[View the story "NFL player Richard Sherman's epic post-game interview prompts Twitterstorm" on Storify ]NFL player Richard Sherman's epic post-game interview prompts Twitterstorm Where NFL meets WWE Storified by CBC News Community · Mon, Jan 20 2014 10:35:33
Notoriously outspoken Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman set Twitter ablaze Sunday evening -- both with his athletic prowess, and with a fiery post-game interview that many are already calling legendary.
The 25-year-old Compton, Calif.-born NFL star effectively secured the Seahawks' place in the 2014 Super Bowl near the end of last night's NFC championship with a game-saving play against the San Francisco 49ers.
With less than a minute left on the clock, Sherman deflected a pass between the 49ers' Colin Kaepernick and Michael Crabtree, tipping the ball towards his own teammate, linebacker Malcolm Smith,
to seal Seattle's 23-17 victory .
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Fans hailed the play as brilliant, applauding Sherman's skill and congratulating the Seahawks on their win.
And then came the fallout.
CBC Sports reports that while Smith was celebrating the interception, Sherman "exchanged words with Crabtree, got shoved in the face as a rebuttal then made a choking gesture toward the San Francisco bench that he said was intended for quarterback Colin Kaepernick."
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Sherman was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, but the drama was far from over.
During a post-game interview with Fox Sports sideline reporter Erin Andrews, a screaming Sherman announced, "I'm the best corner in the game! When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree that's the result you are going to get! Don't you even talk about me!"
"Who was talking about you?" asked Andrews calmly.
"Crabtree!," Sherman responded. "Don't open your mouth about the best or I'm going to shut it for you real quick!"
VIDEO: Richard Sherman's post-game interview with @ErinAndrews http://t.co/SpsC6xatzO #NFLPlayoffsNFL
It didn't take long for fans to react. Within minutes, Sherman's name was trending on Twitter. Many likened his interview style to that of a professional wrestler before stepping into the ring.
Richard Sherman went WWE on Michael Crabtree postgameVideo: http://t.co/iOnRPc0zsd http://t.co/F5Dtr4RUkxNOTSportsCenter
Richard Sherman was like all Randy "Macho Man" Savage there with Elizabeth #WWE #1986Steve Parsons
BREAKING: Richard Sherman booked for WWE Raw tomorrow nightShooter McGavin
Richard Sherman still waiting to hear back from Jim McMahon on the WWE audition reel he made last nightMen's Humor
Richard Sherman gotta chill B! http://t.co/Ph35vpkdbJTrav NEVER Chills
One YouTuber even went so far as to remix the interview video with some classic WWF footage:
Seahawks' Richard Sherman / WWF Interview Remixhooper119
Others turned to Photoshop to express their thoughts.
Hulk Sherman lol http://t.co/K2GWiEqi1QJeremy lewis
This just in: Richard Sherman is being cast for the role of Gandalf the Great after that play against Crabtree http://t.co/wR1CIvvJ1mJesse LeFevre
Richard Sherman & Erin Andrews post game interview after the Seahawks win last night. http://t.co/CHXj5T3DMiClaudi-Hoe
Bwahahahaha #RichardSherman #ErinAndrews http://t.co/DpFRSTeV8wTerez Owens
Some were displeased with his actions, calling Sherman a "
punk ," "
classless ," and worse.
Amazing how Richard Sherman has made his team's win all about him. justify your actions all you want, still a narcissistic punkGarron Lamoreau
@RSherman_25 Classless. We're all better than you. Grow up.Jim Brock
Richard Sherman: the Kanye of the NFLRiley O'Connell
Yet while he may have been heated, others pointed out that Sherman did not once swear or use foul language during the interview. Furthermore, he managed to produce one heck of a buzz-worthy clip.
Perhaps his degree in communications from Stanford was responsible?
"Sherman graduated second in his class in high school and also graduated from Stanford. So not only is he not a fool, odds are he's smarter than you and me,"
wrote Forbes contributor Tommy Tomlinson . "His degree from Stanford was in communications ... which might explain why, while he
seemed to be hollering like a crazy person, he didn't curse and looked into the camera the whole time."
Richard Sherman is a smart guy. He just plays into the persona he's given. He knows what he's doin. #StanfordGradJohn Michael Foley
Richard Sherman graduated from Stanford he is not an idiot and he made the play to send his team to the Super Bowl I would be screaming tooKirk Holden
Richard Sherman is a thug?? How many "thugs" do you know that had 4.0 GPA's in HS, scored a 1400/1600 on the SAT and had a 3.9 at Stanford?Scott Enyeart
People can say what they want to about Richard Sherman, he is a passionate athlete and a Stanford graduate. He's no dummy. #LegionOfBoomSarah O'Brien
Crabtree, who,
the Seattle Times reports , tried to start a fight with Sherman last summer at a charity event, took to Twitter with his opinion about the interview as well.
Film don't lie... @nflnetwork @espn pull up the tape of that game and show me where this guy is the best? #fake #fake #fakeMichael Crabtree
Sherman himself responded on Twitter approximately one hour later with the following:
A lion doesn't concern himself with the opinions of a sheep.Richard Sherman
There was a lot of talk before the game.... Now I'm the bad guy lol.... Well if u judge my character on the field ....So many glass housesRichard Sherman
This morning, the NFL star elaborated
in an article on Sports Illustrated's MMQB .
"A lot of what I said to Andrews was adrenaline talking, and some of that was Crabtree. I just don't like him," he wrote. "It was loud, it was in the moment, and it was just a small part of the person I am. I don't want to be a villain, because I'm not a villainous person."
"To those who would call me a thug or worse because I show passion on a football field--don't judge a person's character by what they do between the lines," he continued. "Judge a man by what he does off the field, what he does for his community, what he does for his family."
Sherman went on to decry the amount of bullying and racist language on Twitter.
"It's sad and somewhat unbelievable to me that the world is still this way, but it is," he wrote. "I can handle it."
'To Those Who Would Call Me a Thug or Worse ...'What a night, and what a finish. Near midnight I still had about 70 unread text messages from friends and family, most of which read, "Be...
What are your thoughts on Sherman's post-game interview with Erin Andrews? Did it overshadow a brilliant play, or deserve the amount of attention it got? Share your thoughts below.
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