That is, the notion that we favor some schools or teams over others.

It's funny, because we get it from every direction. One day, folks from Frederick will suggest we write about Thomas Johnson too much. Then, later that week, we'll catch flak from TJ backers for our coverage of the Cadets.

In a way, everyone's an agent.

Actually, we have even received calls from wrankled sports agents who represent some of our local sporting heroes.

There's a pretty good stereotype out there about sports agents. The movie "Jerry Maguire" gives us, as an example, the slimy Bob Sugar. He's a shameless scheister. A cutthroat businessman.

In two instances over the past year, the people who represent some of Frederick County's finest athletes have nitpicked stories we wrote about their clients -- stories, by the way, that were nothing short of glowing.

They told us they weren't happy with this, that or the other -- as if to press their powerful thumbs over this little, hometown paper.

That's OK. We get it.

In our coverage of the local sports scene, the objective is providing unbiased balance. With so many schools, sports and kids vying for attention, it's a thankless duty that I liken to being a football offensive lineman. Meaning, you only get recognized when you err -- or, in this case, when someone believes you've erred.

And reactions arrive in a trio of lashings: harsh e-mails, vicious web postings and angry phone calls, oh my.

If there's a silver lining, though, it's that the tone of such messages reveals passion for our product.

We have passion for our product, too. We love telling good stories and strive to deliver them in an entertaining style. But the challenge of covering prep sports -- our bread and butter -- as a paper of record is hitting the most intriguing angle while including as many names as possible in a neat little package. On deadline.

It's a delicate task and a difficult wrinkle for journalists who instinctively wish to focus on simply telling the best story in a restricted space.

Believe it or not, sports reporters at large papers, in contrast, aren't so burdened. They needn't worry about identifying every Oriole who had multiple hits or every Wizard who scored in double figures.

Writers at those papers also have more space to craft their gems. Plus, they don't concern themselves with pleasing agents.

And in a way, everyone's an agent.

For us, though, we're happy to work with interested readers, coaches and athletes -- the local sports agents, if you will. We want to deliver the kind of community sports coverage you expect.

With so many terrific athletes to cover in this area and so much passion, we walk a tightrope. Let us know what you'd like to see. We need helpful hands, for without them we're bound to fall.

If you think we have, though, just remember: Everyone prefers a gentle nudge to a stern shove.

Josh Smith is the assistant sports editor at The Frederick News-Post. He can be reached by phone at 240-215-8603 or by e-mail at jsmith@fredericknewspost.com.