Well that’s a headline I thought I’d never have to write…
You can only imagine the look on ESPN President John Skipper’s face when one of his support staff informed him that two of his on-air talent were debating the merits and values of sex before marriage on Tuesday. I think it would be something like this…
Or perhaps he reacted in this way…
That’s exactly what happened as Chris Broussard bowed up to Bomani Jones over his apparent objection to Russell Wilson practicing abstinence with girlfriend Ciara. Jones is no stranger to Twitter beefs and Broussard has been down this road before mixing his profession of evangelical faith with his work at ESPN. Except this time, Broussard was on offense instead of defense, claiming a double standard of intolerance towards Wilson’s religious reasons for not engaging in consensual coitus.
Grab the popcorn, here we go…
https://twitter.com/Chris_Broussard/status/618520720038064128
https://twitter.com/Chris_Broussard/status/618521231986434049
https://twitter.com/Chris_Broussard/status/618521711022092288
https://twitter.com/Chris_Broussard/status/618522277307654146
i believe the underlying premise is flawed and about controlling women as much as anything else. so yes. https://t.co/DUyjVgmoAm
— Bomani Jones (@bomani_jones) July 7, 2015
not today RT @Chris_Broussard: (2 of 3) @bomani_jones u owe all Bible-believing Christians trying to live as Russell/Ciara are an apology
— El Flaco (@bomani_jones) July 7, 2015
i think americans value chastity in a way i find silly, problematic and, ultimately, counterproductive. i don't apologize for that.
— El Flaco (@bomani_jones) July 7, 2015
@Chris_Broussard fwiw, that thought process isn't exclusive to christians. it really isn't so personal.
— El Flaco (@bomani_jones) July 7, 2015
https://twitter.com/Chris_Broussard/status/618523276013400064
https://twitter.com/Chris_Broussard/status/618523697633185792
https://twitter.com/Chris_Broussard/status/618523951669620737
@Chris_Broussard counterproductive ideas are typically stupid.
— El Flaco (@bomani_jones) July 7, 2015
@Chris_Broussard on this one, yes. i think this is stupid. i think the rules at byu are stupid. we can do this all night.
— El Flaco (@bomani_jones) July 7, 2015
@Chris_Broussard bring me in here, tell me they're purposely avoiding sex for "God," and i will say the same. line em all up. i got this.
— El Flaco (@bomani_jones) July 7, 2015
Your interpretation of who won this Twitter War probably has a lot to do with whether or not you’re a conservative or a liberal, a Biblical literalist or a contexualist, and whatever your position on sex, religion, and politics might be. (Feel free to hash that out in the dumpster fire that will surely be the comments below.)
BEYOND THAT, it will be very interesting to see what ESPN does about this one. The last time we saw two Bristolites tangle about religion and politics, Keith Law was suspended after a debate with Curt Schilling over evolution.
Does ESPN go the suspension route yet again here? (Even though they don’t really accomplish anything.) Do they do nothing? Or do they put Bomani and Broussard on First Take to finally settle the premarital sex debate once and for all. We need some interesting topics to get us through the dog days of summer after all…