I’m a sports fanatic, and over the past few years I’ve noticed there’s a new game in sports. Sports teams, organizations, athletes, and even fantasy leagues are all online, using social media, chat forums, websites and more to captivate fans before, during and after games. If thumb typing were a sport, I’m pretty sure I could be the champion.

With football season in full swing both in North America and abroad, I’m amazed to see how fans interact with their favorite teams and players on social media. Want to check the score of the latest match? There are many sports apps that can help you out, but some might find it more useful to check Twitter® or Facebook®, for color commentary from passionate likeminded fans. You can also become a real armchair coach by tweeting with individual players to comment on that beauty touchdown, or to chirp that dreadful botched pass. Football is far from the only sport to go social – we’re seeing it everywhere:

• Throughout last baseball season, BlackBerry ® sponsored the Blue Jays BlackBerry Tweeting Tuesday program, where fans submit photos and explain why they should be called “Fan of the Game.” Not only does the winner receive digital glory, but they are highlighted on Canadian national TV after the game.
• Many consider World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE®), to be the Holy Grail for fan engagement. With more than 115 million followers across its social media channels – 10 million fans on Facebook alone – it has as firm a hold on its digital fanbase as its players do on their opponents.
• FOX Sports™ hired eight full-time employees dedicated to social media during NFL games this season. Whether good or bad, if an athlete tweets it, Fox knows about it. It certainly proved effective during the widely discussed substitute referee incidents early in the season.
• Trade Deadline Day in the National Hockey League has been changed forever because of social media updates about trades. (Remember the NHL?)
• We even got to see which Major League Baseball team won the World Series according to Twitter.

Using social media applications on your BlackBerry device allows you to not only follow, but also to engage with your favorite teams and athletes. Which teams and players are you following? Do you have any tricks on engaging with them on your BlackBerry device? Let us know in the comment section below.

What an exciting time of year for sports fans! Football is in full swing, and the Fall Classic starts today in the world of baseball after another exciting postseason. During this time of year, with so many different sports to keep track of, I use my BlackBerry ® smartphone and BlackBerry ® PlayBook ™ tablet to stay updated. If you’re a sports fan, you’re probably doing the same. According to a survey by Motricity, 55 percent of sports fans surveyed admitted to checking game info on their devices at dinner, 50 percent while using the restroom, and 42 percent while at work. I’ve done all three!

For sports enthusiasts who are constantly on the go, here are some impressive apps for your BlackBerry smartphone or BlackBerry PlayBook tablet that will help you keep track of your favorite sports:

• MLB.com at Bat 12 by MLB Advanced Media, LP: This is the official app of MLB, which makes it the closest thing to having a sportscaster in your back pocket. One of the app’s standout features is live radio broadcasting of both home and away games, which brings the game to you wherever you happen to be.

• ScoreMobile for BlackBerry by Score Media Ventures: This app has all the bells and whistles that hardcore sports fans require to keep track of their favorite teams while on the go, like up-to-the-minute stats and live updates. My favorite feature is the exclusive blog posting during live events, which I can reference when messaging about the game with friends through in-app BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™) integration. This app includes coverage of MLB, National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), National Hockey League (NHL), college football and basketball, and more!

• ScoreMobile Tablet by Score Media Ventures: I like this app because it’s optimized exclusively for the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, which means it delivers all the same features and sports coverage as the smartphone app with video commentary, in both portrait and landscape views.

How do you follow your favorite sports team on your BlackBerry smartphone or BlackBerry PlayBook tablet? Let us know in the comments!

Full disclosure: while Fall is particularly pretty in the Waterloo area, right now I wish I was in New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup 2011, which kicked off this month and ends October 23rd. While I won’t be able to cheer from the stands, that won’t stop me from following all the action! Allow me to introduce you to a few ways your BlackBerry® smartphone or BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet can help you stay on top of the games at the Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC 2011).

BlackBerry.com/Rugby

In honor of the tournament, we have created a Rugby World Cup 2011 resource center for #TeamBlackBerry. From here, you can see the latest RWC 2011 news and upcoming games, learn how you can win a BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, and more.

And if you think you’ve got what it takes, make sure to enter The Ultimate Fan contest and demonstrate your Rugby World Cup 2011 devotion.

Check it all out at BlackBerry.com/Rugby!

Official Rugby World Cup 2011 app for BlackBerry smartphones and BlackBerry PlayBook tablet

Available now for download in the BlackBerry App World™ storefront, the Official Rugby World Cup 2011 app for BlackBerry smartphones and BlackBerry PlayBook tablet gets you inside the Match Centre for live coverage, near real-time commentary and stats.

Get them both here: RWC 2011 for BlackBerry PlayBook and BlackBerry Smartphone

BlackBerry Australia & New Zealand Face Paint Facebook App

Why hide your enthusiasm for Rugby World Cup 2011 when you can paint it all over your face? With the BlackBerry® Face Paint app, available on our Australia and New Zealand Facebook® page, you can show all of your friends your team spirit. Check it out here:

Facebook Paint Your Face Application

What team will you be following on the Official Rugby World Cup 2011 app for BlackBerry? Better yet, what color will you paint your face? Tell us in the comments section below – and for our #TeamBlackBerry teammates who are able to attend, tweet us a picture on @BlackBerry using the hashtag #BBRugby!