Twitter Wars: Desmond Howard vs Chadd Scott
Desmond Howard is a former Heisman Trophy winner and studio analyst for ESPN's College Gameday, one of the most popular and successful pregame shows in all of sports.
Chadd Scott is a Jacksonville radio personality at 1010XL, blogger, and former producer for The Herd.
In spite of their varying levels of fame and notoriety, Twitter is the great equalizer. The two came to social media fisticuffs out of the blue this week. It all started over a light-hearted tweet Howard sent about Ole Miss and their insane Signing Day success.
Judging by the skepticism I've heard re: #OleMiss, seems as though Coach Freeze finally figured out how they do it in the South. CONGRATS!
— Desmond Howard (@DesmondHoward) February 6, 2013
Scott wasn't in a joking mood and took offense to Howard painting all of Southern football with an extra benefits brush. You know, because clearly Oxford, Mississippi is a prime destination for top high school football recruits all of a sudden. Scott wasn't just a fan of Howard's tweet, he took the opportunity to call him the most useless analyst in the sport. That apparently was not a joke.
At least he didn't wish firing or death upon him.
. @desmondhoward not only insinuating Ole Miss pays recruits, but rest of South as well; reinforces standing as most useless "analyst" incfb
— Chadd Scott (@ChaddScott) February 6, 2013
The exchange began pleasantly enough with Howard continuing to take the high road...
@chaddscott relax, buddy. I know you want to be angry, but a sense of humor will help you live longer.
— Desmond Howard (@DesmondHoward) February 6, 2013
Until Scott dragged him in to a full fleged fracas...
I'm not your buddy. RT @desmondhoward: @chaddscott relax, buddy.
— Chadd Scott (@ChaddScott) February 7, 2013
From there the Scott and Howard took the gloves off for a good old-fashioned Twitter War with the pair exchanging insults, haymakers, and even a couple thumbs to the eye. Could the underdog Scott channel the spirit of Appalachain State and pull off the upset in The Big House? Or would the Michigan Heisman Trophy winner and ESPN heavyweight keep down the Cinderella hopeful? Get your popcorn ready, let's get it on!
@chaddscott That was yesterday's title...little late pal.
— Desmond Howard (@DesmondHoward) February 7, 2013
I can't go joke-for-joke w/ @desmondhoward; I merely enjoy them while his entire broadcasting career is one
— Chadd Scott (@ChaddScott) February 7, 2013
@chaddscott operative word being 'career'.
— Desmond Howard (@DesmondHoward) February 7, 2013
Operative word being "joke" RT @desmondhoward @chaddscott operative word being 'career'.
— Chadd Scott (@ChaddScott) February 7, 2013
If I misinterpreted @desmondhoward Twitter "joke" as serious analysis I apologize. I can't tell his jokes from what's supposed to be serious
— Chadd Scott (@ChaddScott) February 7, 2013
@chaddscott but you enjoy Jacksonville radio and best wishes on the blog!
— Desmond Howard (@DesmondHoward) February 7, 2013
God bless @desmondhoward, I've toiled in obscurity w/ talent for years, he has none & shot to top of profession. Life ain't "fair" I get it
— Chadd Scott (@ChaddScott) February 7, 2013
@chaddscott talent usually rises to the top. Seen it happen with a lot of guys like yourself. Maybe it is you, after all : (
— Desmond Howard (@DesmondHoward) February 7, 2013
Hey @desmondhoward I worked at ESPN long before you did. If that's the top, I beat you to it.
— Chadd Scott (@ChaddScott) February 7, 2013
@chaddscott oh, my bad. Never heard of you. Assume this isn't the career path you mapped out. Best wishes getting back on top. Buddy.
— Desmond Howard (@DesmondHoward) February 7, 2013
If @desmondhoward w/ his 110,000+ followers didn't deep down know I was right about his sham of a career, why tweet me back?
— Chadd Scott (@ChaddScott) February 7, 2013
Some study their craft, pay dues & master it, others win a Heisman Trophy, are given prominence & fake it. Winning Heisman easier path
— Chadd Scott (@ChaddScott) February 7, 2013
The stream of text messages I'm receiving from peers verifies my thoughts on @desmondhoward
— Chadd Scott (@ChaddScott) February 7, 2013
. @desmondhoward it took me a long time to realize the quality of work you do is more important than where you do it. That's the top
— Chadd Scott (@ChaddScott) February 7, 2013
@chaddscott I love how at peace you are with yourself. Very zen. Too bad the way you came at me betrays that whole act. Stay blessed.
— Desmond Howard (@DesmondHoward) February 7, 2013
For the handful of literate new Tweeps I've attracted recently, might I recommend taking a look at my book ow.ly/hwcCZ
— Chadd Scott (@ChaddScott) February 7, 2013
Scott landed a few shots early in the fight, but to be honest he came off a little whiny and bitter at times. The whole "I got to ESPN before you did" argument fell flat as did calling Howard's Heisman Trophy the easier path to television stardom. Of course it helps when you're a college football analyst, but I don't think there's anything easy about winning a Heisman. Additionally, trying to use a Twitter War to hock books was almost worthy of an automatic disqualification. In the end, Desmond Howard was way too strong.
Who knew Howard was so skilled at laying the smack down on Twitter? This performance vaults Howard into Deitschian territory with some of the best we've seen. It was like watching Alabama roll over Notre Dame. Every time Scott swung at Howard, he got hit back with a more precise, more vicious counterpunch. "But you enjoy Jacksonville radio and best wishes on the blog!" is top shelf trolling. That's the gold standard of backhanded compliments as far as I'm concerned. The frowny face after the dig at Scott's talent is Player Hater's Ball worthy. As is the repeated use of "buddy." Even Howard's Twitter profile pic is saying "come at me bro, if you dare."
The winner of this Twitter War is Desmond Howard, via 6th Round KO. Agree with the final verdict? Have your say in our poll...
Not a huge fan of Desmond but he has more talent than every person working on-air at 1010XL.
The hicks down here were bragging about in on the radio. Frank "I repeat everything I say 3 times" Frangie and his untalented cast spend an hour talking about taking Desmond down. Ridiculous. That is part of why the rest of the world things Jacksonville is a hick town.
Frankly, it's a shame that arrogant people like Chadd Scott are allowed to exist on this earth.
While Howard got some good jabs in there and likely won the "fight", his arrogance has continued to shine like a flashlight in the dark. I think Scott's argument in working your way to the top is more valid than given credit as well, though, nothing is easy about winning the Heisman. No one should just be given a job based on football/basketball merits alone.
Would you not be somewhat arrogant if you won a Heisman? I know I would be! You could not hit me in the ass with a red apple!
I followed Scott for about all of two days awhile back. He is an arrogant a-hole who thinks he knows it all, which of course you can tell from this exchange. Dude needs to get a life.
