The Yang Slinger: Vol. L

Why the fuck am I still on Twitter? Why the fuck are any journalists still on Twitter? A 2023 debate on whether it's time to ditch Elon Musk for saner pastures.

There will be moments of regret.

I am certain there will be moments of regret.

But I am tired. I am tired of the wasted minutes-turned-to-hours. I am tired of the anger. I am tired of that itchy sickness of feeling compelled to respond to someone’s bullshit. Of having to respond to someone’s bullshit. I’m tired of leaving Twitter, then returning to Twitter. I am tired of swearing it off, then—motherfucking fuck fuckity fuck—coming right back. I am tired of seeking out “Trump” and “MAGA” the way a warped individual might enter a field and dance barefoot over the most poison of sumacs. I am tired of Elon Musk and Ben Shapiro and critics of my books whose Twtter IDs end with some unruly string of numbers and letters. I am tired of aspiring celebrities using Twitter to be loud! LOuder! LOUDEST! I am tired of that stuck-in-a-smoking-section feeling. The smell. The taste. The lethargy.

I am also scared. As of today, I have 75,400 Twitter followers, cultivated over (egad) 15 years on the platform. My job isn’t just to write books, but to sell books. And even if only a small percentage of those 75,400 buy my product, well, doesn’t that make it a worthwhile endeavor? Shouldn’t I stay on Twitter? Shouldn’t I stick it out? Fuck, what will my book publicist say if I leave? I mean, my Instagram following is pretty sad. Facebook, too. Will HarperCollins still want me around if I ditch the oomph of Twitter supporters?

Will I wind up obsolete?

Sigh.

In case you didn’t figure it out, this entry is about Twitter.

Specifically, whether we—as journalists—should still be on Twitter.

Once, not that long ago, Twitter merely sucked. Like, it’s never been the land of apples and honey and dancing elves. But … it was a relatively organized social media outfit with certain rules of decorum and approach. Yes, those rules were often violated and fed to a blender. Yes, misinformation was an issue. But, again, Twitter merely sucked.

Now, however, the site is an unruly, wild-wild-west cesspool of sludge, hate and vile. It’s been that way since Elon Musk paid $44 billion (not million—billion)¹, fired most of his staff, readmitted a bunch of white supremacists and revealed himself to be (understatement alert) a uniquely awful fellow. And, along those lines, there’s no real argument for any decent person to stick with the platform. As I said to a friend the other day: If I love a neighborhood pizza shop, but then the owner sells it to a guy who displays all sorts of racist/homophobic tendencies, I’m finding a different place for my cheese slices. Without a second of debate.

And, as I sit here, 10 1/2 books into my career, I look at other authors/journalists who bolted and ooze … envy. It actually began back in 2017, when Ta-Nehisi Coates got into a Twitter feud with Cornel West, took a moment, Tweeted this …

… and left. Forever.

Coates hasn’t popped up every so often. He didn’t reevaluate and decide, “Man, I had more than a million potential book buyers hanging onto my words.” Nope. He departed.

The same thing happened a couple of years ago with Howard Bryant, my friend, colleague and one of America’s best sports writers. Howard was a fairly prolific Tweeter, until one day he just (poof!) vanished. Gone. Never to return.

When I asked Howard whether he ever regretted the move, he DMed, “Every day it’s an even better decision.”

I asked for an elaboration.

Wrote Howard: “My feeling when it was purchased was it was not a business acquisition, but a political one, and each move Elon Musk has made since confirmed my belief that this was a move to influence the 2024 election and further destabilize and already unstable political system. I wanted no part of it then, and even less now.

“People stay for their own reasons, one of which is the belief the site elevates their visibility in a way I personally didn’t feel was essential to me.”

I asked whether he believes journalists on Twitter are being at all duplicitous. “Journalists have always been duplicitous regarding their participation in these types of things, acting as though they are mere observers,” he said. “They are not.”

Another colleague/friend, the biographer David Maraniss, dumped his Twitter profile seven months ago. He has lost no sleep. “[It was a] combination of tired of using it as crutch, as instant gratification machine, as snark central, as borderline addiction, and utter contempt for its owner,” David DMed. “Have not looked back, not searched for replacement (still on Facebook), not missed it, and almost never think about it except when friends email me a link to Twitter that I can't open.”

