[PeteBooth]

Originally posted by falsecut

A few days ago, I did a sophomore game which got very competitive. I worked alone and got a lot of "advice" from the fans. It was one of those games where close plays were the norm rather than the exception. Anyway, in the 5th, one visiting team fan whose conduct got more and more intolerable finally started yelling to the catcher with every pitch, asking "Where was that one?" and so forth. I ran him. On his way out, he told me he'd meet me in the parking lot. Rather than tell you what I did, I'll ask what would you do? Anyone else face this situation?

Individuals have given you good advice except the ultimate of advice.

File charges aginst this irate fan. If the AD or coach merely escorts this individual off the premises, IMO that alone does not solve the problem This particular fan will be at the next game and give the next umpiring crew a difficult time as well.

Maybe just maybe if fans start hearing or reading that so and so got arrested, spent a night (or 2) in jail, had his / her name in the local papers, and payed a hefty fine, perhaps that would send a message to fans that this type of behavior simply will not be tolerated.

Also, if one HS team is noted for it's irrate fans it's time for the umpires association to take a stand and not assign any umpires to this schools games until the situation is under control.

The problem sometimes is umpires or the umpies associations themselves because they do not want to get their hands dirty Some umpires and umpires associations have a blind eye and turn their cheek at the problem. If you turn back a game (for whatever reason), it seems as though there are plenty of others waiting for the assignment especially if it's a varsity game.

It's time once and for all to put a stop to this nonsense and do something about it. Umpires and umpires associations have to be united and get tough, otherwise this type of problem will continue until once again we read about or see on the news another horror story concerning fan violence.


Pete Booth