Ohio State forward E.J. Liddell received threats on social media following Ohio State’s loss to No. 15 seed Oral Roberts. We must do better.
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*Warning – the following article contains links to images of graphic language.
Basketball teams win and basketball teams lose. It’s the nature of most sports. There is always a multitude of reasons why either happens. And while no one likes to lose, losses always provide an opportunity to learn and get better.
Take for example Virginia getting bounced as the first-ever No. 1 seed to lose to a 16 seed in 2018 and used it as motivation to come back and win a National Championship in 2019. Or maybe a better example being Ohio State losing to Clemson in the 2019 Fiesta Bowl only to come back and put it to the Tigers in the 2021 Sugar Bowl.
In the heat of the moment, people sometimes will say things that they wish they could take back. However, what one Ohio State “fan” did to E.J. Liddell was completely and totally unacceptable. And unfortunately, it’s becoming more and more common in today’s world of hiding behind a computer screen.
Liddell shared the following direct message (graphic language) he received after Oral Roberts upset the No. 2 seeded Buckeyes via Twitter. *Warning – Graphic Language.
Look, I understand this idiot doesn’t represent 99% of Ohio State fans who love the Buckeyes through thick and thin. But we can do better Buckeye Nation. Because even the seemingly small jabs help fule this kind of vitriol.
What do I mean? Some people just can’t handle how sports work and think that their team should be on the winning side every single time. If you’ve ever played sports, you know it just doesn’t work that way.
I get that we’re upset about a loss and a team that looked lackadaisical, but even those who are calling for Chris Holtman to be fired after a loss are part of the problem. Seriously. Ohio State should fire Chris Holtman who just took a team that was picked middle of the pack in the Big Ten, took them to the conference championship game, a No. 2 seed, and ranked in the top ten most of the year? In a year that was full of uncertainty? Right… that guy should be fired. Insert eye-roll here.
Your whining only helps that loser in Liddell’s screenshot feel justified in sending such garbage to players and coaches. It’s part of the reason Ohio State is known as one of the worst fan bases in the nation. Just do a quick google search and you’ll find we’re consistently in the top 5. Yeah, I know, “They hate, cuz they ain’t us.” Please… it’s a tired act.
I know that most true Buckeye fans are absolutely disgusted by such things. But this is becoming all too common and we who love Ohio State must hold each other accountable, even for those little things that help fuel this kind of rage.
We all can do better. We must do better.
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