Tip of the day: There are good ways and bad ways to interact with fans, kids.
Bad: Miko Grimes, the crazy-train wife of Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Brent Grimes, busting out anti-Semitic language on Twitter while critiquing the Jewish owner of her husband's former team, the Miami Dolphins.
Good: Austin Dillon, cold-calling fans in conjunction with a NASCAR promotion and broadcast partner NBC. It led to a lot of thumbs up on Twitter and elsewhere.
"It was a lot of fun," Dillon said. "The guys at NBC are doing a really good job. They had a list of names on there of fans of Austin Dillon and I just started calling them. I couldn't disguise my voice; it is so country. I have a pretty funny voice every now and then; I just didn't use it."
Other drivers, including Kyle Busch, have participated in NBC's "Phone a Fan" web video, where unsuspecting fans receive calls from their favorite NASCAR drivers. Dillon called a fan named Jackson while posing as a NASCAR market researcher to discuss Dillon's iconic No. 3 car, haircuts and girls.
"There are a lot of haters out there and to hear a real fan and talk to them on the phone and get the love from them," Dillon said, "it was pretty special just hearing fans that support you and are proud of what you are doing out there ... and just excited to hear from you. That is what's fun about it and that is what makes our sport great."
There are examples every day of how social media can be used for the greater good, and how it can turn into a dumpster fire in a heartbeat.
Thumbs up for Austin Dillon.
