The Miami Marlins used the death of “The Crocodile Hunter,” Steve Irwin, in a Twitter feud with their in-state rivals, the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Rays swept a two-game series against the Marlins this weekend. However, the action did not stop on the field. The rivalry shifted to Twitter after the Marlins shared this video of Miami right-fielder Brian Anderson throwing out a runner at home plate. To which, the Rays responded, “show the final out.”
show the final out
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) August 4, 2019
The Marlins then made light of the Tampa’s announced intention to play some home games in Canada.
here's the broom we just used on you, so you can clean them up.
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) August 4, 2019
So this is a pretty fun and entertaining sports Twitter spat so far, right? Well, things took a turn after the Marlins invoked the death of conservationist Steve Irwin, who was killed by a stingray.
you're literally the team that just got swept, log off.
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) August 4, 2019
Yikes.
The moment did not go unnoticed by Twitter users who immediately cried foul on the Marlins’ use of Irwin’s death in the spat.
The fact that you would say something like this is in bad taste. Shame on you.
— Christopher Lorenz (@florida4_life) August 5, 2019
This is really really low. Not a fan of either team. But despicable to bring up Steve Irwin. @mlb should discipline the Marlins twitter bully and relieve them from their duties.
— Luke Mott (@Mott447) August 4, 2019
This is not a good tweet, guys. Put yourself in his kids’ shoes, and imagine them reading this.
— Chris Guzman (@christopherguz) August 5, 2019
The Marlins Twitter account eventually apologized for making light of Irwin’s death.
Hi, guys. Like everyone who grew up watching him, we miss Steve. We’re so sorry to have made light of his passing.
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) August 5, 2019
Follow Dylan Gwinn on Twitter @themightygwinn
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