Momma always told me ...

[Reginald Rutledge]

that there will be people you run across in your life that drag you down and those that pick you up.

I want to focus on those who try to drag you down. Those are the ones who try to discredit everything that you do in the hobby. Those are the ones who are quick to criticize but offer no solution of their own. Those are the ones at every turn try to make sure that people realize "Yeah, Reg is with flaws just like everyone else".

I never read the attack on my very good friend Manataray 'Dre but I did notice he referenced me. I am thinking a slam was aimed at him for his relationship with me. I've seen guys like Don "Old School" Smith attacked and Jimbo and Anthony Burgess and George Diamond and Mark Klingbeil and Dereall Brevard and many others attacked from time to time. Sometimes the attacks may seem warranted. Other times, you ask yourself, "Where is that coming from?" I may be one of the easiest targets and that's okay. I grant you that I may warrant being attacked. But sometimes when you look at the contributions of some of these people and the many others who inspire this hobby to push forward, we really do the credibility of this hobby an injustice when the "inspirers and innovators" are lashed out at for no reason.

Oh yes, the contributors will push on and move forward to advance the hobby but the criticizers who only offer unwarranted critique offer nothing to the game. I don't have a problem if you criticize what I do and offer a solution to the problem. But when you spew venemous comments without offering a solution of note, what was the point?

I was attacked by "Question Man" for "OVERHYPING" what I do! If overhyping brings about change and inspiration to the game, is that so bad? "Old School" was attacked before the SWB. I would argue you to find a better produced tournament in the country (including the TSO). Manataray 'Dre was attacked for something. I have no idea who could slam a guy whose words utter unity and togetherness.

When you are up at 3:00 pondering these thoughts, it must really hit close to the heart. But for those who bring energy and inspiration to the game, I do thank you you. There are so many guys who bring energy to the game. From the K-Lo's to the Bruce Watts to the Weird "HF" Wolf to the TVChachis to the Jeff Priest and the Biglocks and Norbert Revels and Wally Jabs and Michigan Joes to the Genos to the Grecos to the D-Campbells to the and JEasymoneys and all the other great "inspirers" of the game throughout the country! The reason we keep coming back to this new board everyday is to get that little bit of juice, that source of inspiration, to create another man or build another base or paint another player or create another stadium. It's not to hear the "Ying-yang" of a guy who offers nothing but criticism to the game. Offer some solutions and then maybe I know I for one, I may want to listen.

So YALL keep doing what YALL do! Bring the energy and inspire others as we get older and older to keep people involved in the game.