[Jim Porter]

Rex,

If you are at all referring to my most recent article about The Art of Umpiring, I will take this opportunity to respond.

I have had absoltutely no correspondence, either privately or publically, with Carl Childress or Warren Willson regarding this subject matter. I read all the posts regarding this topic, and drew my own, independent, opinion.

I am just as entitled as you are to voice my opinion. Furthermore, I bear a responsibility to the eUmpire.com community to bring forth professionalism, accuracy, and excellence in my articles. I have delivered to our readership a piece that encompasses a far wider scope than simply a single scenario response. Since you have read the article, I'm sure you must recognize this.

It is my opinion that young, rather inexperienced umpires seem to be bringing to our vocation a hasty and often heavy-handed angle of pursuit regarding the black and white letter of the rules. It is my further opinion that discretion and common sense seem to be playing less of a role in umpire judgment on the field. I personally find this destructive. I will strongly voice my opinion every time topics of such a vital nature are concerned.

Thank you for your thoughts. I look forward to bringing you, as a subscriber of eUmpire.com, the most informative and truthful articles that I can possibly deliver.