette lady, barkley. Or just gimme Barkley and I'll buy $14 worth of Taco Bell.
— Marchie Iller (@BrianRampage) May 19, 2017
Dick Cheney looking guy? Seriously?
Actually yeah I can see it.
People want 15 Jim Calhouns
Also, seriously, Mike?
Some people are just a blast at parties, I’m sure
A list that doesn't have Kevin harlan? Lmao ok. You would have to pay 1 million dollars for anyone to choose Calhoun. This game is trash https://t.co/FFEmXNIa0w
— Frenchy (@TheFrenchyze) May 19, 2017
You're missing @DShulman_ESPN, the best play by play announcer working today. In general, this is a pretty terrible draft board. https://t.co/qtkq5EmQnN
— DrewDevilSports (@DrewShirleyShow) May 19, 2017
What y'all thinking? If anyone picks Reggie Miller you're getting blocked immediately https://t.co/ab2h8AdUvB
— Joey Elrod (@JoeyElrod) May 19, 2017
Actually I understand that last one.
Jay Bilas took this as an opportunity to make fun of Raftery, of course
Five bucks? That wouldn't get Raftery "one more" drink even once. https://t.co/mbz1vkk4az
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) May 19, 2017
Someone might want to check on Ryan Nanni
Gimme 5 Barkleys fighting 5 Reggies refereed by Holly Rowe. https://t.co/m9fXBWNdPV
— Ryan Nanni (@celebrityhottub) May 19, 2017
Maybe talk to someone, Ryan? You might not be well.