Justin Upton: Chat Recap

Earlier this week, Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Justin Upton appeared on a live web chat sponsored by EastBay and Adidas. The chat allowed fans an opportunity to ask the 2009 All-Star any questions they might have.

The chat itself was very informal, with Upton appearing in a chair in front of a web cam wearing an Adidas shirt (nice product placement). Fans could enter their questions through a browser form. Upton would read the questions and articulate his answers.

The relaxed nature of the chat allowed the fans to see some of Upton’s personality and to see what a genuine person he is. I’ve had several opportunities to speak with Upton, and it was great to see that he is always the same.

A fairly quiet person, Upton at times seems embarrassed by all of the attention he is getting at a young age. Don’t let the shy exterior lull you into believing that he is laid back or uncaring.

At one point during the chat, a fan asked how Upton stayed grounded amid all the media hype. With a shy smile Upton said he was not that big of a star yet. He went on to express that “yet” was the operative word.

He has high expectations for himself and feels that he has not fulfilled his potential yet. That is not to say that he is cocky, just self-confident. At that point, he talked to the younger fans, explaining how important confidence is to the game, and how they need to make sure that confidence does not grow into boastfulness.

Clearly, Upton comes from a very good family. He was raised to respect others and respect the game. As a young player, he still has a ways to go before he matures into the game, but these first steps are very exciting to watch for any Diamondbacks fans.

The questions during the chat ran the gambit, from asking about base-stealing techniques and equipment choices, to wondering about the personal life of a major league baseball player. Upton attempted to answer all of the questions, and even admitted that he has a fear of spiders and snakes.

Hopefully, he can overcome that fear of snakes, at least, of the Diamondbacks variety. Kudos to the EastBay and the Adidas representatives for offering this opportunity to the fans. Not only did the fans get a unique chance to speak to a major league baseball player and ask any question that they wanted, they were also eligible for product giveaways that happened during the chat.

Hopefully, more of these types of forums can be established, to allow the fans to understand a little more about the kind of person each player is. After all, you might find out that you have something in common with them.