No special treatment given here

Normally I shy away from writing columns like this. Sure, my emotions get in the way at times and I might sit down and write something on paper, but it usually never makes it into print. Better judgement from myself (or my boss) prevails. But this time I think it's necessary.

The chorus has grown louder recently -- or maybe I've just noticed it more -- about certain things that may be wrong about the way we cover sports. Of course I'd like to think there's nothing wrong with the way we cover sports, but I know that's completely not true.

There are times I wish I had more space, or more time, or more people in the sports department to cover a multitude of events in sickening detail. But you deal with what you're given. You have to make a conscious decision to prioritize things and sometimes, those middle school results or those bowling scores just have to wait for another day.

The simple thing would be to say "Make more space, hire another sports writer, have less advertising, etc." The problem with that is if you know anything about newspapers then you also know that advertising pays the salaries for everyone who works here. You think we make any discernable money from our 50-cent rack price? Think again. That doesn't even cover the costs associated with physically printing the paper and delivering it, not to mention the editorial side and the composing side.

The amount of advertising in the newspaper dictates how large the paper is and how many staff members we can hire. It's a fact of newspaper life that you have to deal with when you choose this field, as I did.

When you take that into consideration, then you can begin to realize why I might only have two stories in the sports section on a given day. You can also realize why I was unable to successfully cover all four events going on locally the day before.

The advertising-paper size-staff size side of the equation is something I don't have a direct impact on. What I do have a direct impact on is what does make it to print each day when it comes to sports, and I want to explain why things are done a certain way.

To do this comprehensively, I have drawn up a list of things that readers need to know, because there is a lot of false assumption and conclusion-jumping that goes on at times.

I'll call this list the Sports Section Truths, for lack of a more imaginative title.

1. High school sports are important.

The high school coverage that we try to bring you here is the top priority. It is the most fair way to do things and frankly, there is more interest in the Nevada Daily Mail if the local high school sports get extensive coverage. What other newspaper gives you coverage of Nevada on a regular basis? That's our bread and butter. Besides, everybody is in high school at one point or another (I hope). So if you want to be a sports legend locally, you probably need to get started in high school.

2. I don't hold any vendettas.

Regardless of what you think, I don't hate your kid, purposely neglect your kid or wish ill will toward your kid. The simple fact is when your kid stands out on the field, court, mat, etc., that's when your kid gets coverage. If you think I'm missing the boat with your kid, you're welcome to call me here at the paper at (417) 667-3344.

3. No special treatment.

This is a big one. I used to hear this all the time with Hillary Adams, and I've also heard it with a few others. The Nevada Daily Mail does not give special treatment to advertisers, school officials, business owners, coaches kids or anybody else, for that matter.

Sure, Adams received a lot of coverage, she also is one of the top point scorers in Nevada High School girls basketball history and was a pretty good athlete. She deserved the coverage that she received. I was never once approached by Dave Adams to cover his kid more than others. The Nevada Daily Mail does not work for Nevada schools.

I take personal offense when people suggest something like, "Everybody knows why Colby Shepherd is always in the paper."

Could it be that he was the best cover-corner I saw all season? I don't know Colby's parents and haven't the slightest clue who they are. I do know that as a freshman on the varsity, to be as good a corner as he was this season is something special. To suggest that he gets special attention because of his parents is missing the boat.

I grew up in a family that didn't have a lot of money. We didn't own a business, sit on the school board or coach a sports team. In other words, I was never accused of receiving special treatment growing up. I had to work for every bit of accolades and news coverage that I received, and so did my brothers and sister.

To that end, I know what a political world it can be, because I've been on the short end of a few sticks. Rest assured, we do not give sports coverage for any political gain of any sort.

Besides, I don't even know all the movers and shakers in the area. Even if I wanted to be politically motivated, I couldn't. I've only lived in Nevada for 16 months. Before I interviewed for the job here, I had never heard of Nevada, Mo. So don't go accusing me or this paper of favoritism. It doesn't exist.

4. Sports are not equal opportunity.

Some sports are more high profile than others. Some athletes are better than others. We aren't an NHS newsletter, we're a newspaper. It is our responsibility to cover interesting, unusual or extraordinary happenings.

We are also not a yearbook.

Along those lines, yes, football and basketball tend to get the most coverage. They also have the most local interest.

I like wrestling, tennis, golf and volleyball as much as the next guy, but I have a job to do and part of that is providing the most interesting sports coverage I can. The idea is to gain readers, not lose them.

Even so, if you think I am shorting a sport, call me and we can discuss it. I guarantee that if an athlete or a team makes it to state, they are going to get more coverage. The newspaper has proven that in the 16 months I've been here. Look at the big spread we did for the wrestlers last spring. Look at the big features we did on girls' golf and cross country this fall. If you think it wasn't satisfactory, again, I'm all ears.

5. Pictures are unpredictable.

When it comes to pictures in the paper it can sometimes be a crapshoot. We like to use the best picture we've got, regardless of who's in it. Sometimes Ralph Pokorny and I don't even realize that the best pictures are of the same kid that was in the paper last week until we get back to the office and pull them up on the computer. We may try to get a particular individual if they do something truly special, but it doesn't always work out like we plan.

That's it. If you remember the five Sports Section Truths, we'll get along just fine. The bottom line is, we are trying to be fair while doing our job at the same time. With your cooperation, we can do just that.