We know our readers can’t get enough of the people behind the “@.” So here are six Phoenix Suns players and staff that have us glued to Twitter.
@JaredDudley619
Jared Dudley, No. 3, is a reserve forward for the Phoenix Suns. Dudley displayed his football skills early on while attending Boston College. In 2007, he was named ACC Player of the Year and entered the NBA with the Charlotte Bobcats thereafter. Dudley joined the Suns in 2008.
Followers: 54,696
Following: 495
Number of Tweets: 4,763
Favorite person to follow?
Rev Run – Inspiration
Comedy – Lou Douval
Why did you start Tweeting?
I just thought it would be good marketing and for social networking. I really didn’t know much about it until Shaq showed me. At first I didn’t know you could relate to fans and have conversations. When I found out you could have instant access, I thought it was perfect for my personality.
What do you never Tweet about?
Anything negative about our basketball team.
What Tweet has generated the most response?
My LeBron James Tweet to New York.
What is the strangest place you've Tweeted from?
Besides the restroom? Puerto Rico on vacation or inside a movie theater.
How do you choose who you follow?
I follow people who are entertaining and have knowledge or wisdom. I also follow journalists to see if they’re talking bad about me.
iPhone or BlackBerry?
iPhone
@SunsWebmaster
Jeramie McPeek is the vice president of digital operations for the Phoenix Suns. He is the editor-at-large for Hoop Magazine. Working for the Suns for more than 17 seasons, McPeek received the Web site of the year award in 2007.
Followers: 5,310
Following: 3,140
Number of Tweets: 7,557
Favorite person to follow?
That’s really hard to say, as I’m following so many people from all walks of life. I guess the ones that come to mind first, though, are the athletes who have really embraced Twitter and who actively engage their fans. Guys like @JaredDudley619, @The_Real_Nash, @Kurt13Warner, @OchoCinco, @DwightHoward. As a lifelong sports fan myself, I just really appreciate the effort these guys put in to connect with fans in a way that was never possible before social media.
Why did you start Tweeting?
I started Tweeting a few days after Shaq in November 2008, primarily because I didn’t understand what it was he was doing. I had heard of Twitter before that, of course, but didn’t really get it. Much like Shaq, though, I quickly realized how valuable a communication tool it was.
What do you never Tweet about?
As a brand ambassador for the Suns, I won’t ever Tweet out criticism of our team, coaches or management, of course. That’s one thing I stress when teaching co-workers about how to use Twitter. It’s important to use common sense and remember that we are representing our organization when on Twitter.
What Tweet has generated the most response?
I get a lot of responses when I Tweet out news about our team or interesting quotes and anecdotes from behind-the-scenes. Our fans love to get that inside access. Obviously, I get a lot of responses whenever I give away tickets or Suns memorabilia. But I think the non-Suns Tweet that generated the most responses was when I Tweeted moments before going in for a vasectomy this past summer. I got a lot of ‘TMI’ replies, of course, but I also got a lot of replies from fellow fathers empathizing with my plight and offering some good advice for my recovery.
What is the strangest place you've Tweeted from?
I enjoy Tweeting from unique places. I’ve Tweeted from the dentist’s chair, from 30,000 feet in the sky, from my car moments after being rear-ended this summer. I’ve Tweeted from the top of the Empire State Building and the Space Needle in Seattle. I’ve Tweeted from the Suns’ locker room, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ dugout and the field of the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia. I sent a Tweet from inside Turner Studios in Atlanta, from the NBA Draft Lottery in New Jersey, from inside Facebook’s headquarters in Palo Alto, and from the famous Yoda fountain at Lucasfilm when I was in San Francisco this September. I’ve been blessed to be able to visit a lot of fun places, and I enjoy sharing those experiences with my followers.
How do you choose who you follow?
Well, I’m following a lot of people. Probably too many actually, as I end up missing a lot of great Tweets. But I follow a lot of athletes, teams and leagues, to keep up with the sports world and to see what other creative promotions or campaigns are being executed via Twitter. I follow a lot of the social media experts that I’ve met at the various conferences I’ve spoken at over the past couple years. I follow hundreds of Suns fans, of course, as well as fans of Star Wars, pro wrestling and fantasy football. In other words, I follow people who have similar interests as me.
iPhone or BlackBerry?
The Motorola R2D2 Droid by Verizon. I was a BlackBerry guy for years, but had to make the switch when the Star Wars-edition Droid came out this fall.
@TheReal_E55
Earl Clark, No. 55, is a forward for the Phoenix Suns. In high school, Clark, nicknamed “E5,” was earned a McDonald’s All-American selection in 2006, Star-Ledger Senior of the Year selection and earned All-America honors by Parade Magazine and EA Sports. While at The University of Louisville, he helped the school gain it’s first Big East Tournament Title before being drafted by the Suns in 2009.
