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Twitter Scores With Jocks, Fans
Site has drawbacks but allows fans to spy and athletes to vent
By Wesley Oliver
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Posted Jun 7, 09 12:00 PM CDT
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(Newser)
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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.”