The great Dan Jenkins wrote this once: "more good ideas come from bars than seminars."

I concur, particularly as someone who spends more time in the former.

And so it was in a gin mill recently that a woman seated next to me said, "Why doesn't New London promote itself more as awesome?"

Hmmmm. An excellent question.

Shall we discuss?

Initial answer: City advocates have been beaten into submission over the years, grudgingly accepting the portrayal of this region as a circle of transcendent suburbs surrounding a grim urban core.

Au contraire.

Because has anybody else noticed the awesome things going on in the 06320, particularly in the schools?

Start with what will happen Saturday night. The girls' basketball team will play for the state championship in a prime time slot (6:15 p.m.) at Mohegan Sun Arena. A girls' game has never been played in prime time since the championships moved to Neon Uncasville nine years ago. Always a boys' game. Until now. That's a really good indication of how this group of kids resonates and identifies with the people around them.

They are New London: multicultural, tough, resilient and personable. It has been a joy covering them both in print and visually this season. They are worth your time. Get a burger before and make a night of it Saturday. You can watch the embodiment of your city play before thousands of people.

And yet New London's awesomeness, to use my friend at the bar's word, is tethered to so much more than just sports. This year, I've written about an innovative math program that has turned New London into a national beacon. A "gaming club" at the Science and Technology Magnet School that ties the passions of kids — video games — with the critical concepts of communication, collaboration and creativity. How New London High graduates have come back to help the kids by taking various jobs throughout the city. Even how a tennis professional, the great Andre Danford, gave his time to teach the kids of the city a game heretofore foreign to them.

Here's my problem: I've had to rely on my own instincts and contacts within the school system to unearth these stories. That's not a complaint. I love the kids. It's important our readers see their good works. My complaint is this: Aren't there people in the school system entrusted with the job to promote all the good things and communicate them to the appropriate parties?

So when do you suppose that will begin?

I'm not sure anyone else has noticed this, but New London schools — all of them — are improving by the day. Put it this way: When parents from the burbs start sending their kids here — and they are now with the all-magnet concept — you know you've made it.

Take a bow, Dr. Rivera. That would be Dr. Manny Rivera, the superintendent of schools. And more importantly, a New London Guy. He completed the mission: Go out, get educated and come back to help. There are quite a few others in the school system who have done that. Some have been recognized at state levels for their work, just not in their own city.

Shouldn't New London be promoting its own a little better?

A lot better?

Shouldn't Dr. Rivera's vision start to grow roots in Central Office first?

Because I've got to tell you: I'm not seeing it.

And it infuriates me.

I've been around here too long and listened to too many blowhards dismiss New London and its kids. Everything they say is fully substantiated by their own opinions. Now that so many good things are going on, the promoters ought to be on DefCon 1, inundating the public with news they can use.

I worry sometimes that New London kids think sports are the primary vehicle to success. And while sports sure have their rhetorical usefulness and metaphorical richness — and have for many years here — there's so much more going on with the kids, faculty and administrators. So many good things.

I'm here to tell their stories. Willingly and happily. I'd just like to hear about them from time to time officially, rather than in passing. Good thing I spend too much time in bars.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro