Athletes and Twitter

MLB Team Using Twitter in an Interesting Way….

mjl07001 — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 20:17:07 +0000

Interesting use of social media by the Atlanta Braves… they sent this tweet out today before the team’s home game vs the Houston Astros tonight.

“OK…who’s ready 4 some free tix? There will be a pair of tickets left @ will call under the name of Twitter. Tweet photo when ur here.”

I guess they’re desperate for fans?

ESPN to Use Twitter During World Cup Coverage

mjl07001 — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 19:52:50 +0000

Sports media powerhouse ESPN, has decided to take its coverage of sports even further. The World Wide Leader in Sports will now use social media, including Twitter, during the network’s coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The company plans to “tweet” about its coverage and the different aspects it will be showing during the event. ESPN hopes it’s Twitter traffic will help double its television, online, and radio coverage of the month-long soccer tournament. Social media has become a major player in society, and even large corporations such as ESPN is making it a point to use the sites, such as Twitter, to their advantage.

“There will be so much more media consumed, used and published in 2010 than in 2006. Social media can bring fans closer together and give fans more opportunity to communicate with each other,” said Matt Stone, who is the head of new media for world soccer’s governing body FIFA.

Steeler Fans Using Twitter to Lash Out at Ben Roethlisberger

mjl07001 — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:19:22 +0000

Pittsburgh Steelers’ Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been in the news a lot over the last month for allegations against him that he sexually assaulted a female in Georgia, back in March. Steeler fans are not very happy with their prize player, and have made it known through social media how much they hate their star quarterback.

Fans have used Twitter as a place to speak their words on Roethlisberger and how they feel about him and the issues he has caused.

“I’d rather have Dennis Dixon at QB and win 2 games all season then have Big Ben on the team and win a Super Bowl,” said one fan on Twitter.

Roethlisberger, who has a Twitter account, has not responded to the remarks made by fans on the popular social media site. His reputation is hurting, and he needs to do something before he is hated by his hometown fans forever.

USF’s Holtz Latest to Use Twitter As a Tool

mjl07001 — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 19:13:39 +0000

More and more athletes and coaches are using Twitter to stay connected to fans. University of South Florida Head Football Coach, Skip Holtz, is the latest to join Twitter. He is doing it because of the advice he was given by Social Media Experts.

According to TampaBayOnline.com, South Florida sports information director Chris Freet, a social media buff, is working with Holtz on his Twitter skills. Freet recently contacted former Tampa resident Amanda Miller, part of the team at Digital Royalty in Arizona that works with Shaq and White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen on their social media outlets.

“She had lots of ideas, but in respect to Twitter, it was back to the basics by going back to one-on-one connections through Twitter,” Freet said. “She said, teach Skip how to use that @Reply function and answer questions and respond to comments directly.”

Holtz, who can be followed at @CoachHoltz, met with USF officials Monday to get more involved in social media. He plans to start a scheduled chat with fans soon. Holtz has some work to do to catch up with Shaq. As of Wednesday, Holtz had 3,351 Twitter followers.

Jeremy Shockey Announces Book Release via Twitter

mjl07001 — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 03:05:08 +0000

New Orleans Saints’ tightend Jeremy Shockey made news on Monday, as he announced the release of his autobiography. In the tweet he said the title will be, “SINNER TO SAINT.”

In the tweet he describes the book as “everyone will read the truth and understand a blue collar.”

His tweet about the book garnered alot of traffic on twitter. Fans in New Orleans, as well as in his old town of New York City, seemed excited about the book. One New York fan tweeted, “SHOCKEY’s book is going to be awesome, just to be my Giants didn’t keep the SHOCK!” Many fans re-tweeted Shockey’s tweet, creating a social media buzz.

John Calipari aka Mr. Social Media

mjl07001 — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 04:54:48 +0000

Kentucky head basketball coach John Calipari is a man of many things. He’s a man who loves to coach, loves to be with his family, and apparently loves social media. Calipari has 1,113,647 followers on Twitter, 138,325 fans on Facebook, and his Coach Cal application for the iPhone and iPod touch sold more than 6,000 applications in its first month, making it the top paid sports application on iTunes less than a week after its debut last month. Coach Cal is becoming a household name not only in college basketball but in social media as well.

