Social Media Changing How Athletes Are Traded

Doug Glanville recently wrote an article for Time magazine explaining the ways that social media are changing the way athletes are traded.  He describes that when he was playing, he was traded from the Rangers to the Cubs in 2003.  By the time he got the call from then manager John Hart and made his way over to the stadium to say goodbye to his teammates and coaches, all his stuff was already packed away, and his locker cleared out.

But Glanville is saying that today's speed of information benefits the professional athlete. This summer when the Red Sox traded Kevin Youkilis, he already knew that it was coming because of social media. His fans knew it as well, and he was given a standing ovation for his last game as Bostonian. His fans were able to give him his curtain call on his way out of town and show him their love one final time.

But that's not always the case.  Last year when the Clippers traded for Chris Paul, the entire team was at an event riding around the city on buses greeting fans.  Word got out through social media outlets that a few of the players had been traded and it turned into an extremely awkward situation.

So it has its pros and cons, but it's not slowing down. Social media are changing the sports world for better or worse.

Cody Brown
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