For me, the big left turn toward (a potential departure) came within the past few months, when Musk decided:

A. I should charge for blue checks.

B. Wouldn’t it be cool if blue checks go from identifying public figures to identifying racists and sex workers?

It was a weird shift—one I initially pooh poohed with the go-fuck-yourself swagger of a guy boasting (cough) a free blue check. I figured it wouldn’t matter. I figured Twitter would still be Twitter. But—for my purposes—the blue check actually did matter. First, I’ve long used Twitter as a way of tracking down sources for research. And the blue check confirmed to those I was DMing, “This guy is legitimate.” That’s not an exaggeration for the sake of a substack entry: The blue check felt a bit like a black American Express card. It offered a hair of gravitas; of authenticity. It got me past the bouncer and into the club.

Second, the blue check helped me figure out if the people I was reaching out to were, well, real. In fact, I received my own blue check only after someone started a fake JEFF PEARLMAN Twitter feed. It wasn’t this one …

… but something like that one. So, back in 2009 or 2010, I contacted Twitter (an easy task at the time), told them about the fraud, confirmed my identity and was presented the blue check. In that way, the blue check very much mattered. Fuck, as we speak there’s not only a fake Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez account, but one with a blue check … that Musk himself engaged with.

In short, the blue check went from serving a societal/journalistic purpose to serving the purpose of lining Musk’s (already deep) pockets. And if you thought, “Jesus, nobody would be dumb enough to give a billionaire $8/month for a blue check …” well, plenty of people are dumb enough to give a billionaire $8/month for a blue check. Here, for example, is a listing of some of Donald Trump, Jr.’s followers …

I reached out to one conservative with a blue check to ask why he spent good money on the label. He (kindly, to his credit) replied: “Mine is very simple. I try to be a man of my word. My account was suspended back in 2020 for calling Twitter communists after they kicked Trump off and because of my stance on the election being tampered with. I made another account and after Elon took over I lobbied for this account to be reinstated. I said in tweets to him that if it was reinstated I would pay for Twitter Blue. They held up their end of the bargain by reinstating it so I held up mine by subscribing. This has been my favorite social media app since I first started my account. If I can add to the Twitter experience then I’m here for it.”

Oy.

But here’s the thing.

The shitty thing.

Twitter isn’t without its benefits.

Like, for all the hellishness, it remains a very good (no longer great) way of showing publishers (or any potential media employer) that you come attached to a following. I actually asked an exec who works in the book industry whether that sorta thing still matters post-Musk. “Publishers do consider an author’s platform when acquiring (of course we want a strong promotional partner!),” she said. “Getting a book deal is about the potential of the idea and material first and foremost. A big following is a plus, but not the driving factor.”

Twitter also remains a strong method toward find people. Folks respond much more quickly on Twitter than they do, say, Facebook or Linkedin DM. Also, if you wanna follow, say, a sporting event in real time, or develop a sense of community with, oh, DC United fans or Hall & Oates loyalists—it works. Russ Bengtson, my pal and longtime journalist, has come and gone from Twitter a dizzying number of times. At this moment, he’s in. “I mostly came back because I don’t see that many people IRL,” he DMed me, “and I have various communities on there. I stay in touch with a LOT of people I just know through there. It’s a giant mets group chat during games”

Tom Junod, the brilliant ESPN wordsmith, is also still hanging. “I don't leave because I still like coming cross unfamiliar work that other people push and, besides, I don't want to leave someplace because I've been driven off,” he said. “It's a punitive shambles, but is there any social media that has lived up to its promise? The exhaustion of spirit, excitement and sense of promise is impossible to ignore.”

Really, that’s the best/worst part, and the reason—as this entry wraps—I remain on Twitter. Because while it’s grotesque and addictive and annoying and run by the walking embodiment of gum stuck to a Wawa toilet, it’s also (at times) invigorating and enticing and oozing with energy. It is a place where ideas are exchanged. It is a place where Jets fans can unite in their Zach Wilson malaise and the Oath Keepers can … ugh. Scratch that last part.

