Seattle Seahawks star Richard Sherman is no stranger to attention-grabbing Twitter publicity stunts.
He recently ticked off fellow standout NFL cornerback Darrelle Revis with some digital trash talk. In October, he tweeted a "U mad bro?" picture about Tom Brady after the Seahawks knocked off Brady's Patriots. Later that same month he changed his Twitter name to "Optimus Prime" before a showdown with Detroit Lions star Calvin Johnson, who's known by the nickname Megatron.
But on Thursday morning it was a TV appearance by Sherman that lit up the world of sports Twitter. Sherman became a quasi-hero to many for standing up to and obliterating reviled ESPN host Skip Bayless during an appearance on Bayless' talk show First Take.
"You have never accomplished anything," Sherman told Bayless.
"In my 24 years of life, I'm better at life than you," he said later.
"I'm tired of your ignorant pollution," Sherman said still later, after promising to "crush" Bayless publicly. The full video is embedded above and anyone with an axe to grind against talking heads will enjoy watching the full four minutes.
Bayless has antagonized many sports fans and media watchers over the past couple years for his increasingly egotistical bloviations on First Take and harshly critical takes on athletes that seem drummed up more to create controversy than provide actual analysis or insight.
Given that context, fans and writers alike were quick to celebrate Sherman's verbal undressing while also noting that, alas, it helped land Bayless in the national spotlight yet again.
#RichardSherman vivisected the charlatan known as Skip Bayless by ripping off his head, defecating down his throat & trampling on his soul!— Not Bill Walton (@NotBillWalton) March 7, 2013
Haha Richard Sherman went ham on skip bayless— Robby johnston (@Robbyj22) March 8, 2013
Richard Sherman came at Skip Bayless' life today— Darius ✅ (@dariusr_3) March 8, 2013
.@rsherman_25 is a hero today in the Deitsch household: deadspin.com/5989287/im-bet…— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) March 7, 2013
Richard Sherman did exactly what First Take wanted him too. Now Skip Bayless gets more attention. DON'T FEED THE TROLLS!!!— Rob Dauster (@RobDauster) March 7, 2013
Was Sherman on the money here, or was he just feeding the trolls? Give us your take in the comments.