The value of Twitter has been questioned by many people, but if nothing else it can serve as an immediate notification that everyone else is thinking the same thing.
That happened Monday night at the end of the Green Bay Packers-Seattle Seahawks game. Replacement refs (incorrectly, in my opinion) ruled a game-ending interception by the Packers was actually a game-winning touchdown catch for the Seahawks. The game ended with Seattle winning 14-12.
Immediately Twitter exploded with commentary from all parts of the nation, with everyone expressing their shock and disbelief. My Twitter feed is filled with mostly journalists and politicians, with a few sports reporters in the mix as well. But the only thing on my feed for the past 12 hours has been reaction to the Packers loss and the terrible officiating that led to the final result.
If any of you have expressed concern with the divided state of our nation, realize sports can bring us together. Politicians of all stripes weighed in on the game.
@GovWalker (Gov. Scott Walker): After catching a few hours of sleep, the #Packers game is still just as painful. #Returntherealrefs
@TylerAugust (Republican State Rep.): Finally there’s something in Wisconsin that the left, right, and middle agree on…..the packers got hosed.
@DHesselbein (Dianne Hesselbein, Democratic Candidate for Assembly): Hey WI! Unions matter - teachers, snowplow drivers, police officers, firefighters, nurses, and referees for the NFL. #NFL #Packers
@BrickM (Michael Brickman, Policy Advisor for Gov. Walker): RT @daveweigel: So do Wisconsin fans occupy the stadium and start chanting “THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE”? Mixed results last time.
@onewisconsinnow (One Wisconsin Now, liberal advocacy group): .@ScottKWalker what #scabrefs have done to the NFL, you are trying to do to our kids’ public schools. #wiright #hambuns
@TammyBaldwinWI (Dem. U.S. Senate Candidate): All of Wisconsin agrees on one thing this morning — we need the professional refs back. This has cost the Packers already, we can’t wait!
@gjzielinkski (Graeme Zielinkski, Dem Party of Wis spokesman): Anyone who ignores the rights of the Union Movement in all of this is willfully blind. #P2 #NFL #Packers #NFL
@millbot (Emily Mills, liberal blogger): If this is the quality of ref you get when hiring scabs/union busting in sports, imagine what that does for education, public safety, etc.
Even Paul Ryan couldn’t avoid talking about the game on the campaign trail, according to a quote by Politico, ““If you can’t get it right, it is time to get out. I half think these refs work part-time for the Obama Administration in the Budget Office.”
President Obama weighed in last week during an interview with a Cleveland radio station, saying as a sports fan he wanted the real refs back.
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