So, today, I’m still on Twitter.

But tomorrow—I hope I can muster the courage to leave.

The Quaz Five with … Alex Squadron

Alex Squadron is a freelance writer and author of the upcoming book, “Life in the G: Minor League Basketball and the Relentless Pursuit of the NBA.” You can follow him on Twitter here.

1. You have a book dropping in October on the G League. Why does one write a book about the G League?: The idea appealed to me for two major reasons. One, the G League is not covered nearly enough. You look around the NBA and so many guys are former G Leaguers: Gabe Vincent, Duncan Robinson, Max Strus, Alex Caruso, Seth Curry, Gary Payton II, Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet (to name a few). The G League is probably the second most talented basketball league in the world, and most people don't know a thing about it. With the league expanding every year, the timing just felt right for a deep dive. And two, I've always been drawn to underdog stories. G Leaguers earn roughly $40,000 a season. Many of them turn down more lucrative offers from teams overseas, understanding that the G League gives them the best shot to reach the NBA. Still, the odds are stacked against them, and the obstacles they must overcome in order to make it are insane. As with the many books chronicling minor league baseball, this is really a story about perseverance, hope, sacrifice and the pursuit of a dream.

2. I'm an old fuck. You're not. I bemoan the old days, when players spent four years at a college and you came to really watch their growth, development--then follow them to the NBA. I'm talking Patrick Ewing, Chris Mullin, David Robinson. On and on. Those days are over. Do you feel like the G League in any way makes up for the old ways?: I just turned 28 and I'm feeling like an old fuck, so I can only imagine how you feel... From a basketball standpoint, I think the G League does make up for the old ways. I spent the 2021-22 season embedded with the Birmingham Squadron (the G League affiliate of the New Orleans Pelicans… the name is an absurd coincidence) for my book, and to see the growth of players like Jose Alvarado and Trey Murphy III up close was insane. The G League speeds up the development you're talking about in a big way — players aren't just facing tougher competition than in college, they're also learning how to be professionals. I'm biased, but I just think more people need to follow the G League. That growth (which we all love to track) is happening in remote cities and tiny gyms and empty arenas and fitness centers at three-star hotels every year.

3. You work for Slam. Back in the 1990s, I wrote regularly for the mag, my roommate/pal Russ Bengtson was editor. And it felt fresh, new, revolutionary. What is Slam 2023? What are the keys for its survival?: So I only do freelance for SLAM at the moment, but I was there full time as an associate editor for several years and really saw the company transform. SLAM has maintained the same voice that made it feel so fresh and revolutionary back in the ‘90s, while expanding beyond the mag. That's really been the key to its survival: adapting to the new media landscape. Focusing on social media. Emphasizing video. Launching a merch business. Building more partnerships. All while staying authentic to the SLAM brand that people like you and Russ helped build and continuing to print the legendary magazine. That SLAM cover will always carry weight. Even high school kids who can make their names on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube still badly want to be on the cover of SLAM. It's amazing.

4. Last December you wrote a piece, The Story Behind the Detroit Pistons’ New City Edition Uniforms. Serious Q: Why do you think we're so fascinated, as a sports community, by uniforms? Why do we care so much?: To be honest, I don't really know. At times it does feel like a silly fascination. But then again, I've got a massive jersey collection myself… Without getting too deep, I think fandom creates a sense of community that we all covet. Teams are like families, and uniforms are like their reunion t-shirts. They are symbols of their togetherness. As fans, we wear (and weirdly obsess over) those same uniforms because they make us feel a part of those families. They allow us to proudly proclaim our allegiances — pieces of our identities — to the world. And of course, a lot of them just look super cool. They are fashion statements — and we love to talk about the nexus of fashion and sports these days (shout out to LeagueFits). I was born in 1995 and have never been a big baseball fan, but I’ve got a #16 Bo Jackson Royals jersey because, well, it’s sweet. And I admittedly didn’t know much about the player or the team until I read a certain biography recently…

