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March 5, 2010 in Sports
UI’s Watson suspended for tweets
Idaho’s Kashif Watson (32) shoots over Boise State’s Paul Noonan (25 during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010 in Boise, Idaho. Idaho went on to win 79-55.
(Full-size photo)
MOSCOW, Idaho — In his two years as a member of the University of Idaho men’s basketball team, Kashif Watson has been known for his chatty, gregarious demeanor.
That same expressiveness comes through in his Twitter feed – and ultimately led to his indefinite suspension Friday for “conduct detrimental to the program,” according to a UI news release.
Twice after recent losses Watson wrote critical Twitter posts apparently directed toward coach Don Verlin. Last weekend, the senior guard asked how the team was supposed to win with “this guy coachin us.”
A week earlier, Watson expressed similar frustration. “Wow just don’t gett this guys mind set, it’s like some times he don’t wanna win that bad!!”
Watson, a junior-college transfer from Las Vegas and the Vandals’ second leading scorer, banked in a 60-foot shot at the halftime buzzer Thursday night in Idaho’s win over San Jose State, garnering attention from ESPN’s SportsCenter.
After the game, Verlin told The Spokesman-Review that he wasn’t aware of Watson’s Twitter account and would not comment until he sees it.
In the release sent Friday, Verlin did not specify that Watson’s suspension came because of the Twitter posts. But Watson confirmed the reason with afternoon updates to his feed on the social media site.
“Wow can’t play my last game due to some real comments on twitter,” he wrote.
Verlin said in the release that Watson’s status will be revisited before the WAC tournament that opens Thursday in Reno, Nev.
“Kashif’s suspension is a matter that he must work through in order to be reinstated for practice and play,” Verlin said.
Asked about his posts following Thursday night’s game, Watson said there has been “a little bickering” in the locker room and questioning of how things have been handled. But he contended that the discontent hasn’t affected the team.
“It’s a lot of frustration for our seniors,” Watson said. “We know we came out last year with a big season so it’s just frustrating to come out … and have another season like this.”
Later, he added: “Some things … could be handled differently. But it’s all right, though. We’re taking care of it. We’re still playing hard.”
Coming off last year’s surprising third-place finish in the Western Athletic Conference, the Vandals returned a strong core of seniors and added high-profile transfer Steffan Johnson. They were expected to make an even stronger push this season.
But UI lost six straight conference games in January to fall out of contention and will either be the seventh or eighth seed in the eight-team WAC tourney.
Verlin has publicly questioned the seniors’ leadership twice after games this season, and he said in a radio interview after losing at Nevada that certain players on the team were hard to coach.
The Vandals (14-15, 5-10 in the WAC) finish the regular season this evening versus Hawaii. It’s unknown if Watson will be honored along with four other seniors in a pregame ceremony.
Tebow & Perry? Nope 
Enter to win tickets to see Adam Carolla at the Knitting Factory 
WSU Text-to-Win Contest 
EWU Text-to-Win Contest 
CharlesBillford on March 05 at 6:17 p.m.
Take away his Speak N Spell. Puhlease!!
misjustice on March 05 at 6:23 p.m.
I’m not certain that this is such a serious “violation”…
His 60 footer shot, the win, and the attention garnered from ESPN will ensure that his career continues.
The question remaining is which team will pick him up?
The guy’s got game!!!
Shazamm on March 05 at 7:40 p.m.
“Wow just don’t gett this guys mind set, it’s like some times he don’t wanna win that bad!!”
The word “illiterate” comes to mind.
misjustice on March 05 at 9:04 p.m.
No, a person’s tweets/twitters do not signify illiteracy…
Kids today (and adults too) are using tools of communication, such as twitter, facebook, text messaging, etc…that are changing language and the ways that humans communicate…it does NOT mean that they are illiterate…they are innovators, man!
Oh, when the first kids rejected slates and chalk, in favor of paper and graphite pencils, they were called out as illiterates too! LOL!
Say what you will, the young man has talent. He got national/world coverage over his 60 footer…Trust me, he won’t be judged over the grammer contained in his tweets…
Communication is constantly evolving…most of us comprehended what Watson was trying to convey…and that is the goal of communication. One/or more people relate information and one/or more people receive the information…
Geez, don’t be such a grumpy grandpa…
SnapCracklePop on March 06 at 8:35 a.m.
Look at me I’m high ya’ll!
http://img49.yfrog.com/i/6n1e.jpg/
jazzyvandal on March 06 at 9:11 a.m.
Kashif has talent, no doubt about it. He is not going anywhere with the attitude he has. He’s a poor representative for the university. I don’t want guys like that on my team who brag about getting high and partying during the season.
SugarShane on March 06 at 10:30 a.m.
No such thing as bad publicity. The guy should be free to speak his mind about how he’s feeling. @Snap & jazzy, who cares what he does in his personal time, attacking someone on their lifestyle is the equivalent of attacking him for being gay or black. Smoking some pot in my opinion is much better than drinking, and apparently its also better for you. Check the stats on alcohol related deaths and then on cannabis related deaths. Also feel free to research athletes that are cannabis advocates. The only reason anyone cares at all is the money involved in college sports.
SnapCracklePop on March 06 at 11:12 a.m.
Too bad he brags about being extremely drunk too,Sugar.
jazzyvandal on March 06 at 11:54 a.m.
I don’t care if he smokes or parties. Plastering it all over the internet when you are a scholarship athlete is a whole different matter. He is representing the university, whether he likes it or not.
If I criticize my boss on the internet, you think I’d get reprimanded? Of course I would. It should be no different for him. And even after the suspension announcement, he hasn’t stopped “talking” on twitter.