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Yep,
Each umpire should at least have a purpose for umpiring.
It is not my position to tell anyone why they should umpire.
I just hope as a trainer and teacher that I can find the correct button to push for each student.
Your post dwells on the dollars and cents aspect of defining a "Big Game."
That is hardly how I define "Big Games" at all . . .
As I have noted several times I umpire for two reasons: power and money. BUT, the money part is just score keeping. I make plenty enough money as my chosen profession that the money made umpiring is basically to replace old gear (or try out new technology) used umpiring.
"Big Game" umpires are a cut above the regular umpire and not in the same universe as "Smitty" . . .
A "Big Game" can change by definiton each day . . .
The game could be between two average teams that had a big confrontation the last time they played. Your assignor could be sending you there because you are an "elephant hunter": he could be sending you because the game is between two teams fighting for the championship (or last playoff spot), or (more alturistically) he may be sending you to a game that maybe in the press where he cannot afford (for his personal well being)a screw up.
"Big Games" to some are normal games to others.
Pete, I set goals each year.
After 35 years and THOUSANDS of games it is still easy to set "performance" goals. I have found that if I set goals for HOW I umpire (and attain them) I will get more than my share of "Big Games."
I want the "Big Game", I want to be in the "Big Inning" and I want the last "Big Call" to come my way . . . I want the 3-2 pitch, with the bases full, in the bottom of the last inning with the score tied. (i.e. I had F6 ask me once what I was saying during a pitch, I told him 'I said, hit it to me, hit it to me.')
I don't want the "big call" to prove I have a big sack, I want the "big call' because that is what I have trained for all my life.
And the reason I get "Big Games" is best defined by my assignor when he said, "Tee, I have NEVER had a call after a game you worked that was anything but positive." That is OK, but it is better when the losing coach calls.
Perfomance goals should be established even by "Smitty" -- but it is not my place to evaluate any umpire for how far (i.e. how big of games he wants) or how low an umpire wants to work.
That comes from inside people and is defined by what THEY want not someone else.
Sorry about the length,
Tee
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