Twitter really needs to figure something out with their trending function. Tony Bennett was trending tonight; prompting most users of the social media platform to an instinctive knee jerk reaction.
All these users believed that the legendary singer had passed away. In today’s era of micro-blogging, “if it bleeds it leads,” and obituaries are always HUGE HUGE news (just as they always have been).
Every time I see a celebrity of advanced age trending I always worry that said individual has now met their final destination. It’s sad, but it’s the age we live in.
The Tony Bennett that was trending tonight was not the iconic crooner, but instead the Virginia basketball coach; who saw his team choke away a 16 point second half lead to Syracuse during an Elite 8 game in Chicago. Bennett was oh so close to leading the Cavaliers to the school’s first Final Four since 1984.
(We did a Tony Bennett versus Tony Bennett tale of the tape for you on Thursday, which you can read here at this link) It’s Anthony Guy Bennett versus Anthony Dominick Tony Bendetto.
Moments after I concluded my exclusive with Bennett, I got back to my computer and saw that Tony Bennett was trending on Twitter, prompting me to make a very simple, quick, but also important and poignant Tweet.
Then my phone wouldn’t stop buzzing for the next few hours, and all the notifications caused the battery to drain completely and shut the device off. Those mentions went mostly something like this:
NBC News Webmaster Jillian Sederholm:
First tweet I saw was exactly the answer I was seeking. https://t.co/cvTGiDiwMV
— Jillian Sederholm (@JillianSed) March 28, 2016
@PaulMBanks Whew?
— Erin (@Ritahayworth22) March 28, 2016
and thank you, cause my heart leapt into my throat. https://t.co/3erQGiCqcT
— huny young (@huny) March 28, 2016
THANK GOD! https://t.co/nwNrcBwneZ
— Jenny Trout (@Jenny_Trout) March 28, 2016
Thank you, @PaulMBanks. #whew
— Cindy McNary (@Nadomom) March 28, 2016
@PaulMBanks Great timing and very helpful!
— Jillian Sederholm (@JillianSed) March 28, 2016
@PaulMBanks Whew! Thanks!
— Lacy Mandigo Fans (@LacyFans) March 28, 2016
https://twitter.com/JodyWHL/status/714261181058289664
https://twitter.com/MichaelPacholek/status/714261413112508416
Saw his name trending and my heart. STOPPED. https://t.co/AhQxj20YUm
— ?TYRANT? (@laPetiteNomade) March 28, 2016
Famous Comedian Paula Poundstone:
@PaulMBanks Phew!
— Paula Poundstone (@paulapoundstone) March 28, 2016
Tony Bennett is alive and well everybody! No worries. Please carry on as usual.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram