After almost 14 years of prep and collegiate officiating, I find myself awed by the coaches I'm covering in ways both good and bad. So much of what's said to an official is offered into the teeth of crowd noise or said while the official is running by and therefore goes unheard.
I'm reporting for The Capital in Annapolis with more frequency these days. We're dedicated to giving as much quality journalism to prep sports and Naval Academy athletics as possible. It reminds me of the Detroit city and suburban dailies, circa the late 1960s and early 1970s, when a football Friday looked like Game Seven in Saturday's paper. That's today's Capital. I'm seeing coaches in a light I previously had turned a overtly blind eye to as an official. The coaches are passionate and care very much about their kids. Anyone with a heartbeat who can't see that is faking it...the heartbeat, that is.
I've shuddered at some infrequent but brazen attempts by coaches trying to influence the officiating, as well as one or two acts of unsportsmanlike behavior directed at opposing student-athletes, too. Sometimes the officiating has left a lot to be desired, too. The specifics of these instances would serve no purpose to be divulged in this forum and unfortunately, you'll find all of that in every city, county and state in the union.
Seeing the prep game from the stands again, it's feels like I'm re-discovering a part of Americana floating below the radar of endlessly loud chatter of varying social and political importance.
BOOK IT! I'm in Grosse Pointe, Michigan's Barnes & Noble at 19221 Mack Avenue on Saturday, February 6th for a 2pm book signing...that's 1400 hours for all you seaman and soldiers out there. I'll be signing copies of Metro Detroit's High School Basketball Rivalries.
BUCKEYE STATE'S BEST: A tip of the cap to Larry Phillips of Mansfield, Ohio's News Journal, who jumped out on a limb and attempted to pick an all-time Ohio prep football team. I took the time to write Phillips and he managed to convince his editor it was a worthy comment, including it in yesterday's reader comment recap -- where do I send the check?
I appreciated his efforts; I knew I was going to be put through the keyhole and back when I did my prep football book, too. The first book in any genre is the toughest to get onto the presses. Publishers are wary about unproven markets and while being first to the finish line is important, it's more important to have a few bills in the bank after the race.
In Ohio, every day a publisher prints prep football news, he puts his or her paper's reputation on public display. Ohio is to prep football what the D.C. Beltway is to politics. Perversely passionate best categorizes Ohioans and their relationship with high school football. Hey, it's either that or laying claim to the largest group of unionized breadtruck drivers in America. I'd accept being perversely passionate about football over driving the Wonder Bread truck any day.
Ever wonder why Ohio hates Michigan? Sure, the Michigan-Ohio State game is usually played with the Big Ten title and Rose Bowl berth contingent on the outcome, but look closer. Look at how many Ohioans populate the varsity rosters annually at Michigan and Michigan State. Better yet, drive through the state on a football Friday. All you'll find on your radio is country, Christian or any number of games playing in the county you're driving through.
A few debatable selections aside, it's a great list and accomplishes the one thing every writer appreciates: Quotable chatter.
Regards...
~ T.C. Cameron is a two-time author, three-sport official and four days away from eating two coneys with everything in Detroit!
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