#SIDChat Transcript for December 22

The final #SIDChat of 2010 took place.

Had a small crowd, but we discussed the successes of the 2010 and our hopes for 2011.

The wreath on the tree

Confession time: I am a mini-Scrooge at Christmas time.

I do love Christmas. I enjoy getting to spend time with friends and family. I even like going to the malls and shopping this time of year, mainly to watch the mayhem. (FYI, I love to people watch. Better than anything on TV.) And I love all the decorations, all the lights and glitter.

I just hate doing the decorations.

#SIDChat Transcript for December 15

Had another great #SIDChat with lots of good discussion on a wild range of topics.

Topics included taking it easy during the holidays, dealing with helicopter parents, what our worse fears are as a SID and much, much more.

#SIDChat Transcript for December 8

 Here is the transcript for the #SIDChat on December 8.

Topics discussed included dealing with coaching changes, what you look for when hiring and much, much more.

#SIDChat Transcript for December 1

It was a wild and crazy day on the #SIDChat.

Sure, topics were discussed like ramifications of the Cam Newton decision and proper protocol for home/visiting SIDs. But plenty of SIDs - self included - enjoyed some time cutting up and let off steam after coming out of crossover season.

#SIDChat Transcript for November 24

It was a small Thanksgiving crowd for #SIDChat, but there was plenty of good discussion.

Topics for the day included revoking credentials, dealing with the media and more.

#SIDChat Transcript for November 17

Spent the bulk of this week's #SIDChat discussing social media policies and strategies.

Also, we spent time talking about trying to recover from crossover season.

I love my job, but ...

I'm not going to lie: I love my job.

There isn't anything I'd rather be doing professionally than being a sports information director. (OK, that's a lie. I'd love to be a pro athlete, but well, that ship sailed long before I ever reached the dock.)

Getting to work in athletics is a blast. Ninety-nine times out of 100 this job doesn't feel like a job. No two days ever are the same, and there's always something new happening.

Yet, there is one thing I am not a fan of, and I'm going through it right now.

You know it's crossover season when ...

It's the most _________ time of the year.

Yes, it's crossover season, and I will let you fill in the blank however you feel. It's absolutely the craziest, maddening, head-spinning, sleep-depriving time of the year.

#SIDChat Transcript for November 3

Like an oasis in the middle of a desert, this week's #SIDChat was a welcomed respite from crossover season.

Had good discussions on how to measure the impact of game notes, votes, programs and more; how to handle the passing of a student-athlete; prioritizing during crossover season and horror stories from learning new things.

#SIDChat Transcript for October 27

Sorry for the delay, but here is the transcript for the October 27 #SIDChat.

I DID IT!!!

After months of training, two different pairs of running shoes, gallons of sweat and nearly 400 miles ran over the past four-plus months, I completed the Columbus Half Marathon on Oct. 17.

AND I LOVED IT!!!

Call me a glutton for punishment, but it was worth everything I poured into it and more.

#SIDChat Transcript for October 20

More great discussion in this week's #SIDChat.

Topic discussed included dealing with parents/fans, SID-to-SID relations, ways to keep sane and a couple others.

#SIDChat Transcript for October 13

Great discussion on #SIDChat this week. Then again, there's always great discussion on #SIDChat.

Topics discussed included how to handle message board rumors, old equipment we no longer use but miss and those that we don't miss, and adding the 'Like' button on our athletic website.

#SIDChat Transcript for October 6

Had another great discussion on #SIDChat this week.

Discussed potential compliance issues regarding Twitter, criteria for selection of a soccer defensive player of the week and crossover season.

#SIDChat Transcript for September 29

More great discussion and conversation on this week's #SIDChat.

Topics discussed included promoting awards, the credibility of rankings, trusting interns with certain duties and more.

#SIDChat Transcript for September 22

Another great #SIDChat this week.

Had a variety of topics ranging on annoyances during stat keeping to giving and receiving direction.

Sometimes, you just have to take time

We all know sports information directors have a crazy, busy, hectic life. It doesn't matter the time of year, there is ALWAYS something to do and work on.

For me, life has become increasingly busy on Mondays. Mondays were bad to begin with thanks to weekly conference player of the week honors and awards day, but now that I'm the conference SID, it is even more so.

#SIDChat Transcript for September 15

Another week, another #SIDChat.

Had great and lively discussion over a variety of topics such as working with the campus PR office, crisis communication, rebuilding a coach's faith in the sports info office and much, much more.

