Broadcasts were interrupted and oceans parted as Tom Brady addressed the media over allegations that the New England Patriots used tainted footballs in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts.
In fact, all three major cable news networks broke away to carry the press conference.
Patriots quarterback Brady was vehement that, following initial inspection before an NFL game, he doesn’t “want anyone touching those balls after that. I don’t want anyone rubbing them,” he said. “To me, those balls are perfect.”
Yeah, they are.
His commentary alone provided sufficient comic relief, but Twitter users famous and otherwise were still inspired to mock the face of Deflategate.
Rob Lowe defended Brady sort of …
C’mon people. Do you really think a guy like Tom Brady would have any life experience with, or need for deflated balls?? #Giselle
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) January 22, 2015
While Josh Groban decided to go the sanctimonious route.
The only thing I’ve ever had deflated in MY job is my ego.
— josh groban (@joshgroban) January 22, 2015
Jimmy Kimmel sought instead to try to inhabit the mind of Tom Brady.
“I wish people would stop talking about my balls and instead focus on my beautiful face” — Tom Brady — Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) January 22, 2015
Where the rest of the world sees controversy, Twitter user and cancer survivor Drew Olanoff sees opportunity.
Dear Tom Brady. Please let’s do a “check your balls” campaign for cancer and all is forgiven. — drew olanoff (@drew) January 22, 2015
Giselle Bundschen, what’s up!
Tom Brady in a press conference just announced that he didn’t deflate any balls. “That’s my wife’s job.” #nfl #deflategate — The Sklar Brothers (@SklarBrothers) January 22, 2015
Cute, but it was NBC’s Pro Football Talk that issued the funniest tweet of the day on the subject.
Tom Brady really went ISIS? “Go ahead and cheat, fellas. As long as no one loses a head, we’re good.” — ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) January 22, 2015
Meanwhile, Engadget editor John Colucci may simply not understand the underlying principles of advertising.
Surely Gillette’s brand folks aren’t happy with the timing of this #FLEXBALL pic.twitter.com/m2aZhycWT7 — John Colucci (@johncolucci) January 22, 2015
Ryan Parker’s tweet count reached 23 during the presser, with posts like …
This has gone from a serious presser to an SNL skit in a matter of minutes. #DeflateGate #Balls — Ryan Parker (@TheRyanParker) January 22, 2015
and …
If nothing else, this entire incident has proven that at heart, we’re all children who snicker at the word “balls”. #DeflateGate — Ryan Parker (@TheRyanParker) January 22, 2015
The sentiment wasn’t lost on CJ Werleman, who noted his favorite “balls” combinations from the media conference.
“soft balls,” “fat balls,” “smooth balls,” thin balls,” “my balls.” -For 10 minutes today, we all turned 5. #deflategate — CJ Werleman (@cjwerleman) January 22, 2015
User Brett summed up the resulting social media fallout succinctly.
Twitter is a 13-year-old boy right now. — Brett (@Brosner85) January 22, 2015