We have come to that time of year again folks. The time of the year when kids are free from the bonds of the classroom for a few months.

A time when beach vacations and warm days by the lake are passed with friends and family while fighting off hordes of mosquitoes.

A time of myth and legend. A time when the ancient gods were petty and cruel, and plagued mankind with suffering.

Whoa whoa whoa…I seem to have slipped off into the opening of the cult TV series Hercules starring Kevin Sorbo.

What I was talking about before I was so rudely interrupted — by myself — was the summer.

This being the state of Alabama, the summer months means soaring temperatures and outdoor activities.

The vast majority of my job revolves around covering high school sports, the playing of which grows sparse in the summer months.

So don’t be surprised if you see me around at different sporting events like little league baseball and softball. It is indeed all part of the job, and it’s nothing I haven’t covered before — for the TimesDaily no less.

In order to help me to do a better job, I ask that the coaches of the world (and by world I mean Franklin County) keep me informed about upcoming major tournaments and games, especially when All-Stars rolls around.

All you have to do to drop me a line is check the bottom of this column. My office phone number is listed right there, just as it has always been. Unless I got long-winded in my column that issue.

I can also be reached at the email address that appears under my name at the beginning of the stories I write.

I ask coaches to do this because schedules are hard to come by in the summer, so one can only be truly informed and in the loop by word-of-mouth.

I can’t be everywhere at once though, so I regret to say that telling me about an upcoming event does not necessarily mean that I can and will be there.

But I can’t be at an event I don’t know about, and that’s where you come in.

Thank you in advance for your time

Now then, fifteen bonus points to the first person who can tell me the name of Hercules’ sidekick in the show without looking it up. I do know the answer in case you were wondering.