Our View

Our View

Who really dropped the ball?

In most arguments there are usually three sides of the story. His, the other person’s and then the story in the middle, which usually reveals where the actual truth lies.

Well, we’ve heard West Memphis representatives accused Southland Classic Softball Tournament organizer of wrong doing, say he created a fiasco and how they felt they got short changed when most of the games were played in neighboring Marion’s Sports Complex.

West Memphis Parks Commission Chairman Darin McCollum even accused Clint Albright of playing dirty while West Memphis Mayor Bill Johnson and Tourism Director Jim Jackson said Albright’s action’s gave their city an undeserved black eye.

So then, what does Albright have to say about all this? If you read the Thursday, June 30, edition of the Times you would have read where Albright strongly defended his actions, and said West Memphis Advertising and Promotion committee members knew from the very beginning of discussions that with more divisions and teams expected they know that some games just simply had to play at Marion.

And, Albright pointed out, that rainy tournament weather played a factor, coupled with the fact that there was another tournament by another organization scheduled on the same weekend.

Albright is convinced he operated above board and with integrity, doing what he had promised to promote lodging, and dining in West Memphis.

He also made it clear that West Memphis fields had not been improved as promised, that the city had not produced a contract for the tournament as it had in previous years, and his best efforts to call and communicate were simply ignored.

Albright was quick to say he is a person of integrity and that he values his reputation as a softball hall-offamer and a promoter.

Furthermore, Albright said based on the feedback from participating teams, they preferred to play on the Marion fields rather than the fields in West Memphis.

The promoter went on to say Marion’s fields have impeccable landscaping, a perfectly level, drain well, have beautiful shade structures in dugouts and for the fans. He went o to say Marion has a very nice sports complex, are better equipped to handle championship lay and players want to play on the best fields.

As we’ve pointed out from the city’s version, West Memphis it appears the city failed to do its due diligence in this matter, did fail to draft a tough and legal binding contract with Albright and clearly did a poor job at communicating with this promoter who has put together the last three tournaments in West Memphis.

Only time will tell if these wounds will heal, but at this point, it appears Albright isn’t on very good terms with West Memphis officials. By the same token, it appears Albright prefers using Marion’s facilities which tells us that future tournaments, or at least the majority of them, will be held in Marion.

BIBLE VERSE

Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grapegleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the firstripe fruit. The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net. That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up. The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity. Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house. Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.

7:1-7

Micah