Hey, Rashard Lewis: The NBA says you can tweet during your suspension
Saturday, November 7, 2009
The increasing popularity of Twitter and other social-media sites are forcing professional sports leagues to play catch-up with their rules.
Last season, Charlie Villanueva sparked controversy when he tweeted during halftime of a game in which he was playing for the Milwaukee Bucks.
The NBA has responded. Before this season the league sent a memo to its teams that addressed social-media use during games. The league told players and coaches that they aren't allowed to use communication devices -- and, therefore, social-media sites such as Twitter or Facebook -- from 45 minutes before tip-off on game days until players complete their post-game media responsibilities.
So, here's a question: Would the NBA allow avid Twitterer Rashard Lewis to tweet during Magic games during his 10-game suspension?
Lewis isn't allowed to be in the same arena while his team plays. Does that mean the new rules about social-media use during games don't apply to him? Last season, Charlie Villanueva sparked controversy when he tweeted during halftime of a game in which he was playing for the Milwaukee Bucks.
The NBA has responded. Before this season the league sent a memo to its teams that addressed social-media use during games. The league told players and coaches that they aren't allowed to use communication devices -- and, therefore, social-media sites such as Twitter or Facebook -- from 45 minutes before tip-off on game days until players complete their post-game media responsibilities.
So, here's a question: Would the NBA allow avid Twitterer Rashard Lewis to tweet during Magic games during his 10-game suspension?
My colleague Tania Ganguli learned from league spokesman Tim Frank that the NBA does not have any rules that prevent players serving NBA-imposed suspensions from tweeting during games.
To be clear, Lewis did not post anything on his Twitter account during last night's Magic season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers. Before the game, he wrote: "I can't twitter/Facebook/Myspace durin[g] the game."
Lewis had told reporters that he'd spend the first half riding a stationary bike in his home as he watched the game on TV. He planned to watch the second half alone.
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