I get the feeling that Twitter is still a little confusing to individuals used to dealing with more traditional media outlets. The reaction is so instantaneous and I wonder if they all grasp the reach they have and how fast the things they say can spread. Yes they “get” Twitter, but I think they sometimes forget the conversations they engage in are not private. It’s not a text message or an email, it’s wide open blogging in 140 character form.
It’s wonderful for those of us comfortable in the non-traditional media formats because we can catch these moments and over-analyze the crap out of them. It also gives us glimpses in to the minds of people who normally could control their public image to a much greater degree.
What we saw on Friday between Portland Timber’s owner Merritt Paulson and Fox Soccer’s Eric Wynalda was fascinating and something we never would have seen without Twitter.
The entire Jose Adolfo Valencia situation was frustrating and confusing on several different levels and Paulson, a man who genuinely wants to win and wants his fans to be excited about and proud of their team, got frustrated because he hadn’t been able to fully explain the situation until all the loose ends were tied up. When the news was finally able to come out, Paulson and the Timbers spent the day explaining the real story, something they did effectively.
By the time Eric Wynalda chimed in with his “expert” opinion of the situation, the story was out and it apparently made sense to everyone but Eric:
Wynalda’s off the cuff comment set Paulson off and while he may not of handled it with professional grace, he had a point. Wynalda had apparently not even bothered to read the story and jumped on Twitter to make a reactionary comment about it. He was completely off base and Paulson called him on it. It’s what Wynalda does and while some people might enjoy it, it’s a reminder why he shouldn’t be taken too seriously and why he’s not coaching anywhere.
I love Paulson’s honest reaction and passion. I also love the fact that it shows that a team executive has a similar opinion of Wynalda as myself. Just a few years ago this type of exchange probably wouldn’t of happened and if it did, the chances of the general public seeing it would have been slim. We’re in a “golden age” of sorts for covering the sport of soccer because despite the best efforts of everyone involved, they’re still trying to wrap their brains around social media.
Basically we should enjoy this because the day will come when PR people and social media experts get to owners, atheletes, etc. and teach them how to manage Twitter in the way they manage traditional media. The openness and honesty will likely disappear and we’ll be left with the carefully constructed responses that we’ve become so accustomed to with other sports.
Until then we can enjoy these glimpses in to the minds of people like Merritt Paulson and the unique insight in provides.
