Mark Cuban spoke to a Dallas radio station recently, and among a litany of topics, discussed Twitter, and the way he handles it among his players. From Sports Radio Interviews:
Mark Cuban Speaks on Twitter
"If I see someone twittering, I’m just going to look them in their eye. I don’t have to say a word because it’s like where is your attention going? I don’t mind if guys twitter. They want to build their brand and I like that they can connect with the fans. I think that’s a good thing. My two things that I’ll tell the guys is team business is team business. What happens in the locker room stays in the locker room and if you violate that I’m going to fine your butt. Number two is never vent. That’s where you get in trouble. The guys who have gotten in trouble so far have tried to get things of their chest. The reality is saying it on twitter is just like saying it on ESPN Radio. It’s no different. It lives forever."
His final point is one that’s lost on far too many players (and Twitter users, in general). What feels like a safe, innocuous medium is in fact a matter of public record. Say something stupid, inappropriate, or critical, and it’s likely that more than just your close friends are going to see it. It’s an aspect of social media that’s intuitive to some, but for many more, is learned only through the pain of public embarrassment or professional setbacks.
Hopefully Mavs players—and other star athletes, musicians, budding politicians, and public figures everywhere—will take Cuban’s words to heart.
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