Jim Rome Apologizes For Dork Tweet, Marching Band Fans Still Angry
Jim Rome has apologized for his tweet on New Year’s Day, calling marching band members dorks.
Band nation – I hear you. I was out of line. I apologize. I do not condone bullying of any kind and that was not my intent.
— Jim Rome (@jimrome) January 2, 2015
His apology, however, doesn’t seem to have done much to calm down the upset fans of marching bands — many of which involve the military services — on social media.
@jimrome, educate yourself, DCI Athletes explained by ESPN 2005. @DCI remember this? #MarchOnRome http://t.co/rLLNkawoFz
— Angela Nida (@angie_nida) January 3, 2015
What @jimrome doesn’t realize is the marching band works out longer in the summer than the football team. #MarchOnRome
— James Derk (@JamesDerk) January 3, 2015
#MarchonRome RT @StateHighBand: Hey @jimrome we prefer the term band nerds. But let us know when you do anything cool. #waiting
— J Jones (@jlgj6385) January 3, 2015
Rome, of course, is no stranger to controversy. While it didn’t blow up social media or require a half-hearted apology on Twitter, Rome caught flack for an angry conversation that occurred between himself and NBA Commissioner David Stern at ESPN. In 2012, Deadspin reported that Rose had left ESPN in part because of things that were said about him in the ESPN book.
Even after Rome’s apology, a petition is circulating at Change.org, asking CBS to air the DCI World Finals in apology for Rome’s bullying tweet.
The petition says, “Calling band kids ‘dorks’ and insulting them to over 1.3 million follwers is not how we would expect a grown man to act. In response, we would like a chance for Drum Corps International’s World Championship Finals to be aired on CBS this fall. We believe that helping promote the marching arts is a step forward in the right direction, with both sports and the arts being supported.”
Another hashtag has circulated on Twitter after Rose apologized for his tweet, reminding readers that #dorkswin.
Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. i.e., the dorks. #DorksWin
— Alex Dehgan (@lemurwrangler) January 3, 2015
On the plus side @jimrome this is the most famous you’ll ever be ? #MarchOnRome #romeisburning #DorksWin #drumline
— Chris Rosebrough (@Magician_Chris) January 3, 2015
Dorks 1, Jim Rome…. erm, not so much. http://t.co/F34AZLn2fv #DorksWin
— ViennaChoralSociety (@ViennaChoral) January 3, 2015
Dorks? Please, even the mascots want to be a part of the band! #MarchOnRome#seawolfpride#cool#DorksWinpic.twitter.com/9lqnbqWun9
— Laura P. Lehmkühl (@Ibimalf) January 3, 2015
What do you think of Jim Rome’s Twitter apology? Sincere, or just sincerely sad he got caught?
[Image from Getty]