5. You write a lot about the G League, and obviously Mac McClung had a taste of spotlight earlier this year. What's keeping McClung from being a regular on an NBA roster? Is there a future for him in the League?: Great question. I've watched McClung a lot and he's a very talented player — much more than just a dunker. Great shooter. Solid playmaker. Takes care of the basketball. Obviously a crazy athlete. Here's what you learn when you're embedded in the G League for a season: there's a great deal of luck involved in making it to the NBA. The timing has to be right. The pieces have to fall into place perfectly. So many G Leaguers, McClung included, are capable of playing in the NBA, but only a handful will get the break they need to prove themselves. That’s why you hear the same phrase over and over again in the G: “Control what you can control.” I think there could be a future in the NBA for McClung... just as I think there could be a future in the NBA for a lot of guards in the G League. Look at Gabe Vincent — he was in the G League a few years ago and now he's the starting point guard for one of the last teams standing in the NBA Playoffs. He got his sliver of opportunity, and he took advantage. McClung seems to be controlling what he can control; it's just going to take a stroke of good fortune and him being ready/rising to the occasion again.

Bonus [rank in order—favorite to least]: John Wick films, match.com, Shareef O'Neal, Scarsdale High School, Tim Scott's presidential hopes, MC Ren, strawberry ice cream, your senior prom, Lou Gehrig, elk hunting: Scarsdale High School, Shareef O'Neal (currently in the G League!), Lou Gehrig, my senior prom, MC Ren, John Wick films, match.com, Tim Scott's presidential hopes, strawberry ice cream, elk hunting (I’m lactose intolerant and I’d still rather eat strawberry ice cream). This was quite a list.

A random old article worth revisiting …

On Dec. 30, 1983, Florida Today introduced the Sunshine State’s residents to the next Marlon Brando—Emmanuel Lewis of “Webster” fame. The world would never be the same …

This week’s college writer you should follow on Twitter …

Jack Nelson, senior staff writer for The Daily Bruin—UCLA’s student paper.

Jack’s profile of UCLA tennis star Fangran Tian (and her team) is just really excellent stuff—age or title be damned. It’s gripping, fun, smart and creative. His lede grabs you (“Coaches traverse the seas, make cross-country journeys and explore the humblest towns to the flashiest cities and everywhere in between, all in search of one thing. They toil away looking for a needle in a haystack, a player who can revolutionize a program with the kind of talent that comes around only a couple of times in a generation.”) and the article actually makes me care about a sport and a team that interests me nary an iota.

One can follow Jack on Twitter here.

Bravo, kid.

Jim Murray speaks with …

A new feature to the Pearlman Journalism Substack—thanks to the warped geniuses at Chat GPT, we can sorta kinda see what would happen if Jim Murray, the late/legendary Los Angeles Times columnist, sat down with three random celebrities. This week, here’s what GPT offers from Jim’s meeting with Young MC, Frida Kahlo and a 50-foot cobra …

Jim Murray: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'm Jim Murray, and today we have a unique panel. Joining me are Young MC, a talented rapper; Frida Kahlo, an iconic artist, and a truly extraordinary guest—a 50-foot cobra. Thank you all for being here.

Young MC: Thanks for having us, Jim. This is going to be an interesting conversation.

Frida Kahlo: Gracias, Jim. I must admit, the presence of the cobra makes me a bit uneasy.

Cobra: Hissing sound

Jim Murray: Frida, I understand your concern. Let's proceed and explore your incredible artistic contributions. Young MC, your music has made a significant impact. How do you believe your work has influenced the music industry and connected with listeners?

Young MC: Jim, I believe my music brings a fresh perspective and positive energy to the industry. It's about creating relatable lyrics that inspire and entertain. I aim to connect with listeners through storytelling and messages that resonate with their experiences.

Frida Kahlo: Young MC, your ability to connect with your audience through storytelling is admirable. As an artist, I, too, strive to create work that resonates on a personal level, evoking emotions and challenging societal norms. It's amazing how music and art can bridge gaps and unite people.

Cobra: Hissing sound

Jim Murray: Frida, your art has touched the hearts of many. Can you share how your personal struggles and triumphs have influenced your work?

