You the Referee: Internet Activism enters the Sports Arena

In the world of sports, Internet activism is one way for fans and important personalities to influence what happens in the sport to which they are connected. Many ruling bodies and Commissioner’s offices tend to monitor Internet activity as a way of gauging popularity and fan acceptance, and even coaches and managers have learned how to monitor Internet activity in order to discover how paying and TV-viewing fans are reacting to their various decisions. Because of this need, companies have developed special software programs designed to monitor Internet activity, especially by checking social media websites and tools. The Controversial Win of the Seattle Seahawks over the Green Bay Packers The recent “victory” of the Seahawks over the Packers, and the subsequent outrage expressed by dismayed NFL fans demonstrate that Internet activism can influence current events in the sports world. Prior to this game, the NFL powers-that-be authorized the employment of replacement refs due to its labor contract dispute with the referees’ union. Because both sides could not agree to a compromise, the regular refs did not go to work, and the league was forced to employ replacements as the season began. For those who used software to monitor Internet activity [...]

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