Hoop Geek: Players in the League go Tweet, Tweet, Tweet

Twitter has arrived in the NBA. Actually, it arrived a while ago. Now it's almost common among NBA players. There have been some hiccups along the way. Charlie Villanueva (info) tweeted during half time of a game. Coach Skiles was not happy about the timing of the tweet release. J.R. Smith and Michael Beasely have both had their accounts shut down because of content. I still don't quite get the deal with JR Smith(story). There must be more to this story than I know about because it seems that all he did was substitute K for C in some tweet and some how that was interpreted as "signaling a gang affiliation" or some such. Mr. Smith has made some poor choices along the way, but I think this Twitter/gang thing was overblown. Anyway, Mr. Smith's tweetin' days are over. Michael Beasely just needed help and let's all hope he's getting it now(story).

What does the Twitter phenomenon mean for the NBA? The upcoming year will be the first year that a lot of NBA players on Twitter. It's obvious from the tweets of some players that they were told to sighn up by other NBA players. Shaq made it cool and now everyone is literally following the Big Tweeter. Holy crap! Did just come up with a new nick name for Shaq? (Quick Google search....No. It's been done). What is it going to be like during the season when the trash talking starts? What's it going to be like when a player is assigned a flagrant foul that they don't think was justified? What about a dirty play by another player or a bad call from a ref? What if some player drunk tweets about a twitpic during a playoff run?

The main stream media is often maligned for the way it chooses to report on events. But one important job the media does is that it protects public figures from themselves (most of the time). It also gives the world a filtered view of what a person is really like. Tiger Woods is revered all over the world, but he can cuss a blue streak when he hits a bad shot. But what he says on the course isn't reported on much in the media. Now, if he did the same thing during a post tournament interview, that would be another story. That would be a story. But golf fans get a filtered view of Mr. Woods and he gets to maintain his clean image in the lucrative world of endorsements. But the filter is breaking down now, even for Mr. Woods. Ten years ago I would have been hard put to get my hands on a video clip of him cursing on live TV. I found the above link in less than 10 seconds.

That's the thing about this brave new world of Twitter, Twitpic and Twitvid. Now, NBA players can say what they want with no filter getting in the way. Everyone carries a mobile phone. It's easy to T9 a few words to your thousands of Twitter followers...instantly. No PR person from the organization says yea or nay. There's no TV guy waiting to drop your statement if you use an F bomb or make any sort of inappropriate remark.

Personally I love it.

I can see what a player says in an unfiltered manner and I (along with thousands of other bloggers) can write my own stories using actual player quotes. I no longer have to be in the locker room to get a quote. I can get that from my lap top while watching League Pass. I think the quotes might be better coming from Twitter anyway. Most of the half time interviews and post game comments are boring beyond belief. I will at some point do a post on the banality of the half time interview.

But let's move on from the possible implications of Twitter and professional sports. What is happening? What do these guys actually talk about?

It's not as exciting as you might think. It is the off-season after all.

The two main things that NBA players Tweet about is working out and eating. By far. That's what these guys do. They go to the gym and shoot jump shots, play in pick up games, lift weights with conditioning coaches and then talk about where they are going to eat and what they are going to eat when they get there (pictures are sometimes provided). These guys work hard. I am sure there's some partying and other stuff going on that they don't Tweet about, but for the most part these guys are very focused on being incredible NBA players. Sure, they drive in nice cars and go home to nice houses, but they don't spend that much time in them even during the off season.

Some players with Twitter accounts do not Tweet much at all. Dirk Nowitzki (info) is rarely Tweets and when he does, half of them are in German. His last Tweet was on September 2nd, "having an excellent time at Basketball without Borders, stay tuned for updates from Africa". Dirk is an international player and has traveled all over the world so, while I'm sure he's glad to be doing what he's doing in South Africa, the novelty of traveling to another country has probably worn off for him by now. His Tweets are a little on the boring side.

But Dirk wasn't the only player from the NBA in South Africa. There were several others and for two in particular, the novelty of traveling has definitely not worn off. Let's look at a conversation that occurred between two NBA All Stars on September 1st of 2009.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you: Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard:

Dwight Howard:Hey world. We jus landed. This Is gonna be funnnnnn. Yuuuaaaaa

So he's excited. Fair enough. It's his first trip to Africa so being a little hype is expected.

Dwight Howard: Guess who met me off the plane. King jaffi and prince Hakeem

For those of you who don't know, Mr. Howard is referring to two characters from the movie Coming to America.

Dwight Howard: Lol http://twitvid.com/5116B

Mr. Howard is having fun with the gadgets. The accents are strange to him. For some reason he keep referring to the gentleman in this video as "Elvis."

Dwight Howard: Yalll this hotel is soooooooo fieeeeeee

I'm not sure what "fieeee...." means but I think it can be assumed that Mr. Howard is impressed by and approves of the accommodations. Next it's on to dinner. From what I can gather, Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard were seated close to each other, but not so close that they could converse without being overheard. Thank goodness they both have PDAs.

Chris Bosh: Eating dinner with @dwighthoward and the rest of the staff at basketball without borders in south africa!!

