[Carl Childress]

LetÂ’s see the record straight via direct quotes and times:

1. The “Texas play” makes it to The Official Forum. Sometime on 2/21. The thread has been removed.
2. Osborne replies to Willson and makes this remark:
   What we have here are idiot umpires who have probably worked their last NCAA game. However, it is not protestable [sic]. (7:20 am on 2/21)
3. I send a request to Jon Bible for any comments he might make. I do not identify the source of the "idiot" remark. (8:24 pm on 2/21)
4. Jon replies at 10:02 pm on 2/21, in part saying:
   I didn't realize that the UT situation had generated THAT much discussion. I have not gone to the websites but gather from your comments that quite a lot of talking has gone on. So we are now "idiot umpires" who worked our "last NCAA game"??
5. I post the Mark Land piece, with his permission, from eteamz, in which I made this comment:
   Someone posted that surely those guys were “idiot umpires” who had called their last NCAA game, implying they were over-the-hill. I think just the reverse is true. Conference supervisors are looking for umpires who can handle explosive situations with dignity and aplomb.” (10:44 pm on 2/21)
6. Steve Freix replies:
   Carl, I am uncertain as to the accuracy of indicating "someone" called them "idiot umpires". Can you provide that source of statement? As I can best recall, you may have taken a quote out of context. Peter O. may be the author of the misquote that you mention. I tend to recall that Peter was referring, not to Jon Bible, but to umpires in a hypothetical situation that Peter had just described.” (11:46 pm on 2/22)
7. I post the entire context of OsborneÂ’s original comment. (12:20 am on 2/23)
8. Osborne writes Jon to say:
   I had originally ignored Carl's post because I felt that it was a deliberate attempt to get me involved in a flame war. Now that this has appeared in another forum and has been attributed to me...,” implying I was the one who identified him as the name-caller. (7:13 am, 2/23)

Summary:

1. Texas play occurs.
2. Discussion in The Forum.
3. Osborne calls the umpires “idiots.”
4. Thread is removed.
5. I repost the situation, with explanations from Jon. I repeat the “idiot” remark but do not attribute it to anyone by name. (Note also that I did not identify by name the second-base umpire.)
6. Freix identifies Osborne as the name-caller while questioning my honesty at posting accurately and in context.
7. I post the context.
8. Osborne tries to weasel out.
9. My mention of Osborne by name occurred once, when I posted the context of his remarks after his minion, Freix, accused me of inaccurate journalism.
10. I never identified Osborne as the source of the "NCAA idiots" remark to the email community.

All of the posts referenced here are available except the original post containing the "idiot" remark. I thoughtfully copied that for posterity, and I am glad I did.

Finally: I have no access to the Board other than my own posts, which the admin will cheerfully acknowledge if necessary.