[JRutledge]

There are a lot of people that are not what they say they are. There are a many of umpires in my area that work D1 and Minor League Baseball. Most are not even on a D1 staff or many were never hired by the Major League Baseball Program. So when guys try to tell you that they work D1, it means that they might know the assignor that might hire them at one or two games at Northern Illinois University for example, but never work any other school in NIU's Conference. I know guys that worked only D1 games at my Alma Mater's school, but worked no where else. It is not like the other sports where you will not get a change unless they hire you on their staff in some capacity. I know in football for example, you cannot just work a Big Ten game because unless you are hired by the assignor of the conference. And at best you might only work one or two games a year if you are not considered a full staff member. They do have associate staff members that fill in or work the lower tier games.

So when guys try to push their abilities on everyone and tell you they work a level, watch out. I am sure there are individuals that are here that are very legitimate in what they say and do. But I know there are people that are trying to convince the rest of us that they accomplished something, but leaving out very specific details. There are a lot of guys that have worked games at DeKalb, IL and did not work any other teams in that conference. There are many guys that have worked a Schaumburg Flyers game, but have not worked any other team in the division games or places that the Flyers play. I just had this very conversation with a D1 Umpire that works on a staff and works regular conference series. Even before he was hired, he did the same thing I mentioned above.

So when a "so-called" Big Dog comes here or anywhere trying to tell us how much they know and what they have done, you have to watch out. I will tell you that I have done some D3 and JUCO Baseball in my time. But I might do less than 10 games a year and mostly do it when I have an opening after I get my HS schedule. I am not on a staff, never have tried to be. I am not better than the other umpires that work the games with me; I just work when I can. It really is not a big deal in my opinion. But I guess people have to pump themselves up to put down other people.

Peace