It’s been a weird week for Anthony Holmes. The St. Louis sports fan accidentally discovered the joys of hockey, and then three days later he was a guest on Good Morning America.
Holmes, who goes by Tony X. or @soIoucity on Twitter, stumbled onto Game 7 of the first-round playoffs between the St. Louis Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday night (April 25).
He was immediately hooked, and slightly confused.
Yo deadass this the first time I've ever watched hockey and this shit has been LIT for these first 45 seconds
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 26, 2016
Wtf is a power play
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 26, 2016
This shit lit as Fuck Lmaooooooo
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 26, 2016
White people been hiding hockey from us for years bruh. This shit lit
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 26, 2016
GGOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 26, 2016
I don't know who this dude kane is but we gotta stop him.
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 26, 2016
Holy shittttttttttt
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 26, 2016
It hit off both posts?????
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 26, 2016
Honestly why wouldn't the whole team just stand in front of the net for the last minute???
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 26, 2016
Empty net?
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 26, 2016
The goalie just said Fuck it and left?
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 26, 2016
WE DID ITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 26, 2016
"We" being used very loosely.
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 26, 2016
This dude has like 3 teeth left. This shit is rough and violent
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 26, 2016
https://twitter.com/soIoucity/status/724806076902711296
AD LOADING...
He went viral quickly, gaining almost 65,000 new Twitter followers in four days.
Big week for @soIoucity: discovers hockey, gains 60,000+ #Twitter followers, etc. #StanleyCuppic.twitter.com/dIDAyrvtGG
— Cam Gordon (@cam_gordon) April 28, 2016
Vote for Tony X on the NHL 17 cover #NHL17TonyX#LetsGoBlues@StLouisBlues@EASPORTSNHL@soIoucitypic.twitter.com/nsMwNYf3Kz
— Steve (@mettleblue) April 27, 2016
@Chefboyrnach@soIoucity and his 46k+ followers pic.twitter.com/YLIjH1GmXh
— Chief (@TopFlightChief) April 28, 2016
Being a z list celebrity is stressed ??? i can't
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 26, 2016
His newfound popularity caught the attention of the St. Louis Blues, who invited him to see their next playoff home game, against the Dallas Stars on May 3.
Welcome to Hockey Twitter & #stlblues fandom, @soIoucity! Want to check out Game 3 live? It's on us! #WeAllBleedBluehttps://t.co/27o5fB69KE
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) April 26, 2016
@soIoucity Where do the blues have you sitting next week?
— Christian (@cessner86) April 27, 2016
I'm signing a one day contract. They're letting me play. https://t.co/eTbORAPIb2
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 27, 2016
And, this morning (April 28), he was a guest on Good Morning America.
WATCH: Twitter user @soIoucity goes viral for hockey live-tweets; gets surprise from @StLouisBlues, @HOFBlues16https://t.co/mTazeDYaB1
— Good Morning America (@GMA) April 28, 2016
“I never gave [hockey] a chance,” he explained to the hosts on the show. “I was a big football fan and baseball fan but I never hockey a chance.”
AD LOADING...
One of the most hilarious aspects of the story is Tony’s take on the largely white sport and its #hockeytwitter fan base.
@soIoucity wait til you see some black players, shit will get real. Reaves, Byfuglien, Evander Kane, oh yea….
— cHRISTOPHER (@cmackLIVE) April 26, 2016
wait players? as in multiple? WOW i woulda took the under on .5 https://t.co/7tEny57Dho
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 26, 2016
@soIoucity Are you enjoying hockey twitter?
— Zach (@Zach_Brach) April 27, 2016
yea ive only seen like 2 confederate flags so far. https://t.co/o7ZOp4D1MB
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 27, 2016
welp the black fan population in nhl rises to 2. i see u sonya!
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 27, 2016
@soIoucity is the key to race relations in America. Police ever arrest him, we'll finally get criminal justice reform.
— Littlefinesser (@JMYChi) April 28, 2016
im gonna get stopped and questioned at the door at the blues game loooool https://t.co/SRVd0XGo7V
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 28, 2016
Since going viral, Tony has kept live-tweeting games, further delving into the strange customs of hockey culture.
you know how good your damn hand eye coordination has to be to play hockey???? i dont but its prolly high
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 27, 2016
lighting defense is sleep. nothing good has came outta florida since plies 1st few cds
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 27, 2016
fam they got foul pucks??? nope. nope. nope. that must of been in the fine print
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 28, 2016
dude in the penalty box holding back tears like hes in real life timeout.
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 28, 2016
wait goalies fight? that must be setup pregame….. how can u have beef with dude who allllll the way on the other side?
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 28, 2016
Has anyone told @soIoucity about when they throw dead octopuses or hats on the ice? #fact#hockeytwitter
— Deanna Rilling (@DeannaRilling) April 28, 2016
wait how n the hell do you get dead octopuses in? lets deal with that then proceed to actually throwing them. https://t.co/7u5JyuRIey
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 28, 2016
ppl are saran wrapping catfish to their backs to sneak them in and throw them on the ice …….willingly? pic.twitter.com/8hpfH6xUpp
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) April 28, 2016
