MLB Playoffs on “The Wall”

Back in early September, no baseball fan anywhere would have predicted that both the Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves would need to win their final games of the season in order to make the playoffs. After all, the Red Sox held a commanding nine game lead in the American League wild card standings over their division rival Tampa Bay Rays, while the Braves held a similar eight and a half game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals. But after suffering unthinkable September swoons, the Sox and Braves headed into the final game of the season tied with the Rays and Cards respectively, and in jeopardy of owning the two worst collapses in baseball history. The ensuing action resulted in arguably the greatest night of baseball ever played. Despite leading most of the game, Boston succumbed to a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles after Baltimore staged a dramatic comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning. Mere minutes after walking off the field at Camden Yards, the Sox learned that the Rays overcame a seemingly insurmountable seven run deficit against the New York Yankees in extraordinary fashion with a walk-off home run in extra innings. Meanwhile, the Braves battled with the heavily favored Philadelphia Phillies into extra innings before falling 4-3 in the thirteenth frame, thus surrendering their wild card berth to St. Louis.

Will baseball’s postseason (which begins tonight) provide fans with as much drama and excitement as the conclusion of its regular season did? The answer to this question is as unpredictable as the historic collapses of the Sox and Braves. But no matter what happens as baseball’s eight best teams battle for supremacy over the next month, you will be able to follow all of the action in more ways than ever before through “The Wall,” a brand new blog on www.mlb.com. “The Wall” features daily blog reports, pictures and poll questions detailing all of the action leading up to the Fall Classic. Additionally, “The Wall” provides fans with up-to-the-minute Twitter updates from the @MLB Twitter account, as well as a link to the MLB Facebook page, which connects baseball fans all over the globe. Are you interested in following the MLB playoffs through social media? Let Social Mavens help you experience by joining the millions of people on Twitter and Facebook worldwide and enhance your enjoyment of the Fall Classic today.

Social Media & NBA Players

Usually around this time of year, basketball fans nationwide are filled with anticipation as their favorite NBA teams gather for training camp and prepare for the upcoming season. This year is much different, however, as fans are instead anticipating the season being canceled entirely. Due to an impending lockout following the expiration of the league’s collective bargaining agreement, all NBA activity has been brought to a complete halt. And even after extensive labor negotiations between the league’s Players’ Association and team owners, neither side is budging, and no progress has been made. With the upcoming season in serious jeopardy, several NBA players are considering other options. More than 50 NBA players have signed or are in the process of signing contracts with basketball teams overseas, and over 100 others have publicly shown interest in the idea of playing abroad. Additionally, at least 60 NBA players have made plans to form an alternate league of NBA players in Las Vegas.

Although NBA activity has been permanently suspended until further notice, social media activity surrounding the NBA and its players remain rampant. Amid the ongoing lockout, several players have resorted to Twitter as a way of reaching out to fans and keeping them updated. Some have used Twitter in order to announce their plans to play overseas or in Las Vegas. Others have utilized Twitter as a venue to thank fans for their patience and to state their intentions to proceed with their offseason training regime with the expectation of the season beginning on time. Perhaps the player with the most intriguing Twitter page during the lockout is NBA Players’ Association president Derek Fisher, who is the first to receive news from labor negotiations, and has the responsibility of voicing the concerns of the players. Recently, Fisher relied on his Twitter page as a way of speaking on behalf of the players when he tweeted “We want to go back to work.” Are you interested in following the activity of NBA players on Twitter? The NBA’s season may be stuck in a standstill, but news about the league and its players continue to circulate on social media outlets such as Twitter, Facebook and blog sites.

