It seems that Bryan Colangelo’s covert online activity might not have stopped with burner Twitter accounts.
Thanks to some digital detective work, particularly by a Twitter user named Mike Chiodo, it seems that the 76ers general manager or someone close to him has likely been commenting on Philly.com, The Sixer Sense and other outlets covering not only the Sixers but also Raptors, where Colangelo used to work.
The evidence comes in the form of comments on the Disqus platform from someone “named” Jacob Reuben who seemed to know a suspicious amount about the inner-workings of the Sixers’ front office.
Here is Reuben talking about Brett Brown forcing out Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor failing a physical and Markelle Fultz getting dubious advice from a mentor:
and these posts, the first of which divulges info not known to the public, and all 3 points were previously noted in the burner accounts (BB wanting Noel gone, Jah failing physical, and the Markelle video). pic.twitter.com/QwYCsdpNjt
— Mike (@mhc_76) May 31, 2018
Here he is talking about Fultz’s personal life:
talks about the event which apparently happened in Fultz's personal life, which the burner account hinted at previously pic.twitter.com/afZ8EALReb
— Mike (@mhc_76) May 31, 2018
Here he is sharing the same type of inside info that the various burner accounts hinted at:
these echo, almost word for word, the burner accounts. pic.twitter.com/mpCU8qPnQc
— Mike (@mhc_76) May 31, 2018
Here he is again implying insider knowledge:
both of these hint at having inside knowledge. pic.twitter.com/Gvn93XuMgd
— Mike (@mhc_76) May 31, 2018
Here he is trashing Colangelo’s former Toronto boss Tim Lieweke:
I'VE GOT IT. The account is ripping Tim Lie, short for Tim Leiweke, who was the CEO for MLSE for two years from 2013-2015, and has publicly stated that he didn't get along with Colangelo. This should seal it. pic.twitter.com/ktrQZHi5IU
— Mike (@mhc_76) May 31, 2018
And here he is complimenting Colangelo’s looks:
and I mean, I don't think a normal Sixers fan who just happened to be a huge Colangelo supporter would write something like this. pic.twitter.com/kyAPFZD6Gv
— Mike (@mhc_76) May 31, 2018
In scrolling through Reuben’s many comments, there’s gossip and criticism about everyone affiliated (or recently affiliated) with the Sixers except one person: Colangelo, who gets only praise.
The discovery of these Disqus comments is the latest turn in an endlessly bizarre saga that began Tuesday night when The Ringer presented compelling evidence that five burner Twitter accounts, some of which had tweeted sensitive information, all were linked to Colangelo. Further detective work later suggested that it was not the GM pressing “send” but was actually his wife — at least on some of the accounts.
Now it seems that whoever was doing the tweeting was also busy in the internet’s comments sections, which ultimately makes sense. If you’ve got as much to say as Mr. and/or Mrs. Colangelo appear to, why stop at Twitter? Why not fire off comments on Instagram and Facebook and every comments section you can find? There could be a whole treasure trove out there of anonymous accounts sniping at Sam Hinkie, Joel Embiid, Markelle Fultz and others who the general manager of an NBA team (and his wife) should not be sniping at.