Travis Parrott to the World: I Do NOT Have Swine Flu

If the Internet was ever going to crash and burn, it might be now, because of the following two (well, three) words meeting in the same sentence: Travis Parrott, an American doubles player, has taken to Twitter to deny the reports that he has swine flu. All he needed to work in was Michael Jackson, Iran and Follow Friday, and it would be the equivalent of hitting for the cycle in current events.

Here is the deal. The Daily Mail reported that Parrott, along with three other doubles players, were believed to have swine flu (it's baaaack). Problem is, Parrott has a Twitter page, and has treated the news like someone who has been falsely accused of having an STD.

Parrott's initial reaction on Twitter was pretty calm, admitting 15 hours ago, "Too funny...just saw that article." Well, I guess the humor in the whole, "coming down with something that made the entire world freak out for a month" ran out, because he is now pleading with people to report he really isn't sick.

Parrott has messaged Andy Roddick, the Bryan Brothers, the BBC, CNN and even Jim Courier, all via Twitter, asking, "Help me spread the word that I was NOT diagnosed with swine flu."

The initial report read as this.

They were named as Slovakian doubles players Michal Mertinak and Filip Polasek and American Travis Parrott.

All three are now out of the tournament, with Mertinak having withdrawn from the mixed doubles because he was unwell. Mertinak and Polasek shared a hotel room during the tournament, while Parrott was Polasek's doubles partners.

So, a report that someone had swine flu was discredited by Twitter.

Honestly, I wonder how confused my grandmother would be reading that last sentence.

Latest Tennis Images

Andy Roddick of the U.S. reacts after defeating Lleyton Hewitt of Australia in their quarter-final match at the Wimbledon tennis championships, in London July 1, 2009. REUTERS/Kieran Doherty (BRITAIN SPORT TENNIS)

Reuters

Andy Roddick of the US celebrates after beating Australia's Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4, in a Men's Quarter Final match on the ninth day of the 2009 Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Tennis Club, in southwest London, on July 1, 2009. AFP PHOTO/GLYN KIRK (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Australia's Lleyton Hewit reacts to play against US Andy Roddick during their quarter final match on Day 9 at the 2009 Wimbledon tennis championships at the All England Club on July 1, 2009. The event, the third Grand Slam tournament of 2009, runs from June 22 to July 5, 2009. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

WIMBLEDON, ENGLAND - JULY 01: Andy Roddick of USA celebrates victory during the men's singles quarter final match against Lleyton Hewitt of Australia on Day Nine of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 1, 2009 in London, England. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Andy Roddick

Getty Images

Andy Roddick of the U.S. reacts during his quarter-final match against Lleyton Hewitt of Australia at the Wimbledon tennis championships, in London July 1, 2009. REUTERS/Kieran Doherty (BRITAIN SPORT TENNIS)

Reuters

Andy Roddick of the U.S. returns the ball to Lleyton Hewitt of Australia during their quarter-final match at the Wimbledon tennis championships, in London July 1, 2009. REUTERS/Toby Melville (BRITAIN SPORT TENNIS)

Reuters

Lleyton Hewitt of Australia falls after a dive during his quarter-final match against Andy Roddick of the U.S. at the Wimbledon tennis championships, in London July 1, 2009. REUTERS/Toby Melville (BRITAIN SPORT TENNIS)

Reuters

Lleyton Hewitt of Australia dives to reach the ball during his quarter-final match against Andy Roddick of the U.S. at the Wimbledon tennis championships, in London July 1, 2009. REUTERS/Toby Melville (BRITAIN SPORT TENNIS)

Reuters

Bec Cartwright, wife of Australia's Lleyton Hewitt, watches as he plays against Andy Roddick of the US in a Men's Quarter Final match on the ninth day of the 2009 Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Tennis Club, in southwest London, on July 1, 2009. AFP PHOTO/GLYN KIRK (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Australia's Lleyton Hewitt falls as he returns a ball to US Andy Roddick during their quarter final match on Day 9 at the 2009 Wimbledon tennis championships at the All England Club on July 1, 2009. The event, the third Grand Slam tournament of 2009, runs from June 22 to July 5, 2009. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images