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I really don’t care to see the character of one of my best friends questioned when he’s been using his platform for years to shine a light on things everyone else in media ignored, sidestepped or swept under the rug.
Me and Tyler met on here about 8 years ago. He was a can of Colt 45 with about 80 followers. He was funny as hell, we talked basketball, he was going viral off throwaways, he built his platform on his own, he wanted to start a podcast, he did
The first episode was recorded I believe by him shouting words into a goat’s mouth. The goat placed those words into a tin can. That tin can was shipped off to Apple and released. I had a microphone collecting dust in my room. I DM’d him and asked if he wanted it
He asked what I wanted for it. I said 100 episodes. I mailed it to him. Didn’t hear anything back. It arrived back on my doorstep. He have me the wrong address. He had been worried for about 6 weeks that he’d given some stranger his address for no reason
He gave me his real address. I shipped it again. He got it. He said thank you. Before the 2015 Draft he had me on his show, The Trill Withers Podcast. That was the first time we spoke. I said Towns would be better than AD. There’s still time, but it’s not looking great.
While all this is happening, people are getting hired off Twitter at all sorts of places. Except Tyler. I get hired by Barstool. During my contract negotiation, I bring his name up. I haven’t even signed my deal yet, I haven’t even asked him if he was interested yet.
At this point he’s not even on Twitter anymore. I hit him up. I tell him he needs to start a blog because tweets weren’t enough. He starts blogging. He gets back on Twitter. It takes about two years before he gets brought on full time. He grinded, he trusted me for no reason
I’m in NY. We’re starting to really build up this podcast network. We start Mickstape after Eric Stoner told me to. After a few months, we’re officially on the roster. Tyler’s now being paid to be funny on the internet. That’s all I ever wanted for either of us
That’s all I’ve ever wanted for a lot of people I consider friends that I’ve met on here. I’ve had conversations in real life, in DMs, wherever the fuck about coming on board, getting paid to be funny. Because that’s what the platform is for. I’ll always advocate for that.
But, it’s not enough to just be funny right now. It’s not a very funny time to be alive. Which is why I’m furious anyone would question the merit of that man. He didn’t just start speaking up. This isn’t new to him. He’s been doing this for years without being asked.
Pull up any episode of Mickstape. Any one of them. If we didn’t mention either mental health or racism or the Flint water crisis or (fill in the fucking blank) it would genuinely shock me. I don’t need a pat on the back, that’s not what it’s ever been about.
Tyler was the first person in major sports media to talk about the incredible work Maya Moore has been doing. Tyler was the only one bringing attention to the Ferguson protestors who keep getting slain. To question that man’s intent is fucking garbage.
I wanted a funny person to get the credit they deserve in the form of a check. Everything else he’s done with that platform is a credit to him as a human being. Give him his flowers or shut the fuck up.
