LAUREN Jackson’s revelation that she effectively blocks any negative media reports should come as no surprise.

Jackson, regarded by many as the world’s best ever women’s basketball player, is yet to play a game this season for the Canberra Capitals in the WNBL.

For years she battled a lower-back and hamstring strain, now she’s on the comeback trail from knee surgery.

She says she is beyond frustrated at not being able to get on to the court and her focus is very much on winning a title for the Capitals.

That hasn’t stopped many who send their thoughts out on social media suggesting that she hasn’t been worth the investment by the Capitals with suggestions that she owes the team another season because of the injury plagued years.

But, as she told me last week, it is not as if she is intentionally not playing, she is doing all she can to get back on to the court. I would go so far as to say she is putting more pressure on herself than anybody else.

Surely she has enough credit to make a return when fit enough and not forced to do so because of the demands of so-called supporters?

Some people have forgotten the years when she could hardly walk but continued to play in pain with injuries, for which she is now paying the price. Yet there seems to be little understanding by some social-media users.

Social media allows interaction between athletes and fans, but it has also created the “keyboard warrior”, who hides behind the computer offering highly critical musings of the athlete’s performance.  

Lauren says if she sees anything negative about herself on social media or in the news, she shuts it down. She also has a group of friends that are very protective and shield her from negative stories.

It’s a shame an athlete has to live like this.

From my experience, it’s been no different for Ricky Stuart. Like Lauren, he doesn’t read the press or take any notice of what happens on social media, despite many getting carried away last season and calling for his sacking. It’s almost as if they believe that by making demands on social media, it will happen.

Sure, a social-media campaign started by a single post generates plenty of heat among the people involved, but the Raiders’ board takes no notice of campaigns run on social media.

It has become a forum for like-minded supporters to vent their spleen more than anything else and often has a greater impact on the families of targeted athletes and coaches.