Comments on: These Athletes Should Be on Twitter http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2009/09/17/these-athletes-should-be-on-twitter/ Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:04:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Sam http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2009/09/17/these-athletes-should-be-on-twitter/comment-page-1/#comment-3022 Sam Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:23:30 +0000 http://www.sportsnetworker.com/?p=1155#comment-3022 Lewis, how could I forget The Big Witness? He's the man but he's fallen off a bit in the offseason. Looking forward to when he really gets it going again once the NBA season starts! Lewis, how could I forget The Big Witness? He’s the man but he’s fallen off a bit in the offseason. Looking forward to when he really gets it going again once the NBA season starts!

]]> By: Lewis Howes http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2009/09/17/these-athletes-should-be-on-twitter/comment-page-1/#comment-3021 Lewis Howes Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:20:47 +0000 http://www.sportsnetworker.com/?p=1155#comment-3021 I have to agree with Sam saying that Kerry Rhodes is really good at getting back to people who comment him on Twitter... and it makes the fans enjoy watching him even more on Sundays. I think OchoCinco is good on Twitter also because of all the ustream shows he is doing, and the way he is trying to engage them during the games... I don't know if he has the same powerful brand as Shaq on Twitter yet (not as many followers yet at least) but he has his own thing going on, and is building massive attention to him. I have to agree with Sam saying that Kerry Rhodes is really good at getting back to people who comment him on Twitter… and it makes the fans enjoy watching him even more on Sundays.

I think OchoCinco is good on Twitter also because of all the ustream shows he is doing, and the way he is trying to engage them during the games… I don’t know if he has the same powerful brand as Shaq on Twitter yet (not as many followers yet at least) but he has his own thing going on, and is building massive attention to him.

]]> By: Sam http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2009/09/17/these-athletes-should-be-on-twitter/comment-page-1/#comment-3020 Sam Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:15:16 +0000 http://www.sportsnetworker.com/?p=1155#comment-3020 Russell, I agree. Those three would have an enormous impact for the NFL. They have huge draws in and out of their own markets and need to be on Twitter. Good call. Joslin, can you confirm the MJ account is real? It's not verified and updated infrequently. If it is real, you're right, he needs some help! (MJ, call me!) Gail, I respectfully disagree! I think Brett's image has definitely been tarnished, not just in the eyes of GB fans, but also NY Jets fans! You're right that he's started to embrace his "flip flopper" image, but I think he was definitely more liked before his first retirement. Ryan, thank you for your thoughts. I think you've got some very valid opinions and appreciate the time you put in to making your comments. So thanks! As for which athlete uses Twitter the best, it has to be OchoCinco (http://twitter.com/ogochocinco). He's unreal. Creative, interacts with fans, and hilarious... But I also have to mention my man Kerry Rhodes (http://twitter.com/kerryrhodes). He's probably the best at getting back to nearly every fan who @replies him. Russell, I agree. Those three would have an enormous impact for the NFL. They have huge draws in and out of their own markets and need to be on Twitter. Good call.

Joslin, can you confirm the MJ account is real? It’s not verified and updated infrequently. If it is real, you’re right, he needs some help! (MJ, call me!)

Gail, I respectfully disagree! I think Brett’s image has definitely been tarnished, not just in the eyes of GB fans, but also NY Jets fans! You’re right that he’s started to embrace his “flip flopper” image, but I think he was definitely more liked before his first retirement.

Ryan, thank you for your thoughts. I think you’ve got some very valid opinions and appreciate the time you put in to making your comments. So thanks! As for which athlete uses Twitter the best, it has to be OchoCinco (http://twitter.com/ogochocinco). He’s unreal. Creative, interacts with fans, and hilarious… But I also have to mention my man Kerry Rhodes (http://twitter.com/kerryrhodes). He’s probably the best at getting back to nearly every fan who @replies him.

]]> By: Ryan Dupuie http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2009/09/17/these-athletes-should-be-on-twitter/comment-page-1/#comment-3016 Ryan Dupuie Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:54:53 +0000 http://www.sportsnetworker.com/?p=1155#comment-3016 @Sam You bring up an interesting take on how important Twitter is and can be to professional athletes. I agree with you that “Twitter serves as a channel where athletes can show off their personality, the side the public does not normally get to see.” Many fans and media outlets look to Twitter to see what athletes (and sometimes coaches) have to say about their personal lives and their take on things that you won’t normally hear in other traditional media forms. You mention a few athletes that you think should use Twitter, and here are my comments on each: Michael Vick – I agree with you here. Michael has been trying so hard to prove to everyone that he is a changed man and I think his proactive efforts in the community go overlooked. Michael should be tweeting all the good deeds he’s been doing and maybe posting links to local news coverage of them, because it seems as though the mass media outlets don’t really care. Barry Bonds (and others accused of using steroids) – Barry is out of the league and out of people’s minds when they think of baseball now. I don’t think anyone would really care to follow him on Twitter (unless they were diehard fans of him), so I don’t think it’s crucial he tweets. However, for the other players, if they wanted to use Twitter as a way to explain themselves they would have to be very careful as to what they say to avoid backlash. Brett Favre – Brett used to be my favorite NFL player, until he couldn’t make up his mind and ruined the tradition of “sticking with your team ‘til the end.” I think Brett’s actions speak louder than anything he could ever say on Twitter, so I don’t think tweeting would be the best way to change opinions. Concentrating on taking the Vikings deep in the playoffs would be the best option for him. (And just a side note: Brett is the Wrangler jeans guy, not Levi’s) Lebron James – You would think Lebron would be all over Twitter, wouldn’t you? He is one of the most exciting athletes to watch and he could definitely utilize Twitter to connect closer with his fans and admirers (he has millions). Sam, although we disagree on some and agree on others, I think your emphasis is clear and many athletes and coaches should consider utilizing Twitter, because it can benefit their image immensely. However, I do think they have to be careful at what they say and how they use Twitter because sending the wrong message and trying to explain themselves in a 140 character tweet might not save them. I’m interested to see your opinion: which athlete do you think uses Twitter the best? @Sam
You bring up an interesting take on how important Twitter is and can be to professional athletes. I agree with you that “Twitter serves as a channel where athletes can show off their personality, the side the public does not normally get to see.” Many fans and media outlets look to Twitter to see what athletes (and sometimes coaches) have to say about their personal lives and their take on things that you won’t normally hear in other traditional media forms. You mention a few athletes that you think should use Twitter, and here are my comments on each:

