FEATURES: Don’t believe everything you hear. It’s easy to question a message when it comes from a coach or player, but what about a fellow official? It may surprise you, but there are plenty of philosophies that officials adhere to that are flat-out wrong, too. Learn about some common philosophies you should avoid in “You May Believe It, But It Ain’t So.” After more than 40 years in umpiring, both on and off the field, it’s impossible to dispute the influence Mike Fitzpatrick has had on professional baseball. Learn more about Fitzpatrick in “The Minor Leagues’ Main Man.” As recently as five years ago, only the professional leagues and colleges had video scoreboards. But guess what? Now even some of the smallest high school districts are getting them. Find out how that affects officials in “The Digital Divide.” Utilizing technology in the information age is key toward becoming a better official. Learn how if you are out of date, you may be out of luck when it comes to assignments, corresponding with other officials or getting evaluated in “Basic Training: Turn the Switch On.”

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS: Our “News” section leads off with coverage on the death of longtime NFL official Ed Marion. Our “Getting It Right” column shares how many officials are making a difference in “Officials Unite to Blow Whistle on Cancer.” “Back to Basics” emphasizes the importance of working together with assigners the right way in “Don’t Lean on the Assigner’s Hot Buttons.” In this month’s “Last Call” article “I Handled _ _ it,” a high school basketball official tells the story of how picking up something from the court turned out to be more than he bargained for. What he thought was a candy bar turned out to be anything but.