To allow them more flexibility, both now and in the future, President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly dealt Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks a couple of weeks ago, in shocking fashion. He had another goal, however. A new identity. Out went KAT, a player most of the league sees as soft.

Minnesota Timberwolves trying to ditch “soft” label…?

In came Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, two players who nobody in the league associates with the “S” word. Connelly and head coach Chris Finch wanted the 2024-25 version of the Minnesota Timberwolves to have a tougher, more rugged feel than what this franchise has put on the floor in the last decade plus.

It was the right move. The Wolves, as currently constructed, are better suited for a championship run than it was before the Karl-Anthony Towns trade went down. The shift in the Wolves playoff chances, according to ESPN BPI, post-trade, agree.

Let’s talk about the Timberwolves’ hashtag

But… we might see those odds shift again, after what happened on Friday night. With every new major pro season, comes new (or old) official social media hashtags. The teams pick them, and when tweeted on X, a little logo for that team pops up next to the hashtag.

The Minnesota Vikings have #SKOL, the Wild have #mnwild and the Twins have #MNTwins. Those hashtags have been in place for a very long time. Other teams around the country, including the Timberwolves, prefer to change them each year.

Most years, the Wolves have gone with one of either #RaisedByWolves or #WolvesBack. Both are fine. Especially when you see what they picked for 2024-25. This year, the Minnesota Timberwolves chose a different hashtag… and it might be the worst one in hashtag history. Make sure you are sitting down for this…

#BringTheNice

The NBA’s team hashtags this season: (hornets don’t have one)#ThunderUp #MileHighBasketball #BringTheNice #ClipperNation #MFFL #SunsUp #Pelicans #LakeShow #LightTheBeam #DubNation #Liftoff #TakeNote #GrindCity #PorVida #RipCity #DifferentHere #NewYorkForever…

— 𝙎𝙠𝙮𝙚𝙙 🇦🇺 (@SkyedOKC) October 18, 2024

Look, these hashtags are getting out of hand anyway. It’s time to put them away for good. We can configure social media search bars to look for relevant content instead of hashtags. This is 2024 (almost 2025). The hashtags had their moment, and it was over a decade ago.

Related: KAT and His New Knicks Teammates Can’t Help But Respect “Gangster” Wolves PoBO Tim Connelly

That doesn’t excuse the Minnesota Timberwolves choosing literally the opposite hashtag of what they are trying to be. If they wanted to #BringTheNice, they should have kept Karl-Anthony Towns around. Maybe traded for Andrew Wiggins.

Keep your MN “symbolism”

How does nobody in the boardroom making this decision stand up and say, ‘you know guys… I get what we are trying to accomplish here, but this ain’t it’. Yes, “Minnesota Nice”, you don’t have to sell me on the symbolism.

I get it. But there are a million different way to #symbolize local momentos. Bringing the nice isn’t how you win in professional sports where everyone is being paid millions of dollars to physically and mentally dominate their opponent.

Related: Timberwolves + Rudy Gobert Contract Extension Rumors Heating Up Again

All hashtags are dumb, but I can get down with #Liftoff or #TakeNote. Even #DifferentHere. Fine. But #BringTheNice? It didn’t even take us 6 months to ruin “Bring Ya Ass”. Only in Minnesota, man…

Don’t miss Buxton, Arraez, Polanco, Miranda and Ryan @ MOA! ???? 11:30am on Friday! pic.twitter.com/gvxxW8F86i

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) November 17, 2022

Of course, social media accounts as large as the Twins’ can’t post anything without catching some trolls in the comments. And if internet trolls are attacking Byron Buxton, you can guarantee their attacks will focus on his injury history.

Byron Buxton Claps Back

More unpredictable in these moments, however, is how a professional athlete will react when attacked. Most of the time, they stay far, far away and let the fans battle each other. But on Thursday, for whatever reason, Byron Buxton chose to stand up against his internet bullies. You can decide whether or not that was a good idea.

Buxton tried to play his responses off as calm and collected; even funny. And while it’s true his cadence is better than had he responded in anger, his frustration was showing by the end of his back and forth.

Byron Buxton straight ROASTING some casual fans today pic.twitter.com/FLPvizEXR8

— Kasabe_ (@kasabekompiles) November 17, 2022

Byron Buxton has every right to clap back at fans he gets annoyed by on Twitter. Would I recomend it? Sure, why not… There is no such thing as bad press.

