[Tim C]

I could not agree more . . . in another thread Rut calls me a "fat a$$ed old man" and that stays and you ask a legitimate question and it is deleted.

Well here's my answer anyway:

First let me state the following:

Mr. Sohl has some very legitimate points. In fact his entire post strikes home as a correct assumption of what I have become on the internet.

The editor of this web page once called me “the most dangerous umpire on the internet!”

Now I don’t remember if that was concerning a specific issue or a basic generality but many feel that I am still living up to that title.

“Why is it every time I read a post and see your comments you never have anything constructive to say that can teach younger less experienced officials how to be better officials?”

There is a great question but it has several levels of answers, so here goes:

I have been posting on internet umpire sites for just over six years. During that time I have seen several good sources be driven from these boards by “Mr. Anonymouse” type figures that hide behind false names and/or skills.

I have always listed myself with a semblance of my real name (Real Name: Tim Christensen – aka: Tim, Tee, T Alan) and have never hide my feelings on issues.

In the beginning we had McGriff and the first ABUA site. We had notables such as DannyPG, SportDoc, mR rIght, and a few others that passed through (Bob Pariseau comes to mind). At this time the information was timely and pretty well thoughtout.

Over at the ABUA site I even wrote a column called “Strikes & Outs” that dealt with everything from equipment reviews to a game where I had “an inside the puddle home run” to the story when I ejected seven participants on ONE PITCH.

Times then were -- fun.

The majority of my change in attitude began to occur when we had many, many posts from people who claimed to be umpires that would not invest on instant in their own research before asking a question (often phrased as such, “when are the hands part of the bat?”).

My irritation level reaches maximum when we have a thread where 99% of the posters understand the correct answer yet we have one “umpire” who wants to tilt against windmills.

So there are a lot of words that really say very little:

1) No, it dies not make me feel important to put people down. I wish, under some circumstances, that I could go back repair damage and be a better source but alas that horse is outta the barn.
2) I NEVER apologize. It is not my style. Each person entering a thread can select to read what I write, ignore what I write or react to what I write. That is what an umpire board is all about.
3) There is a new silent attack about me that I missed until it was pointed out to me by a third party: “ . . . someone that has the experience that you claim to have . . .” seems to be reoccurring lately. All I can say is that I have worked the number of years I claim, I have worked the level of games I claim, and I am an umpire. Actually one of the posters on this site saw me work last week. He thought I was ‘passable’.

I will be honest in two ending thoughts:

First, I did not know it was my job on this (or any other website) to teach umpires. As often as I am ripped I doubt anyone would take very seriously anything I had to offer. When I post constructive pieces (see: 10 Things a Base umpire Should Never Do! and 10 Things a Plate Umpire Should Never Do!) they are taken apart by the weakest members of this site.

Second, I will take into consideration what I post from this day forward. Many here that know me will tell you that I am an irascible “sum-b*tch” and that is probably correct. By I will thin before I post from now on . . . I will also retain the right to delete ANY post I put on any board. Anything I write is my intellectual property. I do not delete to cover errors . . . I don’t remember ever doing that . . . if you think that using the delete button is cowardly please note that most the time I have said something that is controversial enough that someone has already quoted it into their post . . . the information is usually there.

Mr. Sohl I doubt if I really answered your question. As the trite cliché goes: “The Proof is in the Pudding!” We’ll see if I fit the ideal that you think a poster should be.

Tee

DISCLAIMER:

All thoughts, ideas and words in this post are considered the intellectual property of the writer and should not be copied, sullied, or incoherently reacted to. Proper paperwork has been filed with the Library of Congress top protect these right and any use, reproduction or transmission of these words without the written consent of the author is forbidden.

Any Oscars, Emmys, Nobel Prizes, Grammies or other awards for these posts will be spilt evenly with all other posters who show the proper respect and acknowledge the great wisdom of these words.

Respectfully,

Grabbem, Screwem and Cheatem Attorneys-at-Law
For the Literary Estate of T Alan Christensen