Press Row

More and more athletes are getting on Twitter these days. While some people aren’t exactly sure how Twitter benefits anyone, it’s a great medium for athletes and teams to engage with fans in new ways. How else could regular every-day fans talk to Lance Armstrong about where he buys his coffee?

I know some of you are thinking, “Why would I care about where Lance Armstrong gets coffee?” True, not everyone really gives a darn about what everyone’s doing or thinking at a particular time (like this hilarious video illustrates). But, don’t get wrapped up in the individual tweets and thoughts of everyone; instead, think of it like a virtual “club”. You can pick up a conversation or idea that’s interesting to you, or share a thought that you think others might enjoy.

In that same vein, it’s a chance to share those ideas and converse with people that you might not ever meet or talk to regularly. Maybe you’re actually looking for a good new coffee place in LA; hey, if Lance Armstrong likes it, maybe it’s worth a shot. I hear he’s in pretty good shape.

Anyway, as a sports fan on Twitter, I thought it might be interesting to take a survey of who all is actually on Twitter and how they use it. Some athletes and personalities run successful and interesting Twitter feeds that are fun to follow.  On that note, we took a stab at creating a sports Twitter database that we’ll update once athletes, coaches, or other sports personalities find their way onto the social network.  You can also access it above, from the Twitter Sports Database tab.

Eventually—much like the Internet itself—I have a feeling that the teams and sports leagues will want to get in on the act as well. Some have more than others, with varying results. To gauge how the major pro sports are doing in the new media department, over the next few days, we’ll be posting New Media Overviews of the four major sports, their teams and their athletes. We’ll discuss their progress in various categories and discuss the innovative new ways they’re engaging with fans—and how they can improve.

So, stay tuned, and make sure to visit Press Row throughout the week for our New Media Review’s.

(are you on Twitter? Feel free to follow me, @rockatalic.)

Share on Facebook