Pardon the Interruption on Twitter

On October 22, 2001, ESPN launched the daily sports program Pardon the Interruption (www.espn.com). The unique format for the show was influenced by its hosts, Washington Post columnists Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon, and the passionate and often humorous debates they would engage in off the air in the Washington Post newsroom (www.washingtonpsot.com). Nearly a decade after its debut, PTI has established itself as one of the most well-respected daily sports programs on television, even earning an Emmy Award in 2009 for Outstanding Studio Show. If you are a sports fanatic, there’s a good chance you are one of over one million viewers who have tuned in every day over the past ten years to watch PTI on television. And now, with the social media market constantly growing, PTI has provided its viewers with another way to follow the show: the @PTI page on www.twitter.com.

PTI’s Twitter page features updates on the topics that will be discussed and the guests that will appear on the next show, as well as Twitter pictures and audio clips from the previous broadcast. Additionally, the page includes access to tweets from Wilbon, fellow ESPN program Around the Horn, and all other fans of the show looking to chime in. Are you interested in following Pardon the Interruption on Twitter? With people worldwide relying more and more on Twitter, Facebook, and blogging each day, now it’s your turn to join in on the fun. Let Social Mavens help you set up a Twitter account, and address each and all of your social media needs today.

NFL Training Camp & Free Agency

NFL fans everywhere rejoiced last week as, after nearly five long months of negotiation between the league and its Players’ Association, the NFL lockout mercifully came to an end (for more on that story, check out this link). Now that a collective bargaining agreement has been reached, football fans are free to follow the offseason activity of their favorite teams as they make trades, sign free agents, fill roster spots, and put all the pieces together during training camp in preparation for the upcoming season. A few teams have already bolstered their rosters through major trades and signings. In the AFC, the New England Patriots shocked everyone by trading for animated wide receiver Chad Ochocinco and disgruntled defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. While both players are enormously talented at playing their respective positions, their feats on the field have in recent years been outweighed by character issues off it. Fans are eager to watch how these two mercurial superstars will gel with no-nonsense coach Bill Belichick’s tight ship in New England. In the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles are building what fans have begun referring to as a “dream team.” Led by ultra-athletic quarterback Michael Vick, whose dynamic career transformation since being released from prison in 2009 continues to be one of the greatest stories in sports, the Eagles’ high octane offense will be joined this season by former pro-bowlers Vince Young and Ronnie Brown. The Eagles have made tremendous improvement to their defense as well, as former pro-bowl cornerbacks Antonio Rodgers-Cromartie and Nnamdi Asomugha will join pro-bowl cornerback Asante Samuel to form what could be the deadliest backfield of all-time. Both the Patriots and Eagles are two of several teams that have a legitimate chance to take down the defending champion Green Bay Packers this coming season.

Are you interested in following the training camp and off-season acquisitions of your favorite team as it prepares for the start of the season on September 8th? Through the use of various social media outlets such as Twitter, Facebook, and blogging, you can the offseason buzz surrounding your favorite NFL team closer than ever before. One such feature is the NFL Training Camp 2011 blog on www.nfl.com, which allows you to read news and watch video from the training camps of all 32 NFL teams. Another feature includes the NFL Free Agency Tracker. Fans who follow this link on Twitter will receive up-to-the-minute news surrounding NFL free agents and the teams that may be interested in signing them. Whether you want to find out about potential trades in the works, the possibility of a free agent filling a void on your team’s roster, or which rookies from last April’s NFL draft are looking to make an immediate impact on their respective teams, social media enables you to follow all of this.

NFL Players on Twitter

During most summers, NFL fans could flip their televisions on to ESPN and be treated to hours of coverage pertaining to pre-season predictions for the coming NFL season. Unfortunately, this summer has been a lot different. The NFL’s owners and Player’s Association have yet to resolve the League’s collective bargaining agreement, resulting in the NFL fanatic’s worst nightmare: teams can’t hold official training camp, the season may not start on time (assuming it starts at all) and ESPN’s coverage of the NFL this summer has been reduced to tedious news feeds involving the persisting lockout. The one silver lining amidst the impending lockout has been provided by social media. With negotiations ongoing, NFL players have taken to social media outlets such as Twitter to voice their frustrations, ask fans for their patience, and even respond to fans’ concerns involving the tenuous status of the 2011 NFL season. Additionally, NFL players have used Twitter to inform fans how they have kept themselves busy since last season ended. Many players have been keeping up with their workouts and their fans, through Twitter, see Rob Gronkowski of the New England Patriots. Perhaps the most notable example of this is the Twitter account of Cincinnati Bengals’ wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, who actually tried out for an MLS soccer team and tweeted about the experience.

