Golf writer Garry Smits tells his side of the John Daly plea for his Tweet followers to hammer Smits' voice mail. Smits made public Daly's very large book of PGA Tour sorryness and John was none too happy about it...

Within an hour after John posted my cell number, I received about 30 calls. The next day the total had grown to more than 100. Most were hang-ups, some had a few choice words, and one threatened my family. With the exception of the threatening call, no single response was different from what any sportswriter hears after writing a controversial story or column.

At first I was mostly amused and then a bit annoyed when the call count surpassed my usual golf score. But my main concern was the precedent. Are athletes now going to use social media as a form of retaliation? Daly posted my office cell number — in reality, no big deal. But many athletes have reporters' home numbers. Will that be the next line crossed? I would not have wanted my daughter to hear some of what her father heard. I can take it, but my child or my wife shouldn't have to.

Rick Arnett