Calipari, who was first encouraged by Indiana Coach Tom Crean to become active on Twitter, says social networking helps him connect with Kentucky fans, who are famously rabid.

“If you’re not doing it, you’re behind,” said Calipari.

It is even more amazing considering that the 51-year-old Calipari does not use a computer and struggles to type on his Blackberry. He is helped in his technological adventures by Dave Scott, who moved to Lexington from the Boston area when Calipari was hired in April.

During the season, Scott often spends 18 hours a day on Calipari’s Web site and overseeing his Facebook page. He also assists with Calipari’s Twitter feed along with DeWayne Peevy, Kentucky’s associate athletic director of media relations.

Courtesy of The New York Times

Florida Newspaper Tweets from Proday at the University of Florida

mjl07001 — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:41:42 +0000

Proday has become a huge event on college campuses over the last few years. For those who don’t know what pro day is, its a workout colleges put on where football players from that school who have hopes of one day playing in the NFL, work out in front of pro scouts, coaches, general managers, and owners.

Probably one of the biggest prodays this year was today at the University of Florida in Gainsville. With the likes of Tim Tebow, Joe Haden, Aaron Hernandez, Carlos Dunlap, and Brandon Spikes all competing, a massive crowd of media and NFL staffs were on hand.

The Palm Beach Post updated their followers on the day’s events through twitter. It’s a great idea and was widely popular. Here are some of writer Ben Volin’s tweets:

– The first and hardest step of covering #proday is complete: waking up. On my way to the stadium.

– Inside ben hill griffin, rainy day. Nothing but orange cones on field right now, couple hundred fans here. Tried to spell rainy with an e.

– On this list of athletes set to work: former UF punter Eric Wilbur, who graduated two years ago. And walk-on RB Chris Scott.

– Complete list of participants: Markihe Anderson, Riley Cooper, Jermaine Cunningham, Dustin Doe, Carlos Dunlap, Troy Epps, Joe Haden, Aaron Hernandez, Brandon James, David Nelson, Wondy Pierre-Louis, Maurkice Pouncey, Brandon Spikes, Ryan Stamper, Major Wright, and some guy named Tebow. Rain seems to have stopped momentarily leaving a beautiful gray gainesville sky.

– Ahmad Black just came onto the field in street clothes, he obviously wants a front row view of this awesome event.

– Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is in the building. So is Percy Harvin. Most of the players now on the field.

– Former UF defensive coordinator Charlie Strong is in the house. Stamper is rocking an impressive beard, rick ross style.

– Joe Haden first to do anything, just ran the 40 presumably though I couldn’t see. Still no sign of tebow.

– Everyones running the 40 now, no word on times yet. There appear to be athletes running who weren’t on the list provided to us, awesome.

– Brandon Spikes just ran the 40, which he did not do at the combine. I’ll post a time as soon as I get one hopefully.

– ESPN’s Todd McShay is in the building. Told us some unofficial times: Haden ran 4.44, spikes ran 5 flat! And Hernandez 4.61.

– The 40 yrd dash is like throwing someone batting practice and measuring how far their longest HR is, then saying that’s their power.

– Wondy Pierre-Louis ran a 4.47 and Spikes second run goes for 5.05. This is terrible for Spikes. All times courtesy of McShay.

– #proday seems to be at a standstill now. Joe Haden is signing some autographs. Talked to a UF rep., said Tebow should be out any minute.

– 11:40 a.m.: We have an Urban Meyer sighting. He’s out on the field making his rounds.

– Carlos Dunlap has been working with a Carolina Panthers coach one on one for the last 15 min.

– Much to everyone’s delight, tim tebow is finally on the field.

– Meyer, Strong and Harvin are chatting it up while watching the defensive backs. Phone might die soon… Gonna try to conserve battery.

