*By Michael Teich*
Instagram, not Snapchat, is the preferred off-court platform for the LA Clippers to win over fans, said the basketball team's director of social media, Sandro Gasparro.
"Instagram is probably our most engaged platform and also our fastest-growing," Gasparro said Tuesday in an interview on Cheddar. "Most of our fans are there. We get a lot more metrics as well."
The Clippers on Monday became the NBA's first team to introduce player GIFs to Instagram Stories, choosing the Facebook-owned ($FB) app over the similar offering from Snap ($SNAP), which is based in the LA area.
Gasparro said the decision largely came down to user preference. With 400 million daily active users, Instagram Stories attracts more than double Snapchat's count of daily visitors ー which stood at 188 million at the end of June.
"It allows us to unlock the personalities of our players a little bit and show what they are like off the court," Gasparro said of the Instagram Stories platform. "It also allows our fans to really contribute to the conversation around the team in unique and fun ways."
The NBA's early adoption and savvy strategy for social media has created a strong, engaged fan base.
The NBA's Twitter ($TWTR) account has 27.3 million followers. The NFL, MLB, and NHL all fail to measure up, with 24.1 million, 8.2 million, and 6.14 million, respectively.
Gasparro said it's a team effort ー Clippers execs are collaborating with players to capitalize on the digital trend.
"We're definitely working really closely with our guys, not only in terms of supplying them with great content they can use on their channels, but also helping them craft their own content strategy," he said.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/la-clippers-do-it-for-the-gram-2).
As we celebrate Black History Month, Cheddar is highlighting prominent Black Americans who are carving their own historic paths and trailblazing in their fields. Today we feature NFL all-time great and current college coach Deion Sanders.
As Super Bowl LVI shapes up to be the biggest gambling event in sports history, restaurants and bars are looking to get in on the rapidly growing world of legalized sports betting.
The NFL was struck with a bombshell lawsuit by former Dolphins Head Coach Brian Flores that accuses them and three teams of discrimination. The league's hiring practices when it comes to minority coaches have been in question for years but may finally see some change after Flores' suit. Cheddar News was joined by Matt Lombardo, National NFL Insider at Fansided to discuss the suit and its possible implications.
The Rams will technically be the road team for Super Bowl LIV despite the event being play at their home venue, Sofi Stadium. Why? Because the league alternates which conference's team is designated as home, and this year, it's the Bengals turn. Cody Roark, NFL Analyst for Pro Football Network, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell for some more Super Bowl nuggets and discusses what viewers should watch for when the game kicks off.
Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback in NFL history, has retired after winning seven Super Bowls and setting numerous passing records in an unprecedented 22-year-career.
From the environment to income inequality, many issues can be seen through the lens of our favorite athletes and teams. In this episode, we’re exploring the world of sports.
