Twitter and the NFL

Despite the fact that the organization is now in shambles and the Supreme Court is about to force it to change its name (rightly, I must say), the Washington Redskins have been dear to me since the good old days of John Riggins and Darrel Green.

This week two unpleasant things happened to the team (actually it was more than two—but for the sake of simplicity, let’s keep it there for now).  One, they lost to the previously winless-since-2007 Detroit Lions.  Two, they felt they sting of the Twitter fan attack.

A rookie on the team was upset last week when fans at FedEx Field booed the team despite beating the Rams.  This rookie proceeded to damn the fans for their behavior with this Twitter post: "All you fake half hearted Skins fan can...I won't go there but I dislike you very strongly, don't come to Fed Ex to boo dim wits!!"

The fans went crazy and soon enough the story was picked up by major networks. 

Twitter and football is so interesting because for the first time fans have the opportunity to publically express their celebrations or frustrations with a team or a player.  This is particularly good for Redskins fans who have been deeply frustrated, and rightly so, ever since the team cursed themselves by moving from DC to Landover, Maryland a little over a decade ago.

 Although Twitter doesn’t allow depth or breadth of thought, it does allow for fans to get things off their chests.  This is also true during the political election season, which is very much like the NFL season (I’ll post on that later).

It’s tough to tell whether or not this is really a good thing however.  I, for one, find it fun but a wasteful enterprise, reading all these ranting and ravings.  Surely, there is some value, although I can’t quite point it out yet.  Thoughts?