Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) and Deadspin.com, a sports website, got into a Twitter spat Tuesday evening over whether there is any proof that the senator plays basketball.
The dispute began with a Politico story that described how Cruz started a weekly basketball game in the Russell Building to improve his relationship with some Republican senators.
Sens. Tim Scott (R., S.C.) and Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) have reportedly joined.
Deadspin then asked Cruz via Twitter to send proof that he is playing basketball.
Send us proof of Ted Cruz playing basketball https://t.co/MgGLnsscPf pic.twitter.com/mpxI5EBQkK
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) January 23, 2017
Cruz replied to Deadspin with a picture of Duke University guard Grayson Allen, who has been called Cruz's doppelganger. "What do I win?" Cruz asked Deadspin, using the photo as proof.
@Deadspin what do I win? pic.twitter.com/9XuRmmIkJS
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) January 25, 2017
The Twitter conversation then took an abrupt downturn when Deadspin told Cruz to "go eat shit."
@tedcruz Go eat shit.
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) January 25, 2017
Cruz responded to Deadspin with a meme from the movie Anchorman of Will Ferrell drinking a beer with the caption, "Boy, that escalated quickly."
@Deadspin pic.twitter.com/TMiDBco2TB
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) January 25, 2017
The Twitter spat did not end there, however. Tim Marchman, the editor of Deadspin, went on a Twitter rant attacking Cruz, saying he has "low-testosterone" and calling him a "pathetic asshole." He also defended Ashley Feinberg, the sender of the Deadspin tweet.
Ted Cruz is a pathetic asshole, his social media intern's joke was basic, and complaints should go to marchman at deadspin dot com.
— Tim Marchman (@timmarchman) January 25, 2017
Feinberg, took the situation as a joke, retweeting the best "You got owned by Ted Cruz" tweets.
I’m just glad everyone’s having a good time online
— Ashley Feinberg (@ashleyfeinberg) January 25, 2017
ashley rn pic.twitter.com/47fbKOXkik
— Tom Scocca (@tomscocca) January 25, 2017
Emma wins pic.twitter.com/xRcRegYaPq
— Ashley Feinberg (@ashleyfeinberg) January 25, 2017