So the dinner is underway. Things seem to be going well but it appears that Mr. Howard has been seated next to some one who has a gift for the gab. Twenty minutes later Mr. Howard is calling for help....

Dwight Howard: @chrisbosh chris help meeeee. Lol he talkin my ear off. Lol

Now, keep in mind that both players are talking to someone near them while texting away to each other. Mr. Bosh sees that Mr. Howard as been cornered by a conversation ninja, but declines to provide aid.

Chris Bosh: @DwightHoward I'm sorry dude. Can't help you with that one homie

Homie is still in use? Surely not. Perhaps Mr. Bosh is more old school that I realized.

Dwight Howard: (Responds, but this Tweet has been deleted).

I'm pretty sure I know why. I saw this happen live so I know what he wrote, but since he deleted it, I'll leave it out. Anyway, the meal continues...

Chris Bosh: @DwightHoward forgot to ask u. Can u even understand the man to ur right?

Is it a different language or a thick accent? We can only guess.

Dwight Howard: @chrisbosh lol I can't understand nobody but u. Lol

The two people who CAN understand each other aren't talking to each other, they are using Twitter to communicate while thousands of people stateside follow along. Note to the NBA, next time send a copy of Rosetta Stone and a "So You're Going to Travel Abroad" to help NBA Ambassadors....blend in a little better.

Dwight Howard: @chrisbosh this man asked ya boy do he want still water. He said no I want flat. Lol. They the same thang lol hahaha wow.

So Mr. Howard isn't completely out of his element. He knows how to order non-carbonated water. I'm not sure the incredulous "hahaha wow" is warranted... Oh, you want to know what's even more embarrassing than not know what 'still water' is? Read on...

Chris Bosh:@DwightHoward hahaha! U remember that dude that farted at baggage claim earlier? Was that rude? Lol

Yes Chris, it was rude. But not as rude as Twittering about it during dinner. But we'll let it slide this time.

Dwight Howard: @chrisbosh ooops that was me. Lol. I blamed it on that dude lol

I'm shaking my head and thinking of tomorrow's NY Times front page, "South Africa has broken all diplomatic ties with the US after accusations of..."

Chris Bosh: There's nothing I love more than a free meal!

Mr. Bosh just had to take a time out to let everyone know how much he loves the free vittles. Quality is not mentioned, but apparently the price is right. Quick note: Chris Bosh will make $15,799,912 this season. Hey, it's a recession. Finally Mr. Howard's previous Tweet sinks in and Mr. Bosh becomes indignant...

Chris Bosh: @DwightHoward that's messed up man. I really got mad at that guy. Then YOU blamed it on him!

Keep in mind that this incident occurred in baggage claim, so the first wheels off moment on this trip occurred before they'd made it through customs.

Dwight Howard: @chrisbosh I didn't fart lol. I gotta fart now though.

Mr. Howard's credibility is suspect at this point. I also have to wonder if they both realize this conversation is public and that @username is not the same thing as a direct message to @username.

Chris Bosh: @DwightHoward well, do me a favor and tell me so I can get out the way. The airport was bad enough

I'm at a loss for words at this point.

Just to give you some perspective on the spectrum of NBA player Tweets, while Mr. Howard and Mr. Bosh are hard at work on flatulence-gate in South Africa, Chris Paul is announcing the release of his children's book...

Chris Paul: RT @JenniferKeene: Help put Chris Paul's children's book on the NY Times best seller list by pre-ordering a copy of "Long Shot" now.

But back to Africa...

Dwight Howard: @Baron_Davis africa

Apparently Mr. Davis is following along at home and wants to know where all this is going down. I follow Mr. Davis as well but didn't see a Tweet from him asking where they were so I assume he sent a DM to Mr. Howard.

Baron Davis: @chrisbosh how long are yall down there? sounds like you and @dwighthoward are having a bit of an adventure...LOL

You don't say...

Chris Bosh: @dwighthoward I don't know about u but I'm ready to lay it down... Pause

Mr. Bosh is running out of steam. But Mr. Davis suggest that things could just be getting started...

Baron Davis: @DwightHoward Superman in the motherland... you gonna get out and do a safari... I hear Jo'burg is crazy...

Yes indeed Mr. David. And it sounds like it got a little crazier with the arrival of Mr. Howard and Mr. Bosh.

See what I mean? Can you imagine a schmoe like me getting a hold of a conversation like that five years ago? Even two years ago? I could base this entire blog off of Tweets from NBA players. Only for real press could have done that and with the way old media is suffering these days, there may not have been any US press there.

No doubt there will be more Twitter related articles in the future.

NBA Players on Twitter can be found here: HoopsHype link.

Oh, and just in case you don't believe that this actually occurred, here are the links to the Tweets themselves:

http://twitter.com/DwightHoward/statuses/3690409686

http://twitter.com/DwightHoward/statuses/3690443665

http://twitter.com/DwightHoward/statuses/3691083800

http://twitter.com/DwightHoward/statuses/3692737090

http://twitter.com/chrisbosh/statuses/3694259094

http://twitter.com/DwightHoward/statuses/3694644677

http://twitter.com/chrisbosh/statuses/3694735722

http://twitter.com/DwightHoward/statuses/3694766397

http://twitter.com/chrisbosh/statuses/3694902258