[mcrowder]

I do not understand the fear of the internet thing.

I was "talked to" 2 football seasons ago after posting the names (in a congratulatory manner, no less) of the football officials who worked the nationally televised game between Southlake Carroll and Denton Ryan. Names I got from the box score in the paper, by the way. Public knowledge if anyone cared.

I just don't get it. This is such a POSITIVE influece, most of the time. Not as much on the baseball side - lots of smitties that are out of touch with reality and afraid to adapt/learn/admit they were wrong/etc. But over here most threads are cordial, and even if there is disagreement in the end, I find that I am a more knowledgeable umpire from visiting here.

I also think that for the most part, the group of posters/lurkers here are posting/lurking with a geniune interest in improving their craft. There would be much to gain from someone high up A) reading our discussions (it may be that a rule is worded in a funny way that causes confusion to the lay-umpire, but the higher ups have no idea the confusion exists) and B) providing input "straight from the horse's mouth" if you will.

We often have a pickle that gets discussed and not quite resolved. Someone will invariably say, "I'll email Joe Blow, Head Honcho at the ABCDE Associaion", and then post a reply. But we don't know that the reply is what was actually said, and we don't know that the question was really framed correctly.

Even if it was just some sort of weekly "Ask Mr. ASA" column/thread format where we could post questions, and he would answer once a week. Anything along these lines would be of benefit.

Perhaps someone in charge of this website could pursue this/persuade this into happening...