How Following Mark Sanchez on Twitter turned me into a Fan!

In recent months as the NFL Lockout has extended the players offseason I have read articles and blogs about NFL players and what they are doing to keep busy.  Some of the news has been negative about what they should or shouldn’t be doing like tweeting.  After the last article I read regarding this very topic, I decided I would like to write something positive from a fan’s perspective on how I became a fan of Mark Sanchez since following him on Twitter and why I think using social media the right way can be a positive thing for a player.  

I am a loyal NY Jets fan and remember having favorite players from Jets teams of the past like Wesley Walker, Ken O’Brien and Freeman McNeil.  In more recent years I can’t say I have had any one favorite player, always an optimistic fan of the team but no one extra special that I rooted for.

Before Twitter, my opinion of the quarterback of my favorite team is that he tries real hard, works real hard and has his moments of greatness. I heard a lot about how smart he was but in January after the little PR problem he experienced I will admit to having a few negative views of the Jets franchise QB that maybe he’s not as smart as they say he is. That was then, I was still a Jet fan no matter what.    At the end of March on a rainy day during my Spring Break off from work, I signed up for a Twitter account. I have used Facebook for the past few years but never had a Twitter account and never understood the point of it.  I was so wrong about Twitter and glad I took the plunge. Twitter became a useful tool for me professionally and fun for personal interests like following the New York Jets. 

It didn’t take long to become pleasantly surprised by Mark Sanchez’s twitter presence. His tweets of pictures and videos of some of the neat activities he gets to do, like when he took fireman training is both fun and interesting to see.  He posts random funny pictures too. He replies to fans, comments on photos they send, gives kudos to his colleagues and media that write about him and supports causes that are important to him.  He uses the Twitterverse the right way with the right blend of professional and personal information without being too creepy (a word he likes to use as part of hashtags).  His Facebook page too, serves him well as he is able to share more photos and videos of events like his Jets West Camp.   I know he doesn’t do all this alone how could he, but its all part of smart decisions being made to ensure the right messages are getting out there and that’s a good thing for his image, his fans and his team.  My opinion of Mark Sanchez now, is that he is a dedicated hardworking professional, who is intelligent, mature and has proven during this very long offseason he can be a good leader for his team.

I don’t know if its all a calculated plan by a PR team but who cares I’m a supportive fan and I will remember him as one of my favorite players no matter what his record is.  I can’t wait to see him and the Jets back in action on the field this September.  I beg the football gods to intervene and end this lockout already so everyone can get back to work.