Twitter blew up this week with “DeflateGate” aka “BallGate.” For those of you who don’t follow the post-season football playoffs, “BallGate” can be translated to “sports fans freaking over Patriot’s quarterback, Tom Brady, and his 16% deflated balls.”
Tweets were flying with trending hashtags like:
- #Balls
- #Ballghazi (which was in rather poor taste)
- #BallGate
- #DeflateGate
- #shrinkage
- #Schweddy even made an appearance (Go, SNL!)
- Some fun juvenile types (like me) enjoyed #ballsballsballs and #ballsoft
- Professional waxers, under #ballologist, even got some play.
The world is on fire and we’re talking about balls. Go figure.
Some sample tweets:
And in today’s news: Men cry over deflated balls, men with no balls deflate women, and a King kissed by a President dies. #ballsballsballs
— James Morrison (@JamesPMorrison) January 22, 2015
Tom Brady on #BallGate: “This isn’t ISIS.” Correct, bro. More people are talking about balls than ISIS. #DeflateGate pic.twitter.com/rNrpxUKsEv — Raquel E Saraswati (@RaquelEvita) January 23, 2015
Looking for a job as an NFL ball fluffer? Deal with the punter. Only one to modify vs 11 if you contract with the QB.#BallGate
— thinker (@oldscotcan) January 23, 2015
And the hashtag that was in poor taste (but still a bit funny):
Prior to #Ballghazi I can only remember one other time I heard so much ball talk. #schweddy pic.twitter.com/I7sbXUr071 — Sharyn Alfonsi (@sharynalfonsi) January 23, 2015
As Brady says:
“I have a process that I go through before every game when I go in and pick the balls I want..the footballs I want to use for the game. Our equipment guys do a great job of breaking them in. When I pick the balls out – at that point, they’re perfect..I don’t want anyone touching the balls, rubbing the balls, nothing.”
The magic happens at the 20 second mark.
What do y’all think of this football madness? Have you been following #DeflateGate? Enquiring minds always want to know these things here at More Cowbell!
~Jenny
Photo credit: By Petey21 (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons
Jenny Hansen's Blog 
It was a real violation that probably would have died quickly…had it happened early in the season. But with the season winding down and, in the aftermath of a playoff game, folks just need something football-related to talk about! LOL! The Pro Bowl is next, but for those of us whose teams aren’t going to the Super Bowl, September 2015 is a lonnnng wait! 😊
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Felicia, I think you’re right. And I find it fascinating that the Ravens were the ones who stirred the controversy up. *cue spooky music*
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Tweet posts seem to be the theme of the week, Jenny…I just did one the other day about the #StateoftheUnion through tweets. Those quick-witted tweeters are a riot!
Of course, in terms of bawdy humor potential, #StateoftheUnion doesn’t hold a candle to #DeflateGate. Especially when Schweddy Balls are involved. Fun post, hon!
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I saw your #SOTU post! Loved it. And no, there isn’t nearly the IYKWIM factor available there. Long live the Schweddy Balls…
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No double entendre’s here, no sirrrreeee. 😉
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Not at ALL, Cate! *wink-wink*
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Are we going to see a ball fest before the Super Bowl as refs and players squeeze and examine the game balls? IYKWIM – Am I doing this right, Jenny? LOL Seriously though, seems like refs would check all game equipment prior to play.
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Truly, Deb. I don’t know why the refs wouldn’t be checking the equipment. Hubs and I talked about it last night, along with many tasteless jokes that I left out of this post. For these playoff games, the refs should be the ones providing the equipment, just to make sure all is fair.
I still don’t know how Brady kept a straight face through that press conference. I sure didn’t. Of course I’m not the one with serious allegations leveled against me.
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And yes, you used IYKWIM to perfection!
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Oh, Jen and Deb, were you waiting for me to drop by to talk about this issue hanging over Patriots fans’ heads?
Brady had to address this issue of proper ball pressure because he’s the guy who has to put his hands between the center’s thighs before each play and get that bag of skin firmly planted in his hands, you know what I mean?
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Laughing out loud over this. Too funny! Hope the Cocks – Gamecocks – never have this ball controversy. 🙂
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Now you’ve got the spread to consider, Deb.
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LOL “He just wanted to make his balls feel better.”
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A daily goal.
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Well, weekly goal for poor Tom.
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You two are killing me! Fine job.
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Well I think those people have a lot of balls talking about this. And you have the biggest balls of all to blog about it. And you’re not messing around either. I’d go so far as to say you’re playing hardball.
Okay, enough. I’m done. I need to stop before I go all soft and . . . oops, I’ve done it again.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
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I definitely like to play hardball more than softball, Patricia. And it’s okay if you go soft…that means you get to cozy up to Brady. He’s probably a cheater, but he’s a HOT cheater.
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I know so little about football that I honestly don’t know what this is all about. That being the case, I may go play with my balls. Yup. I have some now because my mom bought them for me a few years ago. I’m with the Mr. Brady though. I don’t let anyone else touch my balls either. Nope. No dirty balls for me. 😀
(stress balls, people, stress balls)
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Mr. Brady’s balls can now be considered stress balls as well. He is never going to look at his balls the same way. 🙂
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It’s been baffling to me. I’m also amazed that weather is such a big deal. It’s cold and snowing and icing? Please someone, tell them it’s called winter so we can move on!!
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LOL. I hear you, Jane. If the game score had been close, I could understand this out of control hooplah, but the score was an insane beating, and I don’t think fully-fluffed balls would have made a bit of difference.
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What a Twitter storm! I’m not a football fan really, but I have definitely heard about this incident and the ensuing chatter. So when I saw this clip from Jimmy Kimmel Live… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO-nkLjqLo0
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OMG, the Dr. Drew video!!! I burst out giggling over that clip. Go, Jimmy!
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I’m sure Tom Brady is used to having balls shoved in his face anyway. Seems like his wife has a bigger set than he does! 🙂
Speaking of balls – pitchers and catchers report for Spring training in 21 days. Lots of ball handling to be had!
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I wouldn’t want to tick off Giselle!
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