This week, Sports Illustrated released their list of the 100 best sports figures on social media. From players and coaches to media members and organizations, the publication’s Social 100 provided a group of must-follows on Twitter, Instagram and other platforms.
For those interested in all sports, at all levels, in every part of the country, SI’s list was very helpful. But for people who want to focus on local happenings, for those who really only care about the teams that play within the rectangle borders of Colorado, the 100 names was relatively useless; it didn’t steer them in the right direction.
But never fear, a solution is here. Mile High Sports has compiled a list of the best athletes, coaches, team personnel, media members and others who talk about the teams fans in Denver and across the Centennial State care about most. And they’ve been compiled right here, in Colorado’s Twitter 10.
(NOTE: We avoided players, as they a. typically don’t have much to say and b. will be playing somewhere else soon enough. We also avoided members of the Mile High Sports family, as this isn’t about self-promotion; that said, you should definitely follow @milehighsports and the company’s cast of writers, radio hosts and other personalities).
No. 10 – Colorado Rapids (@coloradorapids)
Wow, a goal in the first minute… #MLSCup pic.twitter.com/XJvgPCjBh3
— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) December 6, 2015
The local MLS team shows what a team account can (and should) be. They use Twitter to get out news about the team, as well as spread the word about promotions. But they also do by far the best job of interacting with their fans via social media, with #RapidsMoment being the latest example. And most importantly, they show a little personality, not taking themselves too seriously by having a little fun along the way.
No. 9 – Mile High Report (@milehighreport)
#Broncos‘ starting safeties land at #7 (@darianstewart26) and #24 (@BossWard43). #NoFlyZone https://t.co/y39HYkKN3O
— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) December 10, 2015
The Broncos blog within the SB Nation platform is a great follow for an all-around look at the team. Yes, they see things through orange-tinted glasses, but they don’t trot out the company line like so many of the team’s beat guys (see @MikeKlis). And, they do a great job of providing fans with a look at what other media outlets are saying about the Broncos, including ESPN, SI, Mile High Sports, etc. Great one-stop shopping!
No. 8 – Arran Andersen (@arranandersen)
There will be no selfies in section 332 #photobomb pic.twitter.com/3yB3TCGLAk
— Arran Andersen (@arranandersen) December 8, 2015
One of the main sports anchors on Channel 7, Andersen deserves way more attention than he gets in this town. First of all, he does a great job of covering every local team. Second, he’s willing to take people and franchises to task when needed. Third, he has a great sense of humor which keeps things light and fun. And finally, he’ll interact with fans a bit on his timeline. That’s an all-around good follow.
No. 7 – Andrew Mason (@masedenver)
Life’s little adventures, Seinfeld-style: “I’ve never felt so alive! Things are going to be different for me now!” http://t.co/7dZVmPP5V0
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) September 27, 2015
Granted, Mason leans heavily in the Broncos direction; that’s to be expected given his official affiliation with the team. But that also provides him with some great access, which he puts to great use by cranking out a ton of excellent content. The guy is just a fountain of information, like the Broncos media guide come to life. And his Seinfeld and Simpsons references are always a nice touch.
No. 6 – Darren McKee (@dmac1043)
Wade continues to wear that awful jacket pic.twitter.com/iDGkuogDwx
— Darren McKee (@dmac1043) December 9, 2015
His play-by-play breakdown of things (such as Broncos preseason games the day after the happened) can get a little tedious at times, but D-Mac is one of the best in town when it comes to actually asking the tough questions. And that comes through on his Twitter account, where he’s willing to pose opinions that are different from the norm. D-Mac isn’t a part of the groupthink crowd.
No. 5 – Kyle Keefe (@kylekeefetv)
Sure was fun having hair 11 years ago. pic.twitter.com/OByKAxqVLo
— Kyle Keefe (@kylekeefetv) December 8, 2015
In a town where the media is focused on the Broncos seemingly 365 days per year, Keefe is a great way to work some other teams into your timeline – namely the Colorado Avalanche. As a studio analyst for Altitude TV, he follows that team as closely as anyone. And while he may not be able to offer biting criticism, he does provide more than just a homer’s viewpoint. Plus, he’s pretty darn funny to boot.
No. 4 – Mark Kiszla (@markkiszla)
Some say I am an acquired taste. Takes decades. Sometimes even a lifetime isn’t enough 🙂 https://t.co/S7CzD1i4Dx
— Mark Kiszla (@markkiszla) December 10, 2015
Sure, Kiz can be insufferable at times, as he’s a pretty big fan of Mark Kiszla. But the guy knows how to do his job at a high level, as he makes people think and knows how to push buttons. That’s what has made him a great columnist over the years and it’s a trait that he brings to Twitter, where he launch a salvo or two from time and time and is even willing to banter back and forth with fans, readers and haters.
No. 3 – Wade Phillips (@sonofbum)
Chicken Parm tastes so good-I like it especially with Cheese
— Wade Phillips (@sonofbum) November 2, 2015
The unintentional comedy that comes with following the Broncos defensive coordinator on Twitter is priceless. That shouldn’t be a surprise given that he is a 68-year-old guy trying to interact in an online world that is built for people more than 50 years younger than him. Nonetheless, he gets in there and makes things happen, whether it’s shooting a jab at the Packers after a big win or finding a backup safety when Denver needs one.
No. 2 – Colorado Rockies (@rockies)
It’s Movie Night at #CoorsField! #TheRookie is on the big screen. pic.twitter.com/QBT4TuasUd
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 13, 2015
No, this isn’t a joke. Just because it’s the official account of the most incompetent team in town doesn’t mean that the folks who handle the tweets for the Rockies aren’t very good. Think about how creative they have to be, coming up with something to say during a 162-game season that is mostly filled with meaningless games played by a hapless team. It’s amazing what these folks find to focus on instead of baseball.
No. 1 – Vic Lombardi (@viclombardi)
Time to play “slacks or shorts”. My man!! #broncosfan pic.twitter.com/Ta5Uh3rIMS
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) December 7, 2015
In a town filled with too many reporters that simply regurgitate what the teams spoon feed them, Lombardi actually does some good, old-fashioned digging for stories. That makes him a must-follow for info alone. Throw in the fact that he’s not afraid to admit that he roots for the local teams (#myNuggets) and this Holy Family graduate is someone every Colorado sports fan can relate to (#westside). Were that not enough, his Periscope broadcasts have become the stuff of legend (his field day rant was an all-time classic).