Officiating.com is searching for writers who are qualified basketball officials. Why "give away" your thoughts in the Forum? Send them to us, and we'll pay you for them.

Added:

I am always amazed when some officials are so quick to impugn the motives of their brother officials. I posted this on each of the message boards. One person said he thought the thread would be deleted, that "giving away" thoughts was just sharing ideas, and that I could send him a check after reading what he writes for that board.

What we're trying to do is increase the number of officials willing to share their thoughts, expertise, and experiences with like-minded officials.

[Edited by Carl Childress on Mar 30th, 2004 at 09:02 AM]

And you can enjoy reading your articles, after, of course, you pay for that privilige by buying a subscrption to officiating.com

Yes, which as you know, Garth, is also the practice at <i>Esquire</i> or the <i>New Yorker</i>. I was a paid columnist for <i>Referee</i> magazine from 1984 to 1995. I bought my subscription each year, just like everyone else.</p>But your point is well taken. Just because everyone else does it shouldn't mean Officiating.com must do it. Beginning this week, writers will receive copies of their articles.

EVERYONE ELSE? Wow. A slight generalization, maybe?

My godson who wties for Newsweek telss me this is not the practice there. Neither is it the practice at Time, the Washington Post or even the Spokane Valley Times. I'm sure my list would be longer than yours.

However, congratulations on the change. Long overdue.

[Edited by GarthB on Mar 31st, 2004 at 09:29 AM]

Everyone else at <i>Referee</i> magazine.

Mr. Benahm: Surely you're not claiming that every free lance writer who gets a story in the <i>Washington Post</i> also gets a year's subscription. Sell a humorous anecdote to the <i>Reader's Digest</i>, then come back and tell us how quickly they gave you a subscription to the magazine. Naturally, full-time, salaried employees of a periodical get the magazine or newspaper. That's a given. I suggest you're experienced enough to know you're misstating the case, mixing pecans and grapefruit.

Officiating.com doesn't have any salaried writers. Neither does <i>Referee</i>. Neither sports magazine offers free subscriptions.

Once again, Carl, while demonstrating your flair for and skill in rhetoric, you have missed the point. Freelance writers to those publications I mentioned, and, I dare say, to most reputable publications receive, without cost, copies of their work to see how the final piece read.

Until today, according to you, that was not the case in officiating.com

Again, congratulations on joining the 20th century.

"Again, congratulations on joining the 20th century."

Another dig, or did you mean 21st century?

I am sure that Garth wrote exactly what he intended.

Tee

While many may not think it to be a big deal, it WAS a big deal to see the articles before they were posted. Many times they were edited heavily -- and not with regards to spelling and grammar.

Also, many times the article would be broken up with "Editor's Notes" -- as if the editor's opinion on each topic was vital to the reader. Obviously someone has a great command of the English language but doesn't understand the role of an editor at a periodical. I've never picked up a magazine and seen editor's note in the articles.

Dear Papa C

i have the championship game behind the plate