You often hear about the marketing machines that professional athletes have become. Tiger Woods, Michael Phelps, Lebron James and countless others make up a multi-billion dollar a year endorsement industry. These athletes are corporations unto themselves and quite frankly they sound like it when they give interviews. You simply do not hear the biggest names (and as such the ones with both the largest platform and largest endorsement deals) ever say anything controversial or really take issue with what is being said about them.

We do find these same athletes online, but again their websites seem more like corporate brochures than a place that really offers any insight into their real world.  Other athletes will guest blog on ESPN or at their local sports site, but again that is so cleansed that I often wonder if it really isn’t just a PR guy who gets the player to sign off on the post – if even that. Though I do say that last piece with the caveat that all of the aforementioned athletes (along with countless others) have foundations or charities which they promote online which of course is terrific. Nonetheless I find it extremely refreshing to read and follow athletes that have turned to the Internet in much the same fashion as you or I and let their real personality and feelings come through.

I thought I would give you just a few examples of some athletes worth following online along with a brief notation of just why I find them to be “real”.

Jamal Crawford – New York Knicks – The Crawford Files - This is the story that served as the impetus for writing this post.

On Oct. 16, New York Post writer Marc Berman posted a blog titled “Crawford Doesn’t Want Marbury Around,” referring to embattled New York guard Stephon Marbury. According to Crawford, the story wasn’t true.

Crawford said he confronted Berman and told him, “Well, now I’m going to have to write about you on my blog.”

He wrote: “In typical Berman fashion after he writes something like this, he doesn’t come (to practice) the next day”…LOL. And Berman is actually a good guy, but I guess he needed something to write.”

Crawford’s blog entry drew dozens of online comments from readers, many commented on the role reversal of athletes blogging about writers. “I would’ve had that built-up frustration,” said Crawford of how blogging helps him to vent. “It was fun to get it off my chest. “I thought it was a great idea instead of just doing an interview. (Berman) writes so I can write as well. Some of my teammates thought it was cool.”

Chris Bosh (Twitter)  - Toronto Raptors – CB4 - If you have not seen the YouTube sensation that is Chris Bosh, there are so many videos you just must see. Chris and Baron Davis are even having a contest to see who can put up the funniest clip online.

In the video below Chris makes his bid for your votes to the 2008 NBA All-Star Game. Bosh is an NBA superstar there is no doubt of that and he has the marketing deals to go with it, but his personality shines online.

Dontrelle Willis – Florida Marlins – Dontrelle Willis writes at Yardbarker which is a corporately funded sports blog site run along the same lines as Digg. He seems to write semi-regularly and his posts have a nice fun quick hitting style.

Alex Merricks – New York Mets Prospect - This is one of my favorite blogs. Do not be scared off by the fact that it looks like (and is) the home of his management company, there are some really good stories here and there are a few other players that blog at the same site.

Serena Williams – Tennis Star - Serena’s site looks a little corporate but she lends her voice from time to time and she’s outside the basketball scope.


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