Now that I've gotten your attention, I want to use this column to encourage more TheMat.com users to write a guest column for our Inside Trip section.    As I was growing up within journalism, I quickly decided that the two best jobs in the business were the editorial cartoonist and the columnist.    An editorial cartoonist got paid to draw pictures all day, pick on other people and comment on society. What could be more fun than that?    Columnists were writers who did not have to worry much about objectivity and journalistic style. Their job was to write about whatever crossed their minds, often giving their own opinion or perspective on the situation. They were encouraged to be creative and (in most publications) they even had a few days to come up with each work of art. Talk about a good gig?    When we first put together the concept behind TheMat.com, we made sure to have a section for columns. This would feature some regular columnists for the web page, as well as an opportunity for guest columnists. We wanted to share some perspective on the sport.    TheMatside View is the name of my column. Actually, back in the mid-80's when I was running my own wrestling magazine, I wrote a "syndicated column" called The Matside View. (Notice how we combine TheMatside into one word now, kind of like TheMat.com). I used to send that column to a number of state wrestling publications, for free, just to get the name of my wrestling magazine out within the wrestling community.    After writing about six billion press releases in the last 15 years on this job, writing a column is a relief and a joy. Generally, I don't use my column to spout off stong opinions. The longer that you work as a public relations professional for the same organization, the fewer "personal" opinions that you have. You actually think like an organizational person, and learn to be diplomatic and fair in how you approach things.    (The one area where a very strong opinion comes forth is in Title IX discussions, where my position as Director of Special Projects allows me to help form positions and strategies in the battle against proportionality. In those columns, I cannot be accused of pussy-footing around the issue.)    I do like to tell stories, or give my personal memories of wrestling events. I have attended many wrestling events all over the USA and a few in other nations. That is one of the positive things about my job. When I am not too busy typing results, I get to see some spectacular wrestling and meet some very spectacular people. I believe that I have written some of my best pieces in my internet column and I still look forward to writing the next one.     Based upon the high volume of activity on TheMat.com Bulletin Boards (www.thematforums.com), it is easy to see that thousands of other people within wrestling like to write their thoughts about the sport. The Bulletin Board is a great place to have a conversation, challenge others to think, and sometimes just goof around and have fun with wrestling.    However, the length of some of the posts shows me that we have a few budding columnists out there. Anybody who is willing to spend the kind of time it takes to fill up a "hot" thread on the boards could also spend some time putting together a well thought-out column about wrestling.    I have learned that if you don't ask for things in life, you often don't get them. You know how it goes. Seek and ye shall find. Knock and the door will be opened unto you. Well, I would like to officially, on behalf of TheMat.com, ask our readers to send in a guest column for the web page.    All you have to do is write up your story, and e-mail it in. We edit pretty lightly, just making sure the sentences make sense and the story is not libelous. Send it to me at gabbott@usawrestling.org. Or, if you feel more comfortable sending it on to John Fuller, you can send it along at jfuller@usawrestling.org    We generally leave a story on the home page for about a week, which, given the large amount of traffic that TheMat.com gets each week, means that thousands of people have access to your ideas. Believe me, a week on TheMat.com can provide some impact in our sport.     The answer to the question I asked in the headline is YES. I can attest that somebody does read these columns. I have received tremendous feedback from some of my TheMatside View pieces. (A few times I have received a few harsh responses as well). It gets read.    It's OK if you just want to use the Bulletin Board for your thoughts and opinions. But admit it, sometimes you can only write so much about Steven Mocco or Ali Reza Dabir before it begins to get a little repetitive. And with a column, nobody gets a chance to respond and shred your piece to threads. It just sits out there for awhile.    Go ahead. Give it a try. If you like to write and love wrestling, we offer you an opportunity to become part of the national dialog on our sport. Be a guest columnist!