I know, for example, that I wouldn’t be writing this blog that technically promotes Friday’s uniform reveal had he not taken his sword to the Twitter trolls today.

Don’t Cry for Byron

But nobody should feel bad for Byron Buxton. There are millions of fans across Twins Territory, just like every other fanbase. Some are more upbeat and positive. Others are pessimistic and grumpy. On Twitter, many are just trolls.

But there have been different types of sports fans since forever. Social media just makes it easier for everybody to express their opinions or crack jokes, whether funny or not. If Byron thinks he’ll be offended by these “wanna-be” fans, it’s his right to stay off of those platforms.

Thankfully though, he didn’t this time. I’m all about a little Twitter controversy on a Thursday. Byron Buxton doesn’t need your sympathy, though. As he mentioned to one commenter, he’s doing just fine.

Haha well while you live I’ll be living my best life! Enjoy!

— Buck (@OfficialBuck103) November 17, 2022

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

To fans who didn’t grow up in the social media age, this means nothing. To the younger generation of fans, they’ll see a bigger significance. Towns added to the drama when he sent a tweet claiming his account had gotten hacked and that’s why the random tweet in that random Twitter thread was liked by his account.

Hmmmmmmmmmm.

Interesting like by KAT ???? pic.twitter.com/kPfEsisWFj

— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) November 4, 2021

Just changed my password. We solid on here now ????

— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) November 4, 2021

Maybe I’m just more creative, but if I hacked into the account of an NBA Star, I would do more than just like a vaguely cryptic “like. I mean, there’s a good chance nobody worth the time even sees that type of internet crime.

HACK-A-KAT

Either this is the most boring hacker in history OR (more likely) Karl-Anthony Towns did like the tweet in a bit of frustration after another tough loss in a Minnesota Timberwolves jersey. It’s KAT’s 7th season in the NBA and this latest one is dangerously close to traveling the same path most others have.

Towns isn’t going to request a trade tomorrow but nothing is guaranteed after the season, maybe sooner. If the trade deadline approaches and the Wolves are on a clear path to the lottery again, the rumor mill would be cooking. Who knows where Towns’ head would be in that moment or what kind of offers the Minnesota front office might receive if they start seeing a trade as a more serious option.

Unless you believe he was actually hacked (which nobody really does).

Hacker getting access to KAT’s whole Twitter just to like 1 #FreeKAT tweet pic.twitter.com/RtP0iCirzn

— Stephen A. Smith Burner (@TheSASBurner) November 4, 2021

pic.twitter.com/KUo4dRqLhQ

— Bucks Legend Dj Wilson(4-4) (@WilsonBurner) November 4, 2021

bro would’ve done some like this if they had Kats account pic.twitter.com/I7watbMKbd

— KimoLBJ ➐ ²³ˣ¹¹ (@KimoLbj) November 4, 2021

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Do you remember Casey Fien? Me neither. I used the internet, though, and the fog faded slightly. He pitched out of the bullpen for the Minnesota Twins from 2012-2016 and hasn’t pitched from a pro mound since 2017. He was about to fadeaway into baseball-reference.com until last night, when he decided he was sick of hearing about how good 2020 MLB MVP candidate, Nelson Cruz is at 40 years old, pointing to his alleged steroid use from back in 2013.

Really… hard work pays off. Says a player that got caught using PEDs and blamed it on stomach infection. https://t.co/VTFvhnjsH6

— Casey Fien (@CaseyFien) July 27, 2020

Wow, I’m amazed at how many people can defend Cruz. We reward those who cut corners and cheat to get ahead. At age 32 most HRs in a season = 33. After the age of 32, lowest # of HRs in a season = 37 w/ four 40 HR seasons. “Hard work pays off.”

— Casey Fien (@CaseyFien) July 27, 2020

Hey, Nobody Cares…

Someone should tell Casey Fien that nobody gives a shit about steroid use in baseball anymore. Seriously, the only people who do care, are HOF voters. EVERYONE else believes Bonds, Sosa, McGuire and Clemens should all be in The Hall, just like Pete Rose should be. You can’t talk about baseball history without mentioning those players. Hell, the MLB doesn’t even exist in its current form without the 90’s steroid era.

In fact, Fien should be thanking all of the juicers from that time. He made millions of dollars during his career and never had to pitch 70 innings in a season. Fien got paid to play pranks on teammates and spit sunflower seeds for 8 years, thanks to guys he claims, “disgraced the game”. At 37 years old and no longer in the MLB, Casey might be forced to have a real job, if not for the steroid era.

