Individuals, Organizations To Use Twitter At This Week's Masters

Cink Has Been Updating Twitter Page From Augusta But Won't Tweet During Competition

DIRECT CONNECT: In Sacramento, Melody Gutierrez wrote, "Many experts agree that Twitter ... has become a brilliant way for athletes to connect directly with their fans in a way never afforded before." It is "that link that has many sports organizations pushing their athletes toward these sites, all the while keeping a watchful eye on what information is being made public." NBA Kings F Jason Thompson is "one of the Kings' most active users," while F Francisco Garcia is "doing updates in Spanish." Kings C Spencer Hawes "uses a recently launched site called MogoTXT, which features athletes and celebrities and sends mobile alerts directly to fans." Kings VP/Business Communications Mitch Germann: "Twitter is a great marketing tool for the organization. The closer fans feel to the players, the more likely they will come to games to follow them." Germann said that the organization "monitors what its athletes are posting and they have parameters as to what is acceptable." Germann added, "We want to monitor Twitter as a customer service tool as well. If someone Twitters that the people in front of them (at a game) are too loud, we can use that to respond on the spot. We can send an usher down" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 4/5).

TREND TWITTERS: The Suns have partnered with Octagon Digital to create "Suns Twackle," a portion within the club's official Web site that will use Octagon's new Twitter-based engine to collate every Suns-related post on the social networking platform. Numerous members of the Suns organization post on Twitter, including C Shaquille O'Neal and coach Alvin Gentry. The Suns are the first pro team to incorporate Twackle into their official online presence (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal). Meanwhile, the Bobcats will hold a "tweetup" during tonight's game against the 76ers (THE DAILY).

TWEETY BIRDS: The PHILADELPHIA BUSINESS JOURNAL's Peter Key reports there are "more than 1,500 people who have signed up as followers of the Flyers' Twitter page." Comcast-Spectacor also has Twitter pages for the other two teams it owns, the 76ers and the NLL Philadelphia Wings, and for its entertainment complex in South Philadelphia. Comcast-Spectacor VP/Technology Solutions Mark DiMaurizio said, "We're dipping our toe in pretty much all the social networking sites" (PHILADELPHIA BUSINESS JOURNAL, 4/3 issue).

NOT EVERYONE CONVERTED YET: Phillies P Chad Durbin said of following the path of several NBA players, including O'Neal and Bucks F Charlie Villanueva, and getting on Twitter during games, "Not a chance in hell, no." Durbin: "My wife gives me a hard time about even having a Twitter account" ("ESPN First Take," ESPN2, 4/6).

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