Jerry Micco

One of our newcomers to the national convention in Philadelphia was Jimmy Creed, sports editor in Anniston, Ala. Here's an excerpt of an e-mail he sent me after he returned to Alabama:

"I just wanted to drop you a line and again say how much I enjoyed the convention last week and how much I look forward to work with this organization. As a first-timer, I came away pleasantly surprised at the openness and friendliness of many in APSE ... I was very encouraged to see that there were many there who were concerned about helping me, about my opinion and who were so open to sharing their expertise in this business. I was so encouraged that I'll have to be honest and admit it changed my outlook on something.

"Before I came to Philadelphia, I had been considering perhaps stepping out of this business again as I have done in the past. However, now my spirits have been renewed not only to stay, but to seek further opportunities at a higher level that will allow me to see just how far I can go and just how good I can be. For that, I thank you."

And for that, fellow APSE members, I thank you.

This is exactly what APSE is — or should be — all about. Helping each other and helping us to solve the problems we face every day as journalists and sports editors. We know how tough the pace can be in a sports department. How difficult it is to take time to do the type of teaching and training we need to do to continue to be successful.

And then there's nurturing. It's the young writer who just turned in a story that is more rewrite than original work; it's a new copy desk editor who wrote the bad headline and now the veteran reporter has let him know with an e-mail from hell; it's a new assistant sports editor who just had a run-in with the veteran copy desk chief over editing a story.

All real parts of what we do. Or at least what we try to do. Something we definitely need to do more.

We all need to hear from the Jimmy Creeds of the world. We need to know that when we take the time to talk to another sports editor, whether he be from Anniston or Ann Arbor, that it is time well spent. If we were wondering, I think Jimmy's note says it all.

When I asked all of you to help me grow this organization, I did it for several reasons, but two main ones crossed my mind.

First, we need to reach out and get bigger so we can have more money to fund the things that are important to us. For example, the Sports Journalism Institute and the Sports Management Institute need our help. We were able to increase SJI money by $1,000 for next year and we were able to give first-time funding to SMI to the tune of $750. Not big numbers to say the least, but slow and steady wins the race, and this is a start.

Second, we desperately need fresh ideas and fresh blood. We have many seasoned vets of APSE who we've leaned on for years to carry us. We'll still do so, but the torch must begin to be passed sooner rather than later. The new people we bring in — and those already in the organization who step it up a notch — will be the ones writing this column in a few years. It's essential for any organization's success to hear new ideas and to take fresh approaches. This is our best chance to start that trend.

Can we grow by 100 members before the Orlando convention in June 2005? I don't know, but I want to make sure we exhaust ourselves trying. It's not just about having a bigger treasury, it's about keeping APSE a great organization for decades to come.

We celebrate the greatness of sports journalism. We need to make sure every sports editor and every managing editor in the country knows what we do. We need this year to be the clarion call to all of those folks who aren't members that this organization is right for you and right for your newspaper. We have to sell APSE until we're weary. Even when we're at our busiest in our own offices.

I asked all of you in Philadelphia for your help. A few of you have responded. I need all of you to respond with a name of a paper who isn't a member. Either you recruit them (as Bill Bradley has done with a paper in Tennessee) or get me a name, and I'll contact them.

This is a great organization. We need to keep it moving and growing.

Remember, it was your nurturing and talents that helped keep Jimmy Creed in sports journalism. Together, we can do that for many others.

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You can reach Jerry Micco of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via e-mail at jmicco@post-gazette.com.