"Sticks and stones may break my bones but words and names won't hurt me."

Before coming to tears as a small boy after being degraded in some way, I always kept those words close and shrugged off the remarks.

In small towns like this one, it always seems that any sort of criticism is heard county-wide.

Mention to Pam at Hair Concepts about how disappointed you were that your young ballplayer didn't make the all-star team.

Whispers alter, bend and rearrange while making their way through the grapevine.

Soon enough it comes back full circle about how you proclaimed your hatred for every parent and coach with the team. What was actually said was lost somewhere down the line.

Sometimes you just have to take a step back and re-assess everything.

What people need to realize is that your local newspaper, radio station or media outlet is not your baby's chopping block.

If Jimmy "the Voice" Zalinski interviews your son or daughter for WJJQ after putting up 20 points and 16 rebounds against Corntown, it doesn't mean that Vanderbilt is going to come knocking on your door.

By the same token, if your coach forgets to inform your school's beat writer about a three-day tournament during the Christmas break and you get no coverage, it doesn't mean that MTSU is going to pull back their scholarship offer.

Pictures on your screen, words on your airwaves or ink in your paper don't waver your child's accomplishments in the least.

No matter what is printed or what is left out about that game, you should still see the heart and soul that your baby put into being the best that they could. Who cares if someone on the other side of the county reads about it or not? That paper may very well end up just being the lining for their kitty litter box either way.

Whether it's the A-B honor roll, the lunch menu at the senior citizen's home or a state championship, we'll run it. We're your local newspaper. That's our job.

Sure, it's great to have something to cut out and paste on the fridge or mail to your great uncle down in Gulf Shores.

But, if for some reason we aren't there to take a picture or don't get word about what happened, it won't change what took place.

Your little hero still played with courage, hustle and aggression en route to building the character that's going to make them a better adult some day. All the ink or pub in the world won't change that.