From The DC Bureau: SOLD! Ron Mexico For $687.96

With the end of the NFL lockout nowhere in sight, players are out there looking for ways to earn some extra cash this Summer.

One way it appears, is through Sponsored Tweets. For those unfamiliar, Sponsored Tweets is an auction-type service that allows solicitors to send tweets under the handles of some more notorious famous tweeters, for a price.

On the athlete page, the first on the list is my favorite humanitarian, @MikeVick, who rolls for a surprisingly affordable $687.96 per sponsored tweet. Others on the list like @Tony_Mandarich ($58.83) go for considerably less and some like @champbailey ($1,176.50) and @merillhoge ($1,764.75) go for considerably more--wait--Merril Hoge--Merril F&^!n& Hoge gets $1,700 per tweet!?!?!?

Exit question: Do you suppose Valtrex or Alpo would be able to negotiate a much better deal for a tweet from Mr. Mexico?

FYI- Ol' @Blue_Pulaski will tweet whatever the hell you want for a local Groupon or Living Social deal...DM him for details.

Follow us on Twitter@HHReynolds or Click Here to get HHR in your inbox.

Rusty Reckons: Junior Thumbs his Nose at the Year 2011

I don't mean to only post on Junior, but I saw this today and it just stuck in my craw. Apparently, Junior sees it as too much work to connect with his fans.


Jeff Gordon does it (@JeffGordonWeb), Jimmie Johnson does it (@JimmieJohnson), Kevin Harvick does it (@KevinHarvick), and if you're on Twitter, I highly recommend following Kevin. He and his wife's antics are quite humorous and well documented. Kevin's also known around the garage for being a bit of a prankster, and many of this tom-foolery is also well documented via Twitter. It's a hoot.

Look, Rusty understands the pressures of being the most popular at anything. I regularly have to beat back a hoard of attention starved fans (Hi, mom!), myself. However, seems to me there are costs associated with being voted the Most Popular Driver in NASCAR year after year after year. Get on Twitter buddy. It ain't that hard. Give us a peak into what goes on in that head.

Follow us on Twitter@HHReynolds or Click Here to get HHR in your inbox.

Butler U Mascot, Butler Blue II, Social Media Top Dog

Final Four-bound Butler's mascot, Butler Blue II, not only has his own Twitter handle (@ButlerBlue2), but he just unleashed the 2011 Butler Blue II Final Four mask. Both are spectacular.

Follow us on Twitter@HHReynolds or Click Here to get HHR in your inbox.

No Snitch: Obama Retweets 'Melo

Screencap via Politico

Ben Smith of Politico flags an interesting tweet from the leader of the free world. Apparently, President Barack Obama is a big fan of the Nuggets superstar and the feeling is mutual.

Anthony tweeted out a solicitation from Obama's campaign organization, but as a charter member of team no-snitchin', this analyst sees this snitch of admiration as a likely violation of the no-snitchin' pact and plans to alert the proper authorities.

Curious to know whether Obama chucked his Nobel Peace Prize in the Potomac like 'melo chucked his 'big penny' (Olympic bronze from '04) in 'the lake'.

-Blue Pulaski, HHR's Director of Snitchin' Operations

Follow us on Twitter@HHReynolds or Click Here to get HHR in your inbox.

Twitter Wars! @hhreynolds / @thurmanthomas Twitter Throwdown Immortalized on Cubed

The verbal jousting that lead to my moving into Thurman Thomas' Top 5 Stupid Group is now forever immortalized on FoxSports.com's Cubed/Lunch with Benefits.

<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?vid=320c88aa-5c18-41e1-9956-81b617d9eb28" target="_new" title="">Cubed: Episode 38</a>

Follow us on Twitter@HHReynolds or Click Here to get HHR in your inbox.

BwB Speaker Jalen Rose Talks with Hoops Addict's Rashad Mobley

"I recently sat down with Rose for an entertaining 30 minute conversation. In it, we discussed the importance of the social media, the responsibility of athletes, how he thinks the Washington Wizards will do during the 2009-2010 season, how he knew it was time to retire, and a host of other interesting topics."

Listen to the interview here.

Follow us on Twitter@HHReynolds or Click Here to get HHR in your inbox.

UK Mail: Tony La Russa, Coach of the Obscure StL Cardinals

From the Mail this weekend:

"Twitter has decided to act after Tony La Russa, the coach of an obscure American baseball team, launched a legal action over a fake account."

Reminds us once again how much we hate that obscure European sport, soccer.

Follow us on Twitter@HHReynolds or Click Here to get HHR in your inbox.

Setting the Record Straight: #imnot

Many of our faithful readers and Twitter followers are well aware of our temporary two-day suspension from the 140-character micro-blog this week.

To clear up the mystery, in a nut shell, someone complained that @HHReynolds was impersonating Harold Reynolds, and as such, violated Twitter terms.

After reflection, I understand this could be an issue. It is not uncommon that people contact the blog addressing inquiries and comments to our Patron Saint. That said, we are very straight forward and respond to each of them to clear up any confusion. On Twitter specifically, I publicly inform Tweeters when they make this error. We never, ever pose as anything other than a sports blog who simply pays homage to one of the best baseball analysts in the biz.

