Earlier this week Detroit Pistons player Charlie Villanueva sent out a tweet saying “KG [Kevin Garnett] called me a cancer patient, I’m pissed because, u know how many people died from cancer, and he’s tossing it like it’s a joke.” This tweet set off a PR backlash against Garnett and now the Boston Celtics are trying to do some crowd control. Boston Celtics coach and former NBA player Doc Rivers referred to the time that Larry Bird talked a lot of trash to him and said that it should just stay on the court.

Charlie Villanueva plays basketball for the Milwaukee Bucks and he has something in common with fellow NBA player Shaquille O’Neal.  Both him and Shaq are utterly obsessed with Twitter.  Milwaukee Bucks coach Scott Skiles has a problem with Villanueva’s Twitter addiction.

During a critical game Villanueva was caught sending out tweets from his mobile phone during half-time against the Boston Celtics this past Sunday.

“We made a point to Charlie and the team that it’s nothing we ever want to happen again,” stated Skiles after practice on Tuesday. “You know, [we] don’t want to blow it out of proportion. But anything that gives the impression that we’re not serious and focused at all times is not the correct way we want to go about our business.”

Villanueva’s username on Twitter is CV31, which stands for his initials and jersey number.  Villanueva’s latest tweet is a link to a picture of his 2004 championship ring using Twitpic.

“In da locker room, snuck to post my twitt. We’re playing the Celtics, tie ball game at da half. Coach wants more toughness. I gotta step up,” tweeted Villanueva during the half.  He did step it up and made 19 points by the second half and helped win the game.

“The halftime twitt actually motivated me,” added Villanueva in another tweet. “That’s why I did it, plus of course to keep you guys in the loop of some live action.”

Skiles is a former basketball player himself.  He played up until about 1996.

[via ESPN]