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Don,
This may well be a case where the ump weakly enforcing a rule or changing a rule to be a "nice guy" will actually back-fire at some point. It goes back to that integrity thing - once an ump loses that or damages it (even if just in league play), it's going to take years to undo that damage. Now, as for cussin', in our adult leagues, that's just part of their normal vocabulary. Unless it is really loud (I mean loud enough that folks outside the park can hear it), directed at me, or about me, it does not violate our understanding of the rules. Understand also that our adult leagues here seldom have many fans and none of them are kids. Also, I meet with the league officers before the season begins - actually I attend all of the league meetings - and I agree that the umps will enforce language violations as the league wants it done. Remember, these guys are speaking on the field as they do everywhere else, so cussing is not violating any standard that they can understand. The teams that frequent any tournaments do not participate in any on-field cussing.
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Steve M
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