Dear dimwit on the phone

First couple of years, I did that
Found some framing on a clip art service, made some words of congratulations with a script font and had someone in graphics scan in the signatures of myself and the staff writer. One year our marketing director found some cardboard frames so they looked even cooler. Lost it all in a massive system crash and couldn't get motivated to do it again.

Is anyone even picking all-county teams this year?

 

While I would warm to the idea of what journalists do makes a difference, the thought of a trophy or certificate from a publication persuading a recruiter or scout is not what I had in mind.

 

We had a local trophy company that would give an award to a player of the week. I ended it when it became more about the company, whose owner was quite the blowhard, than the athletes. Plus the kids didn't care. Most never arranged to pick up their trophy.

I got to know the owner a couple years later and he would complain to me about the asshole who ended his trophy program not remembering that the asshole was me.

He was the same guy that we all know who would see me talking to someone in a social situation and say "don't tell him anything, he'll put it in the paper."

 

Dear dimwit who put a cellphone on the backstop at the softball playoff game today so he/she could record the game: Bet you didn't think someone would foul a ball off directly where you put the phone, didn't you?

 

I have never understood filming a game you're at. Are you ever going to watch that again? How about you experience the game instead of viewing it through your 3-inch screen?

Now get out of my stadium.

 

I had that aha moment when I was filming one of my son's at bats when he played youth baseball. I became more concerned with the camera and angles than just enjoying him playing. I never filmed anything else he participated in, although I did take photographs.

 

Same with ... weddings?

 

I can see the case as a training aid. But like you said, small screen.

 

I could see filming small segments if you are sending to grandparents out of town.

 

About a month ago I was covering a high school state championship game and spotted this fella. Took this picture during live action, not between innings. Sadly, he didn't learn the lesson your filmer did.

 

How in the absolute fuck did the umpires/state association not stop that?

 

Reminds me of a story a photog told me years ago. He was assigned a youth baseball game and was taking his pictures out of harm's way when a team mom came along and started shooting as well, wandering up and down in foul territory, yelling encouragement, ect. The umpire threw her and the photog out. Between innings, he showed the umpire his credential and assignment slip and was allowed to go back on the field. Mom threw a fit because she wasn't.