Frida Kahlo: Jim, my art is deeply rooted in my personal experiences. Through my paintings, I express my emotions, physical pain, and cultural heritage. It is through this vulnerability that I hope to inspire others to embrace their uniqueness and find strength in their own stories.

Young MC: Frida, your resilience and ability to channel your personal experiences into art is truly inspiring. It's a reminder that our struggles can fuel our creativity and become a catalyst for change. Your work continues to inspire generations of artists.

Jim Murray: Cobra, while you communicate through hisses, your presence commands attention. In the animal kingdom, what do you believe your role is, particularly as a cobra?

Cobra: Hissing sound

Young MC: Although the cobra speaks in hisses, its presence symbolizes power and danger. In the animal kingdom, creatures like the cobra play a vital role in maintaining the balance of nature. They are a reminder of the diversity and intricate web of life that exists in our world.

Frida Kahlo: I agree, Young MC. Nature is a source of inspiration and a reflection of the circle of life. While the cobra may evoke fear, it is a reminder of the delicate balance within ecosystems and the importance of preserving our natural world.

Jim Murray: Your insights shed light on the interconnectedness of art, music, and nature. Despite our differences and fears, this conversation shows the power of diverse perspectives coming together. Thank you all for participating in this unique discussion.

Journalism musings for the week …

Musing 1: Hate to say it, but if I’m the New York Times I’m REALLY worried about the lawsuit filed by Kai Spears, an Alabama basketball player who might have been misidentified by the newspaper. I mean, it’d be pretty fucking weird for Spears to take the legal route and be lying. I don’t feel great about this one, journalistically.

Musing 2: Former Mets catcher Ed Hearn is one of the heroes of my first book, “The Bad Guys Won!”—and he also happens to be a longtime pal. So I was thrilled to learn a few days ago that Ed has received a donated kidney and is doing quite well.

Musing 3: Fascinating column in the New York Times from linguist John McWhorter on the power and influence of verbs. Writes McWhorter: “But life is about much else, and what ultimately conveys this ‘else’ is verbs. What makes all those animals interesting is when they do things like walking, drinking and looking. Verbs can be said to be the core of what language is, Human Expression 1.0.”

Musing 4: Mirin Fader is the best writer at The Ringer, and her lengthy profile of Nuggets gunner Michael Porter, Jr. shows why. Fader is exceptional at using dogged reporting and wise interviewing skills to take the athlete you think you know and convey a rainbow’s colors. Writes Fader: “WhenWhen Porter Jr. was lying alone with his thoughts, there was another voice inside him. It urged him to keep going. To not give in. That driven, resilient part of him told him that he wasn’t going to quit, no matter how arduous rehab would be. Day after day, he worked and worked, pushing himself further.” It’s dandy [Oh, and it’s her dog Cookie’s fourth birthday].

Musing 5: Not that anyone is begging for my NBA thoughts, but the Celtics are crazy to keep Joe Mazzulla as head coach. I would actually defend the decision were Boston a young up-and-coming squad with a bunch of pieces feeling each other out. But the Celtics have a window, and that window is closing. Mazzulla made a dizzying number of boneheaded strategic decisions—one people like Monty Williams or Dwane Casey or Dawn Staley wouldn’t have. To have two unique talents (Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown) and allow this experiment to continue makes no sense.

Musing 6: At the risk of sounding corny, I love that (here in Pride Month, no less), Vogue did a lengthy piece on the wedding of Beanie Feldstein and Bonnie-Chance Roberts … and that they’re gay wasn’t really broached. It was all about love, togetherness, finding someone to share life with. Three decades ago, they stay in the closet. Two decades ago, it’s a magazine cover with the headline GAY AND BOOK SMART AND IN LOVE! Now, it’s life.

Musing 7: So if you Google “schmaltzy lover with oodles of compassion,” you’ll likely stumble upon Michael J. Lewis, journalist/longtime pal. And last week, to celebrate his 10th wedding anniversary, he wrote this ode to his (kick-ass, cool-as-shit) wife, Shelley. Love is love, bitches.

Musing 8: New Two Writers Slinging Yang stars Marty Appel, former New York Yankees PR guru and author of a new book on his baseball journeys.

Quote of the week …

1. It has not gone well.