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Pittsburgh Athletes On Twitter

Social media is on the rise and athletes are starting to join in on the fun to connect with fans. Many have Facebook and MySpace pages, but if you want to share some quick thoughts with your favorite player, the best place to do it is on Twitter. Here's a list of a few local athletes who are known to Tweet!
ryanClarkTwitter
credit: www.twitter.com

Ryan Clark, DB, Pittsburgh Steelers

@ryanclark25

Sample tweet: "Yes I watch Jersey Shore. Hey we all have faults. Lol"

While Clark is often overshadowed by fellow teammate Troy Polamalu (he once joked that he likes to be introduced first because otherwise, his name would be drowned out by the cheers for Polamalu), over 14,000 fans are now following him for a daily dose of analysis and personal introspection. Unlike many athletes, Clark engages his fans in healthy discussion -- even once inviting some out to breakfast (something his wife later nixed). Deeply religious, Clark regularly posts Bible quotes and ventures into theology as well.

lamarWoodleyTwitter
credit: www.twitter.com

LaMarr Woodley, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers

@lamarrwoodley

Sample tweet: "Mich st doesnt know what theyre gettin themselves into comin into the big house next wk they bout to get denard robinschooled"

From the sample tweet, it's pretty clear that LaMarr Woodley still bleeds the maize-and-blue from his alma mater, Michigan. He has become a quick fan favorite for his hustle and dedication on the field.

mikeRupp
credit: www.facebook.com

Mike Rupp, C, Pittsburgh Penguins

@rupper17

Sample tweet: "Been training far too long with the bad taste in mouth from last years playoffs! Tomorrow is an OPPORTUNITY... And the boys are hungry!"

While his teammates are split on the value of Tweeting, Mike Rupp used his account to document his recent tour of Haiti with fellow teammate Max Talbot. On the hockey front, he recently ran a contest among his 6,000 followers to find a new nickname for the Consol Energy Center - rewarding respondents with game tickets and gloves.

piratesVincentLaforet94689542
credit: Vincent Laforet/Getty Images

Sean Casey, 1B, Pittsburgh Pirates (retired)

@themayorsoffice

Sample tweet: "Talked to Joey votto on MLB Tonight n he clearly is the new mayor in Cincinnati n the NL MVP too!! Great dude n he rakes! Go reds!"

Former Pirate first baseman Sean Casey earned his nickname "The Mayor" because of his high public profile, both on the field and with the fans and charity organizations. The Upper Saint Clair native only spent part of the 2006 season in his hometown, but he continues to make his presence known as an analyst on the MLB Network. He, too, joined Rupp and Talbot on their venture to Haiti.

joelHanrahanTwitter
credit: Joel Hanrahan/Twitter

Joel Hanrahan, P, Pittsburgh Pirates

@hanrahan4457

Sample tweet: "Does anybody know if you are supposed to tip the Stanley steamer carpet cleaners?"

One of the lower-profile local athletes to Tweet, Hanrahan has been actively tweeting his time in Pittsburgh since arriving from the Dodgers last season. His account focuses more on the day-to-day travails of being a ballplayer, but interacts with fans on a regular basis. While Bucco fans may choose to not relive the 2010 season, Hanrahan promises to document his favorite teams during the college and NFL football seasons instead.

steveBreastonChristianPeterson104631692
credit: Steve Breaston/Getty Images

Steve Breaston, WR, Arizona Cardinals (Turtle Creek native)

@sbreaston15

Sample tweet: "You can not always control circumstances, but you can control your own thoughts." -CP- Goodnight everybody"

If you've ever wanted to get in the head of the competition, check out Steve Breaston's Tweets. While many Steelers fans won't even consider following a Cardinal, Breaston is a hometown kid, one of five Woodland Hills High School grads currently playing in the NFL (the most of any high school in the country.) He often asks followers for updates on his old neighborhood, and checks in with fans, racking up more than a dozen tweets a day.

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