[His High Holiness]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by cowbyfan1

Originally posted by jumpmaster
FWIW, I subscribe to HHH's theory of "eject early and often because I like quiet, peaceful games" and I believe that coaches and players will usually do something to warrant their early departure.

I don't feel that there is the need for this really. I call this the terrorist approach to game control. Act like a terrorist long enough and people will be afraid of you. IE dump coaches for any reason and they will be afraid to question anything, thus you get your way. Instead hustle, work hard, learn the rules, look good and be consistant. I have earned respect from coaches, players and my fellow umpires and have had to dump 2 coaches (tho a few other deserved to be) and about 8 or 10 players (all but 1 were little kids for sportmanship issues (ie throwing a bat or glove) and 2 for malicious contact.)

Cowboyfan;

You wrote;

"I have earned respect from coaches, players and my fellow umpires."

Ok, I can understand how you might know if you have respect from your fellow umpires, but how in the world can you know if the coaches and players respect you. Have you:

1. Installed hidden cameras in their locker rooms to listen to their conversations.

2. Commissioned an independent survey to interview coaches and players about your umpiring.

3. Regularly get calls from your assignor telling you that he got postive feedback on your game from coaches and players.

If not, then you are engaged in delusional thinking. If you believe anything that they tell you about your performance, then you are even more delusional. Have you ever heard of an umpire saying:

"The coaches and players don't respect me."

Any umpire worth his salt is convinced that the coaches and players respect them. Have you ever heard of a automobile driver saying anything other than:

"I am a better than average driver."

Not likely. We all engage in delusional thinking by saying we are better than average. Most umpires do the same thing. I seriously doubt that coaches and players have any outside respect for you personally or your indvidual performance as an umpire. By custom, the decent ones among them respect the title that you hold. That's it.

If you are not having problems in your games, it is more likely due to the fear that the local leagues or Athletic Directors have put into the coaches and players. You made a very telling comment in your post when you wrote:

"...and have had to dump 2 coaches (tho a few other deserved to be)"

Why didn't you do your job and dump those coaches that you admitted deserved it?

This tells me that you are a typical average umpire who sweeps discipline problems under the rug for a$$holes like me to clean up in the next game. Consider this:

You are a police chief hiring a policeman for a job and the candidate says to you:

"I have made 2 arrests for drunk driving last year but there were a few others who deserved to be but I let go." Would you hire this guy?

I can honestly say that since I had this epiphany eight years ago that I have ejected every coach and player that deserved to be ejected and maybe a few that did not deserve to be ejected.

I want policeman to arrest every drunk driver and even some who are not drunk but might be. A judge can sort out the innocent ones from the guilty later.

Peter