Lookie, Nick used a graphic smilie.
Mr. "I'm Old School and Fuck Y'all" has a tendency to still use the multiple chin punctuation smiles that were popular "back in the day." The number of parentheses (chins) on the smilie indicated the intesisty of the humor.
The above was offered as explanation for novice webmasters that I *know* are reading this board and muttering "what the hell is *that*?" a lot.