#SIDChat Transcript for September 8

Yet another great discussion on #SIDChat this week.

Topics ranged from the new NCAA Facebook guidelines to furthering education to job hunting to much more.

This is an embarrassment to the profession

Sometimes enough is enough, and today I've had ENOUGH!

One of the best parts of our role as a sports information director, in my humble opinion, is to promote the amazing student-athletes who cross our path and do what we can to get them all the recognition possible. One of the best ways to do this is the weekly conference and national player of the week awards.

However, glitches are occurring which could derail a deserving student-athlete from getting the accolades they are due.

It's the most wonderful time of the year

It's the night before the football opener, and all through the house, SIDs were scurrying and working the mouse.

Oh, how I wish I had the time right now to re-write 'The Night before Christmas' to reflect my love for working a football game. I love football Saturday. There is nothing like it. My beautiful bride says it's because I'm out of the house all day, but it simply isn't so.

#SIDChat Transcript for September 1

Another week, another #SIDChat.

This week's conversation centered around how to make the most out of our down time, how to make sure we get some time to ourselves and how to handle a reporter who 'fabricated' a story about your athletic department.

#SIDChat Transcript for August 25

Not a lot of topics for this week's #SIDChat, but good discussion nonetheless.

Talked about what 'How To' tips we would like to see made available to us and the headaches we've been facing going into the fall sports season.

It will always be there tomorrow

This is a crazy time of year. There is so much needing to get done.

Media guides to print. Bios to update online. Team and player photos to take, crop and post. Stories to write. Seasons to set up Stat Crew. Rosters to type in.

It is a vicious, never-ending cycle.

#SIDChat Transcript for August 18

Another week, another #SIDChat.

We went on several different tangents this week, covering dealing with media adding student-athletes on Facebook, the decline of newspapers and fans still wanting to see news of your school in there, selling ads and surviving the preseason crunch.

Words can not express

Indulge me as I speak straight from my heart for a bit.

Thirteen years ago today, Genople Wagers accepted my hand in marriage. Little did we know what a wild, crazy ride it would and continues to be.

Here I go again

In honor of getting to search for a new assistant, I offer this little ditty.

Special thanks to my college buddy Myra McEntire for the inspiration to post such a blog. By the way, Myra's an up-and-coming author, so you all need to get on her bandwagon while there is room. Check out her blog as well. Pretty entertaining stuff.

Hope you all enjoy.

#SIDChat Transcript for August 11

Tackled some difficult topics on the #SIDChat on Aug. 11 as we discussed dealing with difficult media personnel and dealing with lack of respect for a SID's time by coaches.

Other topics included how to keep your school in the news during the summer, how to encourage fan interaction on Facebook and much more.

Never underestimate the power of rest

Like most others in sports information, when I latch on to and/or buy into a project, I dive in and like to work as long and as hard as possible to complete the task.

My thinking is: the more I pour myself into this, the quicker it'll get done.

Now, doing this more often than not gets the project done on time, but it might not be the best it could be.

Sometimes when working long and hard on a project, it is good to take a step back from it and take a break.

#SIDChat Transcript for August 3

Another week, another great #SIDChat.

Had a great discussion on making your role as a SID more visible on your campus and within your department, becoming your own media as well as a few other topics.

#SIDChat Transcript for July 28

Had a record number of comments for this week's #SIDChat with 384.

There was lively discussing about cheerleading being ruled not to be a sport by a federal judge, press releases, stress relievers and wondering where summer went.

Why I run

For those of you who have not heard, I've started running. And despite the fact that I honestly can not remember the last time I ran in a race, I'm training to run a half-marathon.

Yes, you read that correctly: a HALF-MARATHON. Thirteen-point-one miles.

I am signed up to run a half-marathon in Columbus, Ohio, on October 17. Going to run with good friend and fellow SID Dave Parsons.

And the scary part of it all? I am enjoying it.

#SIDChat Transcript for July 21

Had a great discussion at #SIDChat on July 21.

Had over 200 comments as we discussed the changing roles of SIDs, trying to disconnect from the job and technology and a couple other topics.

Not interactive online? Then what's the hold up?

The sports information profession has endured a vast number of changes throughout the years. There was once a time press releases were hammered out on a typewriter, scores and stories were called in to newspapers individually and dictated and stats were done by hand.

Word processors and PCs made life a little easier in the late 1980s and 1990s as did the fax machine. And the gods smiled down on SIDs in the mid-1990s with birth of Stat Crew.