– Tebow working some footwork drills, keeping the ball high and delivering to a stationary receiver.

– Tebow hits cooper, hernandez and nelson on deep balls. Delivery looks far from groundbreaking, but what do I know.

– He’s keeping the ball high, dipped once or twice on roll outs. He’s only missed 1 throw, to be fair, not hardest throws to make.

– John Fox, Eric Mangini and Mike Holmgren are all in attendance.

– John Fox goes bracketology on Tebow’s draft stock, “you got to look at his whole body of work.”

– Haden said the team he has had the most contact with is the Browns. Makes sense that Holmgren and Mangini are here today. Haden also had a meeting with the 49ers today.

– Dunlap’s 1-on-1 with the Carolina Panthers’ D-line coach went 30 minutes, and the coach said he liked what he saw.

John Daly Uses Twitter to Attack Reporter

mjl07001 — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:43:11 +0000

John Daly is a character, and he lived up to his billing last week when he attacked a golf writer who was criticizing him. Florida Times-Union’s Golf Writer Garry Smits wrote about the PGA Tour’s internal discipline against Daly. The much troubled golfer has been suspended five times and been put on probation six times in his 18-year pro career. Daly, upset with the coverage, criticized the reporter through Twitter, posting the reporter’s cellphone number twice and urging fans to harass him.

After receiving calls from the paper, a lawyer, and the PGA, Daly wisely took down the tweets with the reporter’s number in them.

Social Media has a variety of uses and John Daly may have just created another one.

Professional Athletes Supporting USA Hockey During Olympics

mjl07001 — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:27:35 +0000

While Reggie Bush and Larry Fitzgerald are big time athletes here in America, and play the most popular sport in the country, football, these two super stars were the ones watching and cheering on Sunday. The USA Olympic Hockey team lost to Canada in the Gold Medal Game, but that didn’t stop the Bush or Fitzgerald from showing national pride via Twitter.

During the game Reggie Bush tweeted, “USA USA USA USA USA USA!!!!!!!!!!!” Then followed it up with, “I hope everyone understands just how big this is! Take it in! This is for our country!!!”

After the USA lost, Bush made it known he was still proud of the American players. “Dang! Those guys have nothing to hang their heads about! They gave a great effort! Good job boys!”

Fitzgerald was just as supporting in the tweets he was sending out during the game. “Gut check time for Team USA…Miracle On Ice Part 2…GO MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!!”

After the loss, he tweeted, “they played extremely hard…I dont watch hockey too much but that game was very exciting.”

Even America’s major athletes took part in watching what was a great showing from the USA Olympic Hockey Team. This proves further more that the Olympics brings out a sense of national pride…even from celebrities as big as Bush and Fitzgerald.

Olympic Hero Apollo Ohno Holds Twitter Q&A

mjl07001 — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:03:13 +0000

Short-track legend Apolo Ohno held an impromptu Q&A on his Twitter account on Monday. He talked about everything from his obsessive yawning before races to his hidden talents on the poker table. He gave insight into the life of an Olympian. Here are a few of the questions and answers:

@PolkaPenguin (Leesa): Do you get nervous before you race?..and if so, what do you do 2 calm down?
@ApoloOhno: Nancy-yes I get nervous. I embrace it! It’s natural-although these Olympics I’ve been very relaxed. More anxious!

@sandiamaral: to settle a friendly debate over a commercial, my bro in law wants to know if u eat mcdonalds during ur training/games?
@ApoloOhno: I’ve had no such thing here at the Olympic games. Post 500m race in Torino (2006) we all had brkfst there..

@whoastephs (Stephanie Youssef): what size shoes are you?
@ApoloOhno: Stephanie- I’m a size 9..running shoe. if you did not know- I’m a shoe freak so depending on the designer…8.0-8.5

@micahsussman (Micah Sussman): what kind of cross training do you do for speed skating or do you just lift and skate?
@ApoloOhno: micah-we do tons of cross training. Weights, running, biking, jumps, hiking, etc.You name it! Short track is tuff