Professional Athletes Now Tweeting During Games

By Ben Haber

March 16th, 2009

In what is considered a professional sports first, Milwaukee Bucks forward (and Uconn Alum) Charlie Villanueva posted a message on Twitter during halftime of his game against the Celtics on Sunday:

In da locker room, snuck to post with my twitt. We’re playing the Celtics, tie ball game at da half. Coach wants more toughness. I gotta step up.

With professional athletes seemingly taking up Twitter with open arms, the micro-social networking site has begun to change the fan’s method of obtaining information on their favorite sports teams.  Instead of watching Sunday’s basketball and having a sideline reporter tell viewers what went on during the Milwaukee’s halftime meeting, players can alert fans themselves, telling them exactly what is happening while it’s happening.

Senators have also begun using Twitter as a tool to connect with their constituents and tell them what they are doing, what decisions they are making, and what votes are coming up.  Again, this communication cuts out the reporter and providers the reader/viewer with the information they are looking for directly, instead of through a third party.

This new model of information obviously has advantages and disadvantages, but the opportunity it creates is certainly valuable.  However, it’s important not to eliminate the media, which can often provide us with investigative reporting and bring our attention to the bad news that could otherwise be brushed under the carpet.

What’s your take on the current media model? Are we moving to a Twitter-run world?

Entry Filed under: Twitter