I do not begrudge Twitter for addressing this. I am disappointed at the way it was handled: my account was suspended without explanation. After addressing this with support staff, I credit them for helping me rectify the situation.

But be warned bloggers who pay tribute to athletes and personalities in your platforms' monikers: You could be next.

Let's then, clear the air.

This blog:


Has no affiliation or anything to do with this person:



This blog:


Has no affiliation or anything to do with this person:



TiricoSuave


Is NOT Mike Tirico's blog.


The blog's writer clarifies: "The real Tirico only wears his Viking helmet and Flav clock on rare occasions nowadays. There should be no confusion."

In order to reinstate my account, I had to clarify my Twitter bio. Instead of our site's mantra, "We Embrace Sports," it now reads: "Official Twitter feed for the sports blog HuggingHaroldReynolds.com, NOT Harold Reynolds."

I even took it a step further and changed my icon:


Last night, fearing they would be the next to feel the wrath of Twitter, sports Tweeters banded together and came clean in a hashtagged "#imnot" campaign.


Before we take a look, one more bit of clarity about HHR courtesy of @Adambuckled:

"Did Twitter think the 2nd H was Harold's middle initial, like @JHChrist? For the record, @HHReynolds isn't the Son of God either."

Now, here are some "De-verified" accounts:


@RedsArmy: Before twitter suspends me like @HHReynolds. Im NOT RedAuerbach.





@dochowser: I am not Neil Patrick Harris.






@aleagueofherown: and i don't really have a league of my own






@TalkHoops: I'm NOT a logo with a basketball for a face.







@BarkleysMouth: And I'm NOT Chuck... Altho I'm fat like him.






@whygavs: And I am in no way Andy Van Slyke.






@babeslovebball: I frickin hate baseball.






@MrWhiteDevil: I'm not Satan






@AngryHack: I'm not really Angry, but certainly Hack.






@THHB: For those who missed it earlier, #imnot Dominique Wilkins---he's the player, I'm the blogger.





@DetTigerfan22: I'm not a giant cement Tiger. I'm human.






@fangsbites: #imnot a vampire. Please don't ban me.






@russbengtson: Before twitter suspends me like @HHReynolds. #ImNot a disembodied yellow avatar.






@appl3s: #imnot really an apple.






@ketoole: #imnot really green.






@Need4Sheed_com: I'm Sheed but nobody believes me.






@roto_tudor: to be clear, I'm neither John Tudor, nor Henry VIII, nor in any way associated with the Roto Rooter company.





@jeskeets: And I am NOT Steve Nash ...






@jeskeets: ... nor Jiri Welsch






@jeskeets: ... nor Samantha Ronson.






@sweetbob: #imnot Capt. Lou Albano






@firebruntlett: Fire Eric Bruntlett is in no way associated or related to Eric Bruntlett. We just enjoying mocking and hating him.





@AestheticsGirl: Before Twitter suspends me like @HHReynolds. #ImNot Paul Pierce. I didn't throw a pitch at R-Sox Game. Am a Girl who likes Aesthetic Theory.





@mredonkulous: I am Oliver Miller #imnot






@pop_martian: BTW, I am not a Lego incarnation of Edward Hopper's classic 1942 painting "Nighthawks." #ImNot #SaveHHR






@thegnc: #imnot a store for training supplements






@RumorsandRants: Despite what my avatar may lead you to believe, #imnot Sam The Eagle





@RoundballMiner: I do not burrow into the earth with shovels and dynamite hoping to find basketballs. I'm living a lie. #ImNot





@RidiculousScott: #ImNot Mr. Belding






@whatthenoelle: Before twitter suspends me like @HHReynolds--Unfortunately #ImNot Stan Van Gundy. Fortunately #ImNot SVG impersonating Paul Blart . Or am I?




@TomFornelli: Tom Fornelli is a drifter I killed years ago and whose identity I stole. My real name is Armin Tamzarian.





@loljocks_grimey: Before my account gets suspended by Twitter, I'm NOT hiding behind the upper-right hand corner on Tic-Tac-Dough #imnot





@DSB_MaxPower: #imnot I'm not Max Power, but it's the name you'd love to touch but you mustn't touch #Simpsons





@thejonlee: Before twitter suspends me like @HHReynolds. #ImNot thejo...n/m I actually am jon lee. Carry on.





@plamorte: I am not @plamorte....oh wait yes I am! Guess I can throw away this pic I was going to make my default... http://bit.ly/wQ4EJ





@avoidingthedrop: I AM actually a soccerball. All the other soccerballs need to step off.

Follow us on Twitter@HHReynolds or Click Here to get HHR in your inbox.

ESPN Airs Footage From Blogs With Balls 1.0?

After filming about 3 panels and interviewing a handful of speakers, ESPN's Outside the Lines posted the following 1/2 second scene from Blogs With Balls 1.0 in New York City on an OTL video about Athletes and Twitter.

Hopefully by titling it with "Preview" more will be shown sometime soon. The OTL site has it listed under "Upcoming Stories."

Follow us on Twitter@HHReynolds or Click Here to get HHR in your inbox.