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Twitter Scores With Jocks, Fans

Site has drawbacks but allows fans to spy and athletes to vent

By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 7, 2009 12:00 PM CDT

(Newser) – Sports fans may not have their favorite athletes on speed dial, but they do have the next best thing: Twitter, Sports Illustrated reports. Fans are obsessed with the microblogging site, which allows them to keep up on the errands, eating habits, and allergy medication needs of players. Laid-back Atlanta golfer Stewart Clink, who has 280,000 Twitter followers, says he's “grateful” people “listen to the BS I’ve put on Twitter.”

The benefits are reciprocal: Fans feel like winners by digital association with winners, and jocks receive no-fuss contact with them. But risks remain. Just ask the tweeting NBA player whose followers urged him to try a nail salon—where TMZ caught him getting a manicure. Still, Twitter’s popularity in sports likely won’t abate with gems like this from Shaquille O’Neal: “Dam manny ramirez, come on man Agggggggggh, agggggggh, agggggh.”

Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal Tweeets during the half-time of games.
Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal Tweeets during the half-time of games.   (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
A sports reporter learns of the New England Patriots first choice in the 2009 NFL Draft.
A sports reporter learns of the New England Patriots first choice in the 2009 NFL Draft.   (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal Tweeets during game half-times.
Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal Tweeets during game half-times.   (AP Photo/Thearon W. Henderson)
Colin Montgomerie of Scotland uses his cell phone during a practice round on the North Course at the Olympia Fields Country Club, Olympia Fields, Illinois.
Colin Montgomerie of Scotland uses his cell phone during a practice round on the North Course at the Olympia Fields Country Club, Olympia Fields, Illinois.   (Getty Images)
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In this world we live in now, everybody becomes media. If something is going to be said, hey, it's coming from me, it's coming from my phone. - Shaquille O'Neal, who has more than a million followers

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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
kokuaguy
Jun 8, 2009 12:37 PM CDT
So, did you hear that YouTube, twitter, & facebook are going to merge? The new platform will be know as YouTWITface. blame Conan not me !!!
RobN
Jun 8, 2009 1:19 AM CDT
Actually it's Stewart Cink.

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