Houston Rockets fire social media manager after offensive tweet

HOUSTON – A day after the Rockets apologized for an offensive tweet toward an opponent, the team fired its social media manager.

Think before you tweet is a phrase you hear a lot in the age of social media and it's a lesson the now former head of social media for the Houston Rockets learned the hard way.

Throughout the season, fans who followed the Houston Rockets Twitter account could count on Chad Shanks' cleverly crafted 140 character messages.

"I've kind of made my name, so to speak, even though a lot of people didn't know who I am, being a little more edgy, pushing the envelope a little bit and trying to be funny," Shanks told KPRC 2.

But on Tuesday night in the waning moments of a series-clinching 104-93 Game 5 win over the Dallas Mavericks, a tweet using emoji characters of a horse with a gun to its head and the words, "Shhhhh. Just close your eyes. It will all be over soon" didn't go over so well.

"It was heat of the moment," said Shanks. "My emotions got the best of me and I didn't see how that tweet would offend so many people. And that was my mistake; I should have thought that through a little better."

The Mavericks' official Twitter account reacted, tweeting, "Not very classy but we still wish you guys the very best of luck in the next round."

Not long after, the tweet was removed and the Rockets were apologizing, "Our Tweet earlier was in very poor taste & not indicative of the respect we have for the @dallasmavs & their fans. We sincerely apologize."

"People were upset, feeling I advocated violence toward animals. That wasn't what I meant at all. It was just a jab at taking out the Mavericks and I really didn't mean to offend anyone," he said. "I'm sorry it ended this way, but I'm grateful for the opportunities they gave me. I loved every second of the job."

Shanks is getting a lot of support online with the hashtag #BringBackChad and there's even a change.org petition.

On Wednesday, Shanks tweeted, "Sometimes you can go too far. I will no longer run @HoustonRockets but am grateful to the organization that let me develop an online voice."

And, "I did my best to make the account the best in the NBA by pushing the envelope, but pushed too far for some and for that I apologize."

We have reached out to the Rockets for comment, but so far they have not responded to our requests.

This is not the first time the Rockets have been at the center of a Twitter controversy.

In January, Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey tweeted a response to a fan who asked him if he ever gets sick of basketball, writing "no it is like being a gynecologist, you don't get sick of it."

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