[David B]

Jim

You make an excellent point. Nearly all of the ball that I call is in the south and it is very high caliber ball.

When I was in TX it was the same and I have friends from OK to FL who call ball and it is very high caliber.

I guess that's why in the College WS and in our big tournaments where they bring in teams from the North and the West etc. the teams from the south dominate.

I do remember many years ago when I called College ball in TX that the teams from Michigan etc would come to play and most of them were playing their first games and it was April.

But I still don't buy the line that you have to please someone and his style of calling to move up the ladder.
If you are a good umpire you will move up. Now, there will be lots of average umpires who move up because they take the "company line" approach to umpiring, and I know that for a fact - I call with them 9 months of the year.

I ask myself over and over again, "how did they make it this far?" And to be honest, it makes me feel for the coaches and kids who are playing the game.

But that's another thread

Thanks
David