Michael Vick –
I agree with you here. Michael has been trying so hard to prove to everyone that he is a changed man and I think his proactive efforts in the community go overlooked. Michael should be tweeting all the good deeds he’s been doing and maybe posting links to local news coverage of them, because it seems as though the mass media outlets don’t really care.

Barry Bonds (and others accused of using steroids) –
Barry is out of the league and out of people’s minds when they think of baseball now. I don’t think anyone would really care to follow him on Twitter (unless they were diehard fans of him), so I don’t think it’s crucial he tweets. However, for the other players, if they wanted to use Twitter as a way to explain themselves they would have to be very careful as to what they say to avoid backlash.

Brett Favre –
Brett used to be my favorite NFL player, until he couldn’t make up his mind and ruined the tradition of “sticking with your team ‘til the end.” I think Brett’s actions speak louder than anything he could ever say on Twitter, so I don’t think tweeting would be the best way to change opinions. Concentrating on taking the Vikings deep in the playoffs would be the best option for him. (And just a side note: Brett is the Wrangler jeans guy, not Levi’s)

Lebron James –
You would think Lebron would be all over Twitter, wouldn’t you? He is one of the most exciting athletes to watch and he could definitely utilize Twitter to connect closer with his fans and admirers (he has millions).

Sam, although we disagree on some and agree on others, I think your emphasis is clear and many athletes and coaches should consider utilizing Twitter, because it can benefit their image immensely. However, I do think they have to be careful at what they say and how they use Twitter because sending the wrong message and trying to explain themselves in a 140 character tweet might not save them. I’m interested to see your opinion: which athlete do you think uses Twitter the best?

]]> By: Gail Sideman http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2009/09/17/these-athletes-should-be-on-twitter/comment-page-1/#comment-2992 Gail Sideman Sat, 19 Sep 2009 23:25:04 +0000 http://www.sportsnetworker.com/?p=1155#comment-2992 Brett Favre would be entertaining, but I really don't believe he thinks his image needs repair. If you listen to his press conferences when he joined both the Jets and the Vikings, he told Packers fans that they had nothing to be mad at him about. His indecision has only increased his marketability (see new Sears commercial). I would love to see him on Twitter, but you won't sell him by saying he needs it to improve his image. Brett Favre would be entertaining, but I really don’t believe he thinks his image needs repair. If you listen to his press conferences when he joined both the Jets and the Vikings, he told Packers fans that they had nothing to be mad at him about. His indecision has only increased his marketability (see new Sears commercial). I would love to see him on Twitter, but you won’t sell him by saying he needs it to improve his image.

]]> By: Joslin Green http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2009/09/17/these-athletes-should-be-on-twitter/comment-page-1/#comment-2987 Joslin Green Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:12:18 +0000 http://www.sportsnetworker.com/?p=1155#comment-2987 Michael Jordan (@michaeljordan) is on Twitter but could definitely use some assistance in generating more interesting tweets. Lebron was on earlier this year but seems to have disappeared. Vick definitely should be on and agree with Russell's top three NFL picks. Michael Jordan (@michaeljordan) is on Twitter but could definitely use some assistance in generating more interesting tweets. Lebron was on earlier this year but seems to have disappeared. Vick definitely should be on and agree with Russell’s top three NFL picks.

]]> By: Russell Scibetti http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2009/09/17/these-athletes-should-be-on-twitter/comment-page-1/#comment-2985 Russell Scibetti Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:24:07 +0000 http://www.sportsnetworker.com/?p=1155#comment-2985 Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Adrian Peterson (there is an AP account, but its bare). They are the NFL's most marketable athletes, and the NFL should try to replicate the marketing success that NBA athletes have had on Twitter. These three would definitely have the largest impact. Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Adrian Peterson (there is an AP account, but its bare). They are the NFL’s most marketable athletes, and the NFL should try to replicate the marketing success that NBA athletes have had on Twitter. These three would definitely have the largest impact.

]]> By: Brad Williamson - The Virtual Biographer™ http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2009/09/17/these-athletes-should-be-on-twitter/comment-page-1/#comment-2983 Brad Williamson - The Virtual Biographer™ Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:21:57 +0000 http://www.sportsnetworker.com/?p=1155#comment-2983 Josh Hamilton needs to have a full-on Virtual Biography. I know he made an oopsie earlier in the year, but he's trying to spread positive messages to people throughout the country, and what better way is there to do that than through the social strengths of the Web? Anyone got his number? I need to have a talk with the dude ;-) Josh Hamilton needs to have a full-on Virtual Biography. I know he made an oopsie earlier in the year, but he’s trying to spread positive messages to people throughout the country, and what better way is there to do that than through the social strengths of the Web?

Anyone got his number? I need to have a talk with the dude ;-)

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