Losing My Twitter Virginity
4/30

Here's the link: http://twitter.com/sportsguy33

I re-evaluated this whole Twitter thing. Although I can't stand those "Bill is at Best Buy looking at DVDs and there's a sale!"-type posts, the more I thought about it, that won't be Twitter's destiny. When the Patriots used Twitter to announce draft picks last weekend, I thought it was fascinating: the Pats were breaking actual news through Twitter, bypassing the middlemen (in this case, reporters) and communicating directly with fans. I also talked to Erik Rydholm last weekend (creator for "PTI") and he mentioned how the show has been using Twitter for show ideas, mailbag questions and the like. Hmmmmmm. I started thinking how Twitter could work for me. The sad truth is, there's an immediacy/simplicity to Twitter that might help me do my job a little better. So let's see if that is the case. I am giving it a test run for a few weeks to see if I like it.

For me, Twitter might work as a combination of these things: an RSS Feed (for when I post new columns or podcasts on ESPN.com); a miniature version of my old "Links" page (passing along any links that I like); an FYI for any radio/TV appearances I might make (example: when I go on Carolla's podcast); entertaining e-mails from readers that were too time-sensitive for a mailbag; quick-hit solicitations for mailbag questions; a running update for my book tour when it happens this fall; and down the road, maybe even some quick hit Ramblings-type jokes if I grow to like the format.

Here's what you will not get from me on Twitter: mundane updates about my life. I just can't understand why anyone would care that "Bill is working on a magazine column" or "Bill desperately needs some coffee."

So that's it. Here is the link again: http://twitter.com/sportsguy33.

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