Open letter on Hassan Martin's inappropriate tweet to BasketNews journalist / News - Basketnews.com

BasketNews Editor-In-Chief Jonas Miklovas openly calls EuroLeague and the EuroLeague players association to investigate inappropriate Hassan Martin's tweet to one of the BasketNews journalist Rytis Vysniauskas.

Credit: Nikola Krstic/MB Media/Getty Images Credit Nikola Krstic/MB Media/Getty Images

I won't say anything new if I say that online insults or threats are, unfortunately, a daily routine for every one of us. Players are harassed after bad games, referees after missed calls, coaches after losing streaks, journalists after articles, etc.

Hassan Martin

MIN:16.03PTS:5.46 (61.11%)REB:3.54As:0.31ST:0.31BL:0.54TO:1GM:13ProfileEuroLeague2022/2023

Having worked as an online media journalist since 2005, I've learned to ignore it. Or at least try to ignore it.

I understand that unhappy fans vent their frustrations without much thought. I also know that the anonymity of the Internet can bring the worst of it. You can say stuff you wouldn't say in real life because you know there will be no consequences.

As a journalist, you learn to block it out because you understand you cannot control it.

But you never expect a player to come at you as a bully. Especially if you never acted inappropriately or unprofessionally.

This is what happened when Hassan Martin, a Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade player, decided it was a good idea to post an inappropriate GIF in response to Rytis Vysniauskas' tweet.

"This #FreeFacu movement in Euroleague social media is becoming cringe," Rytis wrote on his Twitter account. "The guy is not a political prisoner. He's a well-paid basketball player who simply has to wait until a particular date to enter a competition."

Martin quoted the tweet with a GIF of a guy punching a camera (=somebody) with STFU letters. I'm not a native English speaker, but I know well what STFU means.

My first reaction was disgust and disbelief. An hour after I pointed out his tweet, Martin deleted his post, but the Internet never forgets.

Rytis Vysniauskas is a respected journalist and a prominent TV commentator in Lithuania, calling Euroleague games, EuroBasket, and FIBA World Cup competitions.

He is also one of the co-hosts of the BasketNews podcast Urbonus, probably the biggest English podcast on European basketball.

Anyone, who follows Rytis' work or knows him personally, recognizes his professionalism. He has his takes, but they are never meant to be disrespectful or insulting.

Even if Martin did not know Rytis' background, his tweet should not get a pass. Sending a tweet like that should not be tolerated, be it to a journalist or a casual fan.

This is why I am openly calling EuroLeague and the EuroLeague players association to investigate this matter. Both Hassan Martin and Rytis Vysniauskas are a part of the EuroLeague community, which I believe stands for tolerance and respect.

Promoting violence is something we all should be against.

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