Suddenly, sports world all a-Twitter

The United Way is following me, even though I gave at the office. So is UNLV Athletics, but that's probably just the athletic director's way of being funny.

Crazy thing about Twitter. I don't even remember registering, and I can't for the life of me discover why anyone in the world would be interested in updates about mowing the lawn and pitching batting practice to a girls softball team.

My wife doesn't even want to know where I am most of the time, unless something happens with direct deposit on payday. Then, I'd be in Twitter Hell.

But that's our world more and more. Social networking has grabbed us like the next update on those Jon and Kate people, who if they don't qualify as the main offenders for dumbing down America, the voting fix is really in.

Athletes and their families also have jumped head first into this pool of informative overload, now reaching beyond the concept of personal Web sites to express private information and opinions to millions of interested souls, along with the millions who couldn't give a hoot.

Take last week. Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Quinn Ojinnaka was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of simple battery after a fight with his wife over a Facebook friend.

(Hint: It wasn't his position coach.)

Things got so messy, Ojinnaka told police that his wife tried stabbing him with a pen, which probably led to the player's Facebook update that night reading ...

Quinn is trying to avoid bleeding to death by way of a Bic to the carotid artery.

Rumor has it his wife pushed "Like."

Social networking also brought headlines for new Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari on a few fronts recently. First, the coach responded on Twitter about ESPN.com columnist Pat Forde, unhappy with the (compelling and accurate) opinions Forde consistently delivers.

Calipari's tweet: What's w/ this Pat Ford guy? Anybody else think this is personal. Probably trying to sell more books or tryin to shift stuff to Lexington...

Rule No. 1: If you're going to rip another's writing, you might want to spell the guy's name correctly. Also, I have to believe Calipari could afford an English tutor. Derrick Rose should be able to suggest someone, assuming that person isn't busy taking a test.

Not to be outdone by Pops, Calipari's daughter Erin launched a Facebook campaign against Forde and his coverage of Kentucky and her father, posting several anti-Forde updates for thousands to read.

Pops Calipari then apologized for his daughter being "overzealous" in defending his honor. He did so, of course, via Twitter.

Look: Athletes and coaches and their families have every right to employ the same social networks everyone else does. But the fact that some are bringing their views and openly discussing private lives on such public forums is noteworthy and definitely a change from past actions.

This side of secret service agents, you won't find a more paranoid lot than coaches and most elite athletes. One of the smartest things athletes have done is to release and control information on personal Web sites.

You don't know anything about Tiger Woods he doesn't want you to know. It can be frustrating for many in my business. It's a brilliant move by Woods and others who utilize the strategy.

"I tell people all the time, 'You don't have to tell everyone your shoe size,' " said Dr. Richard Lustberg, a New York-based sports psychologist. "For some reason, people are compelled to tell huge amounts of information that they didn't before.

"For athletes now, these (social networks) are just part of their generation. They have grown up with a lot of it. Electronics have taken control of our lives. We are connected by groups now. We get together electronically. It's one more step in removing intimacy as we've known it.

"It has lowered the boundaries of what is personal. You know everything about everyone. It all goes hand in hand now. But athletes are like everyone. They want to be liked. No one wants to look bad. It's one of the main reasons many have their own sites."

Some are reaching beyond that tool now. It's not a good or bad thing. There is no right or wrong to it. It's as Lustberg says: part of this generation, for you, me, athletes and coaches.

Even for some guy named Michael Garth, who while I was writing this added me as a friend to something called MyLife.

It makes a guy yearn for the good ol' days.

You know, back with things like e-mail.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at 702-383-4618 or egraney@reviewjournal.com.