CJ. Watson Gets Death Threat On Twitter After Bulls' Loss To 76ers

C.J. Watson of the Chicago Bulls chases down a loose ball against the Dallas Mavericks on January 20, 2011.

While there are many examples of how social media has changed the relationships between professional athletes and fans for the better, we've been overrun with examples lately of just how much negativity can also be disseminated via these platforms.

Earlier this week, Knicks guard J.R. Smith was inundated with negative tweets about his performance after New York was eliminated from the playoffs. Washington Capitals winger Joel Ward has twice been the subject of racist Twitter outbursts during the 2012 NHL postseason. Before that Kyle Williams of the San Francisco 49ers faced death threats after making a mistake late in a playoff loss.

The latest professional athlete to be tweeted a threat to his life, as well as various other demeaning messages, resulting from his performance in a high-profile game is C.J. Watson of the Chicago Bulls, who has the Twitter handle @quietstorm_32. In the waning moments of the Bulls' season-ending loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, Watson made a mental error that proved costly.

WARNING: Uncensored tweets below.

@ButUrUglyTho
T

imma kill you dawg @quietstorm_32

May 11, 2012 1:57 am via Echofon Reply Retweet Favorite

@tryna_be_famous
Jermajesty Jackson

U might wanna consider getting a bodyguard @quietstorm_32

May 11, 2012 1:55 am via twicca Reply Retweet Favorite

@Raz_theGreat
Chrision - April 22

@quietstorm_32 I hope someone smacks you with a bag of Magic Johnson blood!!!!!

May 11, 2012 2:03 am via Twitter for Android Reply Retweet Favorite

@ChrisHK
Chris

yo bro you got down syndrome? @quietstorm_32

May 11, 2012 2:07 am via TweetDeck Reply Retweet Favorite

@Ghostface2K
Evan Galway

When Mayweather & Pacquaio fight, throw CJ Watson in the middle of the ring so he can get his head bashed in. Maybe it fixes his brain

May 11, 2012 2:24 am via web Reply Retweet Favorite

@TheFckinWaveGod
Kurt Cobain

@quietstorm_32 its your fault you punkass bitch....if I ever see you in NY...I'm shootin ya lil bitchass

May 11, 2012 5:51 am via web Reply Retweet Favorite

@KnownAsDonBoss
Untouchable Don Boss

R.I.P To @quietstorm_32 Mentions N FB Page It Looks Like Armageddon Right Now Lol

May 11, 2012 3:40 am via twicca Reply Retweet Favorite

The mistake that led so many fans to tweet insults and worse at Watson was a pass. With the Bulls clinging to a one-point lead and less than 12 seconds remaining on the clock, Watson drove the ball hard on the break. As the 76ers' defense collapse on him, needing to foul, Watson dished the ball off to teammate Omer Asik. The Turkish center, who shot 46 percent from the line during the regular season, missed both attempts. Andre Iguodala grabbed the rebound from the second miss and raced down to the other end of the floor. He drew a foul, against Asik, before draining both of his freebies for a shocking win. Although the reaction was not as harsh, Asik also found himself targeted on Twitter.

@NappyHeadedPoem
Domo Ninjago

@AsikOmer THE BULLS DIDN'T LOSE A SERIES. YOU LOST A SERIES. YOU'RE A LOSER FOREVER. I HATE YOU.

May 11, 2012 2:02 am via web Reply Retweet Favorite

@NappyHeadedPoem
Domo Ninjago

@AsikOmer I HOPE YOU HAVE NIGHTMARES FOR THE REST OF YOUR CAREER. DON'T SHOW YOUR FACE IN CHICAGO, AROUND ME, IN AMERICA FOR THAT MATER HOE!

May 11, 2012 1:59 am via web Reply Retweet Favorite

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Comments

[Reality now]

10:51 PM on 05/13/2012

While I don't agree with violent threats there are some troubling incidents. How on earth can a coach, an NBA owner or the NBA itself, who milks the public for billions of dollars, accept some of these things. A supposed professional team like Charlotte. Players being paid millions of dollars a year not being able to make free throws and lose games. And why do fans keep handing them free money?

[LogicalMathMan]

07:07 PM on 05/12/2012

Taxpayers' $$$ would be well-spent if Homeland Security paid these people a visit. Just pathetic, asinine and ig no ran t.

[Bude]

05:10 PM on 05/12/2012

Apparently, Chicago is not the only town with a group of sports meatballs.

[JeffmChicago]

03:03 PM on 05/12/2012

The Bulls had a great season! It is unfortunate that the injury bug prevented Chicago from advancing to the 2nd round.

In my humble opinion Josh Lucas coulda, shoulda and woulda had the bball in his hands late in the game. C.J. Watson and Omar Asik did not step up and totally wilted under the pressure. An opportunity wasted for those two players but that's the way the bball bounces.

Death threats, people? Get a life. It's just a basketball game.

[Steve Monk]

11:51 AM on 05/12/2012

Hope someone goes after them. Love CJ and Asik, love the bulls, loved this season minus the sad ending.

[TheN8tureBoy]

08:49 AM on 05/12/2012

Have the tweets been traced back to Floyd Mayweather yet?

[Jeffrey Leathem]

07:37 AM on 05/12/2012

How could anyone be this invested in the NBA?

[queensboro]

09:18 PM on 05/13/2012

the must have bet big money to have that kind of reaction, other than that wtf? it's A GAME!

[sittingbull]

10:08 AM on 05/14/2012

It's a cultural thing.

[djnc]

10:21 PM on 05/11/2012

be mad at derrick rose's knee

[dsa1115]

10:17 PM on 05/11/2012

It didn't matter. Without Rose and Noah, Bulls weren't going far anyway. Too bad for the injuries.

[Puzzlr]

07:43 PM on 05/11/2012

Chicago had lost the minute Derrick Rose went down for the season.

[melissasusan24]

07:32 PM on 05/11/2012

This is flat out ridiculous. Any one making these threats is not a real fan. I'm over here from Philly and the same time the 76ers are winning, our Flyers and Phillies are...you know...not, but I sure as well didn't tweet my players threatening to take their lives over A GAME. There's next year, for crying out loud. I'm a Phillies fan all my life. I lived through the late 90s and early 00s just to get to 08. This is how sports work. You don't win every year.

I wish Huffpost would allow some profanity because this is effin nuts. You live and die WITH your team. That's fandom.

[Condor75]

07:44 AM on 05/12/2012

Well said,completely idiotic. Not to mention if you are going to threaten someone's life, do it to his face.

[knorman1969]

06:56 PM on 05/11/2012

I really hope they go after these degenerates and prosecute them for making threats to harm someone. I also hope that he gets a good security company and they are fully loaded to deal with the fools of the world

[Jeffrey Leathem]

07:35 AM on 05/12/2012

If the feds didn't go after Nugent, I don't think these guys have anything to worry about.

[knorman1969]

12:09 PM on 05/12/2012

That is very true but it is still crazy

[PamperedHousecat]

06:04 PM on 05/11/2012

Come people. Its not like we're talking about the CUBS.
95% of us mightstil be alive to see the Bulls go to the play-offs before the Cubs win a World Series.

[JB Gem]

06:41 PM on 05/11/2012

I couldn't agree more...great way to make ur point lbs

[ScientistfromtheHood]

05:18 PM on 05/11/2012

Stupid play at the end by CJ and he had a bad game. But to threaten him with violence just indicates a lack of class and poor upbringing....... These people need to be more empathetic and peaceful.

[sdave]

05:09 PM on 05/11/2012

Yeah, real tough guys hide behind a twitter account.....