[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

Actually, I get "published" every once in a while, which shows you how small a town Portland really is.

Seriously, I know quite a few reporters, both print and electronic, as I've been involved in civic, youth sports, school and political activities in this area for over 35 years. It's not that unusual for me to receive a call asking my "take" on a particular issue, usually for "background".

I'm not stating this to be bragging, only to say that if you take the time to get involved, people then take your opinions into consideration when reviewing issues and you gain credibility.

Two years ago, I asked a reporter friend of mine to run a story on the need for volunteers for our local kids rec league. He ran it, and ten parents showed up at our next meeting to volunteer. It was a big help. I also got three TV stations and all three local newspapers to cover a fund raiser for a local G.I. who is stationed in Iraq. They covered it not only because of the story value, but because they knew I had credibility and the event was legitimate.

Again, anyone can achieve this level of credibility if they get involved in their community. I would encourage all of you to do the same.

OK, I'll get down off my soapbox now.

Agreed. I have a good relationship with several writers at our local newspaper. They routinely do articles on officiating and local officials. The HS Preps sportwriter contacts me at the end of football and basketball season when putting together the paper's all-region teams and asks about deserving players that I may have seen that he's not familiar with. He'll call me with rule questions whenever he comes across something unusual. But he would never put me in a controversial situation by quoting me about an officiating screwup or something like that or publish anything I might say. It's been very positive.

Sports writers are alot like officials. They don't get a lot of cooperation from coaches. You'd be amazed at the coaches who don't send in stats or game reports or who don't nominate their kids for recognition.