2011 MLB All Star Game

The 2011 MLB All-Star Game is set to take place on July 12th at Chase Field in Phoneix, Arizona. And although fan voting for the All-Star starting lineups ended as of last Thursday, the next few weeks will provide baseball fans with several opportunities to get involved with this year’s Midsummer Classic. After the rosters for both the American League and National League are announced during the All-Star Selection Show this Sunday at noon on TBS, fans will have the chance to participate in the “All-Star Final Vote,” which determines the final roster spots for both teams. Initiated in 2002, the “Final Vote” has carried great significance over the years; 2010 NL MVP Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds was last season’s “Final Vote” winner for the NL squad. Additionally, fans have the opportunity to vote for their favorite MLB All-Star Game moments of all time in an ongoing bracket-style ballot on http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2011/midsummer_classic_moments/.

Are you interested in the fan voting opportunities for this summer’s MLB All-Star Game? Taking advantage of social media outlets such as Twitter, Facebook, and blogging will get you involved with one of baseball’s greatest annual traditions. Following the Twitter account @MLB will provide you with extensive coverage leading up to the Midsummer Classic, such as updates on fan voting, highlight reels from past All-Star Games, and videos of this year’s all-stars sharing their favorite midsummer moments. With international interest in social media rapidly growing, now it’s your turn to become involved.

Follow The Stanley Cup

Out of all the prized championship trophies a team could win in sports, arguably the most recognizable of them all is the Stanley Cup, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoff champion. What makes the Stanley Cup stand out amongst all other sports trophies are the rich and unique traditions attached to it. For one, it is the only trophy in sports that does not get replicated annually. Whereas championship teams in other sports receive a brand new replica model of its league’s championship trophy, the same Stanley Cup is simply passed from one NHL champion to the next. Secondly, the name of every single to play on a Stanley Cup winning team is permanently engraved onto the Cup’s surface at the conclusion of every season. Thirdly, several traditions involving the Cup that have evolved over the years were thought up by the players themselves. Such traditions include each player drinking victory champagne out of the Cup’s unique bowl shape, taking turns hoisting the Cup above his head on the ice immediately after the game, and perhaps the most interesting of all: taking turns spending a full day in sole possession of the Cup, with the freedom to take it wherever and do with it whatever the player wants.

Have you ever wondered where the players take the Stanley Cup and what they do while in possession of it? Now you can find out, and even see for yourself! By taking advantage of the many rapidly growing social media outlets such as Twitter, Facebook, and blogging, you can follow every step of the Stanley Cup’s journey, and even find out if the Cup is coming to a city near you. The Twitter account @WheresTheCup provides constant updates on both where the Stanley Cup is now and where it’s going to be next. Many of the feeds on this account will include pictures and videos from each location. Additionally, you can follow the Twitter accounts of the players on this year’s champion, the Boston Bruins, as they take the Stanley Cup all over the world to their hometowns and favorite destinations. Let Social Mavens help you set up your Twitter account today and become involved with this year’s journey of the Stanley Cup all summer long.