But the biggest advancement  (or headache, depending on how you look at it) to the profession has been the Internet.

#SIDChat Transcript for July 14

Had a great discussion on #SIDChat this week with 42 different participants.

Topics revolved around the CoSIDA Convention in San Francisco, flip cams, iPhone apps and pending closed captioning law.

Too many people to thank

Last weekend, I was blessed and honored by the NAIA and NAIA-SIDA as I received the 2010 Clarence "Ike" Pearson Award for outstanding service in sports information.

I can not begin to express how humbling it is for me to join the previous 33 Pearson Award winners in this exclusive club. To read the names of the previous award recipients is like reading a list of the "Who's Who in Sports Information." Not quite sure I deserve to be grouped with such company, but I grateful to be included among the best of the best.

There are so many people I would like to thank and I acknowledged most during my acceptance speech last week at Menlo (Calif.) College during the NAIA-SIDA luncheon. However, not everyone could be there, so I want to publicly thank everyone here.

#SIDChat Transcript for June 30

Had a couple new faces join us for #SIDChat on June 30.

Topics ranged from maintaining objectivity in a release to treating athletic programs fairly and equally in a promotion/media relations standpoint.

#SIDChat Transcript for June 23

Another round of good discussion on #SIDChat on Twitter on June 23. Had a good crowd of 17 readers with over 200 comments submitted.

Topics covered included vacation time, expectations of CoSIDA Convention and press box decorum.

Ahhh ... Summer time: You mean I'm supposed to relax?

School is over. Spring sports all wrapped up. Time to relax, right?

I wish.

Tis the season of my favorite string of comments and questions from those outside the sports information realm.

#SIDChat Transcript for June 16

We had a great discussion on #SIDChat with 46 readers and over 275 total comments.

Topics included media guides and conference realignment.

First impressions matter

WARNING: I am now stepping up on my soapbox.

I really do not understand people and their actions at times, especially upon their first verbal interaction with someone either face-to-face or on the phone.

Before I go any further, let me just say this: First impressions matter, and a bad first impression can be a difficult thing to overcome.

My thoughts on an umpire's missed call

As most anyone who knows me for very long, I am a huge baseball fan. I love the game.

So imagine my glee when I noticed while online that Detroit Tiger pitcher Armando Galarraga had a perfect game going through the seventh inning. Immediately, I turned on the online webcast of the game to listen to the Tiger broadcasts call a potentially historic finish.

As the game moved to the ninth, I flipped my television on ESPN to view the action while calling Jayson, my 9-year-son, so he could watch it with me because he too is a baseball nut.

What unfolded from that point on was nothing like anything I ever expected to see.

#SIDChat Transcript - June 2

#SIDChat is now legal. Well, we had a record 21 participants in the #SIDChat on June 2, 2010, where job seeking tips were discussed.

#SIDChat Transcript - May 26

Had great discussion and conversation on this week's #SIDChat on Twitter. Topics discussed were pet peeves, how to deal with pet peeves, pet projects and taking advantage of and enjoying downtime.

#SIDChat Transcript - May 19

After taking a week off, #SIDChat returned on May 19 with good discussion regarding stats.

#SIDChat Transcript - May 5

Had another good discussion during the May 5 #SIDChat on Twitter.

#SIDChat Transcript - April 21

Had a great discussion during the #SIDChat on Twitter on April 21. Topics discussed were dealing with negative Facebook groups, handling webcasting/broadcasting as well as how to survive the spring sports conference tournament crush.

#SIDChat Transcript - April 14

Had another great #SIDChat on Twitter. Topics discussed were media guides and how to get into the business.

#SIDChat Transcript - April 7

Had a record crowd on #SIDChat on April 7, 2010. Topics discussed were websites, fans and dealing with negative feedback.

Who do you work for?

Who do you work for?

It seems like a simple question with a simple answer. And yet, it's not.

Obviously, the quick and easy answer is your employer, the person signing your paycheck. However, for us in sports information - as well as those in service industries (let's admit it, SIDs are in the service business), we do not only work for our employer.

#SIDChat Transcript - March 31

Yet another good #SIDChat on Twitter on March 31.

Multi-tasker, thy name is Jay

It is amazing the things you do as a SID. What I find most amazing is the number of things a SID does ... at one time.

SIDs do a ton of juggling. I mean a ton.

