Sometimes Things Geaux a Little Hay-Wire  

by Carey Meitzler

Well by now, everyone who either read The Picayune Item story or the "two" stories on MaroonTide.com

knows that at times it gets a little hectic.  First of all, me and my buddy Rob Sigler (Sports Editor of

The Picayune Item) love the Maroon Tide and would never do anything to mislead people. Well not intentionally.

Arriving home very late from Hattiesburg on Tuesday evening, I logged on to put the story on the Picayune win

a.k.a. the Heath Stevens domination on the web site.  I checked my email and saw that Kristi Mitchell, head coach

of the Lady Tide softball team, had sent me an update on their game with Columbia.  Kristi is great on giving me

info to post on the site.  Well, it was 12:30am (normal day for me with my regular job and the web site) and I

wanted to put the story out so the early risers could get the scoop on the game. In defense of Kristi, she was tired

when she sent me her story earlier in the evening.

I read the story and everything was in there except a score.  I read it again and a third time trying to figure out

what happened at the end of the game. So, I made a cardinal sin of writing (I am not a professional by no means,

but I learned from this) and "assumed" what the outcome was.  Little did I know that I had made a mistake in

deciphering the data.

Next morning, around 9:00am, I had a flurry of emails informing of me of my mistake.  Also, got a nice one from

Kristi; she's a saint. I made the change immediately.  Then, I made another blunder.  I forgot about my buddy Rob.

OOOPS !!!!

I have and will continue to get data out to the site for all to use as soon as possible.  Rob and I are close friends

and we routinely discuss the "scoop" surrounding all sports including the Maroon Tide.  The web site is not, will

not as long as I own it, ever be considered anything but a source for the professional media and the fans to keep

up with the Maroon Tide and a means to promote the players, coaches, and clubs that support them.

We are averaging 213 different hits a day since January.  In November, when the football team was marching

through Division 3-5A, the average was around 330 per day.  For the techies out there, if someone hits it more

than once during the day, it doesn't count a hit unless the person viewing is coming to the internet via a different IP

address.

So, I wanted to first apologize to the team, the fans, and most all to Kristi and Rob.  I spoke with Rob and we

both had a chuckle about the response from people.  Hey, I love it (so does Rob) because people care just like

us.  Roll Tide !!!!!

Other thoughts from the Fat Guy....

If you haven't been to see a high school athletic event lately, shame on you.  I understand that in today's economy,

it can be tight.  I'll say this, if you want to attend a Tide game (softball or baseball) and the funds are short, I will

be glad to pay your way the first time.  I am confident you will find a way for the next one. The food, the atmosphere;

hard to beat it.

Last Friday was a tough one.  I attended the funerals of two great people of Picayune.  The Picayune Item headline

used the word "prominent" in reference to the deaths of the individuals.  And I couldn't agree more.  Elaine Herring

and Willie Ray Penton were both that and then some more.

Willie Ray was my comrade in the PYAA program for years in the 80s.  He worked hard to make it better for everyone

involved and he was one of those who saw the big picture of what was important for the youth.  He was the one of the

best joke tellers I have ever been around.  He had a big heart for children.  I was glad to call him my friend.

Elaine "Mee-Maw" Herring was a treasure.  I will miss her (already have) immensely at the Tide baseball games. 

Always smiling, cutting one liners, laughing, and never failed to ask you about your family.  She was so sincere and

a great role model for ladies to follow.  She was a glue to Dub and the rest of the family.  She treated me like family

and I am a better person for knowing her. I will forever have her smile embedded in my memory of her.

Finally, I took in The Passion of the Christ on Friday evening at 9:00pm in Picayune. It was a very emotional end to

an already tough day. But, in watching the movie, it strengthened my faith in God knowing what our Lord Jesus gave

for us.  As I drove home, I told my beautiful wife, Michelle, that as tough as the day had been, I was assured once again

of salvation and the price Jesus Christ paid for us all.  Also, I realized that God needed two good people and it was

time to call them home.  Our loss is heaven's gain.

God Bless and remember to pray for our troops and their families.