I have been fighting the temptation, battling to stay away and resisting the urge, but in the end, it appears I have succumbed to the dark side.
After dismissing social media, often insisting I am too stubborn to adapt and wondering out loud if it is really beneficial, here am I, taking the plunge. Honk! Honk! Beep! Beep! Wait a minute! I will get this lingo down pat. It’s Tweet Tweet, Twitter Here I Come.

Yes, I am still connected to my “old school” habits. As recently as last year, I conducted interviews on a cassette player. In addition, part of my sports casts are still written by hand with a pen. 

We all deal with change differently. I am still not convinced the shootout has enhanced hockey, but I am in a minority. Fans love gimmicks and the shootout remains nothing more than a skills competition. 

The NFL has changed or added rules over 40 times since 1941. Does that make the game better? I wonder how many defensive linemen are enthused that they are now in an era where they are nearly not allowed to touch the quarterback without retribution. 

Is the American League really better off than the National League because of the DH Rule? I still much prefer the intricacies of the game with the pitcher batting. 

There are more teams than ever in the four major North American Pro Sports, but does that suggest more quantity or quality? I would argue quantity. 

Naturally some changes, like the use of instant replay, are a huge benefit. 

Even though Twitter is just 5 ½ years old, it has taken me a long time to jump on the bandwagon. 

There are nearly 3,000 players in the NFL (1717); NBA (513), MLB (419) and NHL (310) with their own twitter account. Lebron James has over 5 ½ million followers. That is considerably more than the entire population of B.C. 

Since I am brand new at this Twitter game, I am still learning. Please don’t ask me to explain “Hash tags” just yet, but I do know that “Tweets” or text-based messages must be no more than 140 odd balls, I’m sorry that’s “characters”. 

By following the right contacts, it is undisputable that new information will be received quicker than any other form of media, however, that still doesn’t mean that everything on there is accurate. On the contrary, and there remains an art or science to ciphering rumours from facts.

Obviously how much one trusts its source is a huge factor.

My goal is to have substance to my tweet, either a brief comment on a breaking story, an update on a local or regional sports event or perhaps relaying the odd fact or even a funny. I grew up in an era where reporters generally had the information before the public. That still happens on occasion, but the tide has turned and it’s almost like the entire population has become a reporter. 

Twitter has over ½ a Billion users worldwide with over 100 million considered active users (members who log in at least once a month). 

Numerous people had suggested “just to try it you might like it”. At first it was a vehement “No” but as time wore on my refusal had less bite. Recently, a co-worker at Vista Radio, Julie O’Connor, took the initiative, without prompting, to set-up a Twitter account for me. She and the News Director,
Christina Doll, plus newsman Ted Andrew and 94X morning man Jesse Modz showed me the basics, and without pressure said to just observe for a few days and then decide whether to keep the account or not. 

I am not suggesting at this point life will be better because of Twitter, but I admit I am intrigued by where this will go. Dare I say my “handle” is @Hartley_Miller? I certainly welcome new followers. Does this revelation mean you can lead a horse to water—————–NEIGH————NEIGH————BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR 

From the Quote Rack: 

Police have issued an arrest warrant for Cuba Gooding, Jr. after he reportedly shoved a bartender. Unconfirmed reports say that he did this after the bartender said, ‘Show me the money!’

Vanessa Bryant is reportedly upset at Kobe for a photo taken of him at a Team USA party. Which means that he has just gone from playing for the gold to playing for the diamond. 

Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

Kobe Bryant says he’s lost 16 pounds this off-season. Translation? One of his rings is missing. 

Newly-designed talking urinals are being installed in U.S. pubs in a campaign to stop drunk driving.
When Charlie Sheen heard about it he said, ‘Talking urinals are new?’

Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com      

 Kim Yoo Suk is a Korean pole vaulter competing in London. Hasn’t his surname has been chanted by fans at Maple Leaf games?

When Canada won it’s first medal in “Synchronized Diving”, I thought, “good for the Sedins, they’ve moved on”. 

Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver (http://alwaysfunny.com/) 

It’s a real shame that baseball has been dropped from this year’s Olympics: Otherwise Chicago Cubs would have had a great chance to win as the world’s best amateur team. 

Eight women badminton players from China, South Korea and Indonesia were kicked out of the Olympics for alleged match throwing. (Trying to lose early matches, for easier matches later.) And
who says women are not as competitive as men?

Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, Californiawww.leftcoastsportsbabe.com 

Scandal at the Olympics, as the Chinese and South Korean women’s badminton teams were accused of tanking early round games to ensure favorable matchups later on. Word is the authorities were tipped off by a little birdie.

Not even the Olympics are immune from the scourge of athletes faking injury. Saturday three members of the Brazilian water polo team were penalized for diving.
Comedy writer Marc Ragovin of New York

A female Chinese swimmer took an incredible seven seconds off her previous best time to win a swim match. Asked how she could have possibly improved so much in such a short time her Coach Li Ing, offered this explanation “Last race we forgot to take her diaper off”.
Canada’s Antoine Valois-Fortier won an Olympic bronze in the men’s judo. Antoine used deception, flips and an ability to slip out of the grasp or as BC Premier Christy Clarke calls it her election preparation.

Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgaryhttp://smacksport.blogspot.com

And in case you missed it: 

The Texas Rangers acquired Gibsons, B.C. born pitcher Ryan Dempster at the trade deadline. In return, the Chicago Cubs received a loaf of bread. 

Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94X and the Wolf@97fm. He also writes for the PG Free Press. Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to hmiller@94xfm.com.

Follow him on twitter: @Hartley_Miller