#SIDChat Transcript - March 24

Had another great, interactive #SIDChat on March 24. We didn't have a lot of time to share with one another, but it was a good one nonetheless.

#SIDChat Transcript - March 17

Here is the transcript from the #SIDChat on Twitter on March 17, 2010. Let's of good dialogue and discussion, and the crowd is still going.

The big "C" word - Crossover Season

I've 'threatened' you all with this column for some time, but the time has finally arrived. That's right, I'm talking about the one season that every SID hates, dreads and fears: CROSSOVER SEASON.

For those of you who are A.) not in the sports information profession and/or B.) new to the SID world, here is a brief definition of what "crossover season" is: It is the period of time where two periods of sports seasons overlap in which one sports season is ending and another sports season is beginning.

In the SID world, we have two crossover seasons to deal with - when the fall sports end and winter sports begin and when the winter sports end and the spring sports begin.

#SIDchat Transcript - March 10

Here is the transcript from the #SIDchat on Twitter on March 10, 2010. There were over 10 who participated, so the crowd is slowly growing.

#SIDchat Transcript - March 3

Here is a transcript from the #SIDchat on March 3 on Twitter. To view it, click here.

Sometimes you just can't help but to laugh

Before I dive into this blog post, let me just say that it is not my intention to throw anyone under the bus. Some things are beyond our control, and sometimes there are a series of events that previously were thought to be unrelated which conspire to create a perfect storm. In other words, THINGS HAPPEN!

I share this as a reminder of Murphy's Law, and in this case - Murphy's Law for SIDs.

For those uninitiated into what Murphy's Law for SIDs is, it is the belief that whatever can go wrong will go wrong ... ON GAME DAY.

Why I love social media, especially Twitter

If you follow me on Twitter or a friend of mine on Facebook, you know I spend some time on these social media platforms.

OK, I spend a great deal of time, especially when you consider that when I'm on my laptop I have my TweetDeck up and running the entire time. (And yes, I have switched back to TweetDeck. Might ought to update you about that but been busy. Still would like to try out HootSuite. But I digress.)

I'll be honest, I was very hesitant about signing up and joining Facebook and Twitter, especially the latter. Yet, the more time I've invested in social media, the more I see some very good benefits.

Moving up to the profession ranks ... sort of

Today, I got the opportunity to work a professional basketball game.

Now that I've got that out of the way, let me share with you about this professional league I was afforded the chance to participate with. A few days ago, I was called by someone from the Bluegrass Stallions of the ABA. I must admit it has been a while since I witnessed a pro basketball game in person. Last time was before my family moved from Atlanta, so it's been since 1977 but that's only a guess.

And while I was only 5- or 6-years old since my last pro hoops game, I am pretty sure it wasn't like this. Really, this seemed more like a Globetrotters game than 'professional' basketball game - minus the crazy antics like throwing a bucket of confetti into the crowd.

Another day, another newspaper cuts staff

It's becoming so common now that it's easy to overlook. However, another big city newspaper has made staffing cuts.

Today's causality is the Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn., which announced the elimination of 14 positions today.

I've talked about this before in a previous blog post, so none of this is really a surprise. But yet, with each new layoff in the newspaper industry, it stings a little bit.

My 15 minutes of fame

I laugh when I think about this and share this. But being who I am, I must share it.

Yesterday, I was quoted for a story on MLB.com. Yes, the official website for Major League Baseball quoted me in a story. (Guess I can check that off my bucket list. Of course, always thought I'd 1.) be a star athlete and/or 2.) a reporter writing stories for MLB.com - which may still happen one day, who knows.)

When it truly is only a game ...

OK, I admit it. I can get wrapped up in sports. After all, my occupation of choice is SPORTS INFORMATION.

Yet, I can get caught up into the mix just like any regular fan as well. Right now, there are two things really vying for my attention as a sports aficionado: 1. All the offseason action as MLB teams gear up for Spring Training (pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 18 for most of the teams-YAY!!!); and 2. The football coaching search at the University of Tennessee (which is bizarre to say the least).

Mellowing in my old age or just going with the flow?

This has been a unique basketball season for me thus far. See, I'm still without an assistant and I also lost one of the best spotters (a person who calls out the plays/action on the court so that I can input the stats) I've ever had.

Consequently, I've had a constant rotation of spotters this season. I'm not 100 percent sure, but I think I've only had the same spotters twice. It's been a constant rotation.

Surprisingly, I've been relatively calm about all this.