I realize I’m a bit late in mentioning this, but I just can’t believe the trouble Larry Johnson has gotten himself into over his recent ill-advised posts on Twitter. The Kansas City Chiefs’ “star” running back has further burdened the already struggling team, and reduced his fan base to, um, zero.
LJ’s initial tweets indicated his frustrations with Chiefs head coach, Todd Haley and included the following comments:
“My father got more creditentials than most of these pro coaches. … google my father!!!!!!!
My father played for the coach from “remember the titans”. Our coach played golf. My father played for Redskins briefley. Our coach. Nuthn”
WOW, I guess the days of sucking up to your coach are over. A disgruntled fan later replied to this tweet calling out LJ on his lack of productivity saying:
“Interesting comments by Larry Johnson (@toonlcon) about “coaches.” Hey LJ, is it Haley’s fault you fall when D-Linemen blow on you?”
LJ replied to this fan’s comments ever-so-gracefully with a homosexual slur directed at the fan’s twitter avatar photo. Really, LJ?! Social media training anyone? Sure, being 1-6 is a legitimate reason to be frustrated, but one of the most highly used social networking sites is no place for a professional athlete to vent these frustrations, or at least not in this manner.
An athlete’s presence on Twitter can oftentimes make that person more successful off the field, as it’s a great way to gain exposure/publicity, and help fans get to know you as a person, not just an athlete.
However, just as easily as social networking can make an athlete’s career, it can just as easily break it. One bad post and you can lose fans, get slapped with a hefty fine and even lose your job.
LJ’s situation is a prime example of why professional athletes need advising in the social media realm. The use of these sites has become just as important to athletes’ careers as press conferences and appearances. Athletes need to be trained on the do’s and don’ts of social networking to not only build and maintain a solid fan base, but also to protect their brand.
With the right education and proper training, social networking can help promote and build any athlete’s brand. At U/S Sports Advisors, we ensure that our clients understand the proper use of social networking as a tool in brand building, as opposed to the not-so-hot LJ demolition.
Moral of the story: think before you Tweet.
Posted by Luke LaBeau