So get off your high-horse, Casey. Pick up your phone, find someone who has Nelson Cruz’ phone number, and apologize. The only chance the MLB has to survive today’s young baseball fan, is to have guys like Nelson Cruz, who hit 2 HR, 2 doubles and drove in 7 runs in the last game he participated in.

No Chance Nelson Cruz Has Been Pumping Steroids Since 2013

The MLB has amped up its policies and procedure, making it a lot more difficult to get passed their testing. For those who get caught, punishments are no joke either. Since Cruz has already been suspended for something related to steroid use, he would be suspended for 162 games (a full season) if he tested positive (a second time) for anything on the banned performance enhancing substances list. That would essentially end his career (in shame), given his age.

If you’re wondering, anyone caught for a third time is banned from the MLB for life (like Pete Rose). If Nelly is juicing in 2020 then he is the baddest man I know for not giving any fucks. He is clearly smarter than everyone else, too, given how long he’s ducked positive tests.

Or maybe Casey Fien is just butt-hurt because he’s only 37 and nobody wants him anymore (and hasn’t for years already), while Nelson Cruz is leading the Minnesota Twins back to the World Series at 40.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Hearing some interest from #Seahawks and #Vikings for a trade involving Stefon Diggs.

— Bob Condotta (@SeahawkBanners) March 16, 2020

it’s time for a new beginning.

— DIGGS (@stefondiggs) March 16, 2020

There are rumors flying all over the NFL right now, that another major trade is on the horizon. That is after the Houston Texans sent DeAndre Hopkins to Arizona earlier today, for David Johnson.

Some have even gone as far to say, that trade is between the Seahawks and Vikings…. for Stefon Diggs. Of course, Stefon couldn’t stop himself from throwing a barrel of gasoline on the fire.

Maybe Diggs does know he just got traded… or maybe he is just fucking with everyone again. We don’t know, because we are discussing Stefon Diggs and that’s the way he wants it.

That’s the point I’ve been making to fans for a long time now. We don’t know what Stefon Diggs wants because he wants us to question and write about him. So, if he wants to be in the news then we’ll keep writing about him….

I like clicks, anyway. In fact, we should probably thank Stefon Diggs… Even if he doesn’t get traded, at least we have something to argue about now (that isn’t killing people worldwide).

UPDATE: THIS COULD BE SERIOUS AF…. ACCORDING TO DIGGS HIMSELF:

Nah this ain’t one of them times champ. Somethings going to happen.

— DIGGS (@stefondiggs) March 16, 2020

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Stefon Diggs is an emotional person. He also likes to tweet about his emotions in cryptic fashion. Then, Vikings fans like to overreact to his cryptic tweets, in irrational ways.

— REPEAT —

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s start this blog by looking back to last week. Diggs’ latest string of cryptic tweets by Stefon Diggs started on Thursday with a classic, “fuck the haters”, type of send.

That was followed by (what looks to be) a cryptic refusal to explain his cryptic tweet about who is, or is not, an expert…

It’s just Diggs being Diggs.

Feb. 6

These days everybody’s an expert…

— DIGGS (@stefondiggs) February 6, 2020

Some things are better left unsaid…

— DIGGS (@stefondiggs) February 6, 2020

Alright well, we’ve all seen worse from Stef and these tweets didn’t even look like they were lobbed toward the Vikings or any of his teammates, so who cares, right?

But…. Stefon wasn’t done. Just one day later, Diggs took to the keyboard (likely touch) again, for more tweets about… well, we don’t know that part.

One cryptic tweet turned into an entire rant this time, though… and clearly Diggs was upset about something. He just left panicking Vikings’ fans to figure out what that “something” was…

Feb. 7

I don’t forget or forgive…

— DIGGS (@stefondiggs) February 7, 2020

Gods timing ??⚓️

— DIGGS (@stefondiggs) February 7, 2020

pic.twitter.com/87R7DpjNl4

— DIGGS (@stefondiggs) February 7, 2020

I hate people that do you wrong then try to play the victim…

— DIGGS (@stefondiggs) February 7, 2020

Protect your energy at all cost…

— DIGGS (@stefondiggs) February 7, 2020

While Friday was a tough day for Diggs and the Vikings faithful… Saturday was mostly quiet, before ending with cooler heads seeming to prevail…

We went from, “protecting energy at all costs”, to loving positive energy, less than 24 hours later. I’m sure a lot of Vikings fans were feeling like they made it to the bottom of this latest Diggs rollercoaster…

Feb. 8

Love & positive energy…

— DIGGS (@stefondiggs) February 8, 2020

Until Sunday afternoon, when things went negative again. This time, we are talking about people not appreciating things until they are gone….

