Sports and Media: LeBron unfollows the Cavs

One of the Most Scrutinized athletes in the world,
LeBron James,  Forward Cleveland Cavaliers.

In my American Sport in the 21st Century class on March 22nd, 2016 we learned about sports and its role that it plays in our media. In class we discussed that athletes are considered to be role models to many people around the world, but since they are considered to be role models they get put under  a microscope and if the athlete makes one wrong move then the athlete gets scrutinized for it. Take LeBron James for example. LeBron is arguably the best basketball player in the world and he gets scrutinized for the smallest things that he does. In an article wrote by Joe Vardon for Cleveland.com on March 22nd, 2016 he discusses how many people overreacted when LeBron unfollowed the Cleveland Cavaliers social media accounts. Some fans and reporters took it as a sign that LeBron is leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers organization like he did in the summer of 2010. Though, this is definitely not the case and LeBron has discussed that with the reporters. LeBron likes to stay off social media when the playoffs come around. Every year since 2010 he remains inactive on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc. but some fans and reporters used this strategy against him. The roles of the media are to inform, educate, advertise, and to entertain as we discussed in class. When this social media fiasco of LeBron's occurred it was definitely to entertain the public. Social media has an enhanced the scrutiny of players as we discussed in class and LeBron is one of the many athletes that are scrutinized the most in the sport world. You can read Vardon's full article here: http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2016/03/lebron_james_unfollowed_the_ca.html

Athletes are becoming more
scrutinized do to the uses of Twitter.

Are athletes more scrutinized do to social media? Yes
Should some athletes stay away from social media? Yes
Should athletes watch what they are doing on social media? Yes

Relations between sport and the media


-          -Sport and the media are very closely related, they are symbiotic

-         - Two of the most successful businesses in the U.S. ($1t and $350b Industries)

-          -Sport popularity is as a result of media coverage

-          -Media generates enormous sales in circulation and advertising based on extensive treatment of sport