Followers: 4,823
Following: 106
Favorite person to follow?
Kanye West because he always has something crazy.
Why did you start Tweeting?
Being in the NBA and in hotel rooms a lot you get bored. Jared Dudley is always talking about his Twitter, so I just checked it out, learned how to use it and have been doing it ever since.
What do you never Tweet about?
Personal problems. A lot of athletes use it for their promotional stuff which is cool, but I use it like I’m a regular person: talking to my friends, Tweet about things I’m doing, Twitpicing, etc.
What Tweet has generated the most response?
Probably when I put pictures up of my daughter.
What is the strangest place you've Tweeted from?
Bathroom.
How do you choose who you follow?
People who are close friends, people I look up to and if I like their music. Sometimes fans will request me to follow them and I will because it feels good that someone would be such a big fan.
iPhone or BlackBerry?
BlackBerry all the way. iPhone does too much and my fingers are too big to text.
@hdubb21
Hakim Warrick, No. 21, is a power forward for the Phoenix Suns. Starting his professional career in 2005, Warrick has played with the Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls and now the Suns over the past five years. While in Memphis, Warrick did public service announcements for Fight Free Fifty, an initiative that encouraged students in Memphis City Schools to go 50 days without fighting. His greatest basketball accomplishment was when he helped Syracuse win the NCAA Title.
Followers: 7,693
Following: 106
Number of Tweets: 1,747
Favorite person to follow?
Kanye, A hundred Miles and Running
Why did you start Tweeting?
Friends were trying to get me to get on for over a year, so I finally said, ‘Let me try it out,’ and I liked it so I stuck with it.
What do you never Tweet about?
I try not to Tweet my location or where I am going.
What Tweet has generated the most response?
Probably when I ask questions like who is your favorite rapper? Or favorite album?
What is the strangest place you've Tweeted from?
I don’t really have a strange place. Wherever I’m at, I Tweet.
How do you choose who you follow?
People who are funny or say things that are interesting.
iPhone or BlackBerry?
iPhone
@JChillin
Josh Childress, No.1, is a small forward and guard for the Phoenix Suns. During his tenure at Stanford University, Childress earned numerous honors as the AP First Team All American, All-American Consensus Second Team member, the Pac 10 Conference Player of the Year and the Pac-10 Conference Tournament MVP. A year after joining the Atlanta Hawks, Childress was voted to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. For two years he played in Greece, winning the Greek Cup, with the Euroleague club Olympiacos Piraeus before settling in Phoenix this year.
Followers: 14,650
Following: 92
Number of Tweets: 1,763
Favorite person to follow?
Jared Dudley is pretty funny, but there are a few comedians I enjoy.
Why did you start Tweeting?
I started Tweeting out of boredom. I got on Twitter while I was in Greece to keep up with other NBA players and to stay in the loop with basketball in the States.
What do you never Tweet about?
I never Tweet about things I’ll wish I could take back. My favorite things to Tweet are when I find funny pictures or random stuff.
What Tweet has generated the most response?
Probably the Tweet about fans booing me in Atlanta. I got some Atlanta fans Tweeting me back, but also got some Suns fans saying they enjoyed having me here.
What is the strangest place you've Tweeted from?
From Poland.
How do you choose who you follow?
Word of mouth. If someone tells me someone is funny or I know someone is going to be entertaining I’ll follow them. Some people will just fill your timeline up so you can’t follow everyone.
iPhone or BlackBerry?
I Tweet from the BlackBerry
@jrich23
Jason Richardson, No. 23, is a guard for the Phoenix Suns. His first two years in the NBA, Richardson earned the NBA Rookie Challenge MVP and All-Rookie Team First Team honors. Known for his exceptional dunking skills, he went on to capture back-to-back NBA Slam Dunk crowns. Playing with the Golden State Warriors and the Charlotte Bobcats, Richardson joined the Suns in 2008.
Followers: 55,625
Following: 186
Number of Tweets: 1,261
Favorite person to follow?
Rickey Smiley or Kevin Hart because those two guys are pretty funny.
Why did you start Tweeting?
My marketing manager told me about it in 2008 and about how the fans can interact with you, so I got into it then.
What do you never Tweet about?
For me nothing is sinister, so I pretty much Tweet everything.
What Tweet has generated the most response?
There have been so many of them. Probably when I Tweet about the team or Tweet pictures.
What is the strangest place you've Tweeted from?
Airplane.
How do you choose who you follow?
If a fan wants me to follow them then I’ll usually follow, but if you Tweet too much–I call them ‘Speed Tweeters’– then I won’t follow you in a second!
iPhone or BlackBerry?
Both.