MLB Fan Cave 2011

For the first time this MLB season, two lucky baseball fans are “living the dream” by living in a cave, or more precisely, the MLB Fan Cave (http://mlb.mlb.com/fancave). After winning the “MLB Dream Job” contest in a pool of nearly 10,000 applicants, Mike O’Hara and friend Ryan Wagner will watch every regular season and playoff MLB game from this brand-new and unique facility in New York City. And while the building itself is located on 4th and Broadway in Manhattan, the Fan Cave’s community extends worldwide, as O’Hara and Wagner will share all of their experiences this season through Twitter, Facebook, and several other forms of social media. O’Hara and Wagner will write blogs and post videos that chronicle not only the baseball action they watch on TV, but also the visits from MLB players, baseball personalities, celebrities, and fans that occur all throughout the season.

Are you interested in tracking the MLB Fan Cave this season? Social Mavens can help you become involved! By taking advantage of available social media opportunities, you can take a virtual tour of the Fan Cave facility, watch videos of your favorite MLB players visiting the Fan Cave’s New York City location, and follow every blog post and tweet involving the Fan Cave experience from now until the Fall Classic in October.

NBA Playoff Pulse 2011

While the 2011 NBA Playoffs have certainly been filled with excitement, they have perhaps served more so as a testament to how unpredictable sports can be. This year’s final four remaining teams (Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat), all of whom failed to advance beyond the first round in last year’s playoffs, have proven to be this year’s elite teams, and are all playing at an exceptionally high level this postseason. With both Conference Finals currently closely knotted, it seems that this year’s NBA championship trophy is anyone’s to take.

Basketball fans have no control over which team will win it all and which player will emerge as the NBA Finals’ MVP. For the first time ever on www.nba.com, however, fans will have the chance to vote for another award: the 2011 Social MVP. This opportunity is included in the 2011 NBA Playoff Pulse, a brand-new social media application powered by Facebook. The Playoff Pulse features not only a Top Ten list of players who are trending on Facebook right now, but also a collection of video highlights, news stories, and other social media links.
With worldwide interest in social media constantly increasing, now it’s your turn to become involved. You may not be able to predict the outcome of the on-court postseason action, but you can help your favorite player’s popularity rise on Facebook. Join in on the 2011 NBA Playoff Pulse today.

NHL Conference Finals

With two exciting rounds of playoff hockey officially in the books, the stage is set for the NHL conference finals, as the league’s four best teams battle for a chance to play in the 2011 Stanley Cup. The Eastern Conference matchup, which begins Saturday, features somewhat of a surprise pairing between the third seeded Boston Bruins and fifth seeded Tampa Bay Lightning. Although neither team was considered the favorite heading into the postseason, things are clicking for both at exactly the right time. After dropping the first two playoff games on its home ice to the Montreal Canadiens, Boston has since won eight of its last nine games, punctuated by a thorough sweep of the Philadelphia Flyers. Tampa Bay has taken a similar path to the Conference finals, as they too followed a tightly contested seven game series (against the Pittsburgh Penguins) with a sweep of their own against the Washington Capitals. The Western Conference finals, on the other hand, has panned out exactly how fans had anticipated, as the first seeded Vancouver Canucks will face off against the second seeded San Jose Sharks. Vancouver dominated the regular season, amassing 117 points on its way to a league-best 54 wins. Despite a shaky first round performance against the Chicago Blackhawks, the Canucks appear to be back on track after a solid 4-2 series win against the Nashville Predators. The Sharks likewise enjoyed tremendous success during the regular season, but had the whole city of San Jose on pins and needles after nearly blowing a 3-0 series lead against the Detroit Red Wings in the previous round. Game one of the Canucks-Sharks series will take place on Sunday.

After an opening two rounds that saw five different series go all the way to a seventh game, NHL fans can’t wait to see what happens next in the upcoming Conference Finals. With fans speculating on which two teams will emerge as Stanley Cup finalists, it’s now your turn to join the conversation. Which team do you think has what it takes to win the most recognizable trophy in all of sports: the Stanley Cup? Through the use of social media outlets such as blogging, Facebook, and Twitter, you can share your thoughts, predictions, and photos involving NHL playoff action in more ways than ever before. Tweet about it….