…. so does he plan on going somewhere?

Now, lets remember that many fans and media members have been talking about Stefon Diggs in trade and salary cap discussions lately. Because of twitter rants like the one I’m currently blogging about, and sideline/media temper tantrums of his past, he’s an easy target for a team that needs to shed cap space and has other options at WR.

Feb. 9

People don’t appreciate things until they’re gone…

— DIGGS (@stefondiggs) February 9, 2020

Business is business… ??‍♂️

— DIGGS (@stefondiggs) February 10, 2020

Now that I’ve built you up, let me bring you down gently. These tweets mean nothing.

Absolutely, positively….. nothing.

Because it’s Stefon Diggs. This is what Stefon Diggs does. There are some athletes that absolutely hate the rumor mill, that comes along with big time professional sports. Those same athletes usually hate social media even more.

Then you have athletes like Diggs, who use it for entertainment and means of staying relevant. I don’t mean that in a negative way. Being relevant is part of Diggs’ job, if he wants to capitalize on all of his opportunities.

Maybe he is tweeting about the Vikings and Vikings fans… or maybe he is tweeting about his girlfriend, who he might be fighting with.

It’s possible that he’s on a frozen chicken finger binge and he didn’t realize how serious it was until he ran out, and it was too cold to get more….

We just don’t know, and because Diggs does this all the time, we shouldn’t get worked up about it. If the Vikings move Diggs, they will get a massive haul in return… otherwise they won’t move him.

Everyone just calm down and enjoy the drama. WWE offseasons are way more fun than the quiet alternative.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Because this blog is not for the fight itself, but the ass-kicking that took place on social media afterward. First though, let’s show you the postgame interview by KAT because it is proof that Karl-Anthony Towns couldn’t lose last night, no matter what happened on the scoreboard.

Karl-Anthony Towns on the scuffle that broke out with Joel Embiid: “It’s a competitive game. That’s all it was.” #Timberwolves pic.twitter.com/2BQWbr78QZ

— FOX Sports North (@fsnorth) October 31, 2019

That might be the greatest most competitive interview of all time. I’ve written about it and talked about it (just like everyone else) but this is a new KAT we are dealing with this year. He wants heads on fucking platters. I don’t know what it was, that flipped his switch, but I don’t want the old KAT back. No. I want this KAT here for good.

Anyway… before I start going too hard on my new-found love for Karl-Anthony Towns, let’s get into how big of a bitch Joel Embiid looked like, after the game, when the two went to social media. After giving the real media nothing but “competetive” quotes, Karl didn’t hide anything or play passive aggressive on social media.

Embiid is known for his social media saavy….. but he might need some new lessons, because he looked like a social media bitch last night. Here are the posts, in chronological order.

OHHHH MY GOD. Embiid became a reply guy on Towns’s IG!!!!! pic.twitter.com/SxcsArbAQk

— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) October 31, 2019

Wow… so, after Ben Simmons bails Embiid out of a Karl-Anthony Towns ass-kicking, he goes to social media to drag Jimmy Butler’s fake-ass back into this bullshit??? WTF are you thinking? And then, after already posting about it on his own IG, Joel jumps into the replies of Karl, who is just running train all over him, with expert-level internet trolling…

So upset that he can’t see his reply in Towns’ feed, Embiid buries himself with a picture of it to his story??? KAT is a big mother fucker but he seems extra comfortable up in Joel Embiid’s head. How long do you think Embiid waited for KAT to reply back to him or to throw more shade, last night? Has he slept at all, since?

This is pathetic on a stupid scale.

I don’t care what basketball game was played last night. Wednesday’s game, and its aftermath, has completely re-written the narrative on Karl-Anthony Towns. He was well on his way to setting whatever narrative he wants, for his play on the court, because KAT is going to be a DOMINANT force in this league for years to come. It’s the “toughness” narrative that Towns turned on its face, Wednesday. That makeover was much more needed, than anything on the court, after Jimmy trashed his reputation around the league, over the last two seasons.

It’s pretty crazy how one night of real/social media fighting with Joel Embiid, can change all of that work Jimmy put in, in just one night.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan