[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by WestMichBlue
I do not disagee with anything said above, but I have to ask: Is Softball somehow different than Basketball or Football or Hockey - where it is the responsibility of the officials to break up fights between game participants?

Absolutely! Softball umpires are much smarter and realize that we do not play the role of police, but that of the judge.

One comment about the BB Brawl that I have seen and heard in several places is that the referees did not do enough to separate the players in the initial fracas. By allowing it to go on too long they unwittingly allowed the fans to get riled up and involved.

Standard whining by the weak finger-pointing, gotta-find-a-scapegoat society that has developed all too well in this country. It wasn't the officials which "allowed the fans to get riled up", it was the idiot players, coaches, facility management and security, none of which wear a striped shirt. The "heat of the game" excuse is so lame it needs to be brought out in a wheelchair. You are talking about alleged adults getting paid an obscene amount of money for playing a child's game. You are also talking about a management position which sells seats for an obscene amount of money that places the fans so close they can smell the jock itch powder the players are using.

If the NBA has any balls, and I don't pretend that I think they do, they would fine every player and coach involved $500K. Fine each team owner one million dollars and require the facility to post a $10 million dollar bond that they will forfeit if the fail to bring their facility to a high-level of security during the remaining games for the remainder of their contract with the NBA team.

Every individual, whether player or fan, should be criminally charged with any possible violation of the law available. They should also be required to sign a waiver forfeiting their rights to bring a lawsuit against the player. The players involved should be held equally accountable as it relates to legal action.

Is this extreme? Not if you were an innnocent fan who was injured during this fray or a player who was not active in the debacle who was attacked and/or injured.

Will it help? Absolutely! And not just because it is a large chunk of change for the player, but when you start screwing with the owner and coach's pocketbook, it will definitely get their attention. I may also make teams think twice about signing some of the "hoods" like Sprewell and Artest to a large contract.

I don't want to open an argument here about that point nor the idiot fans or RA's stupid actions. But why are umpires supposed to step aside and let players brawl - and our counterparts in other sports are require to break it up?

WMB

For all the reasons listed above. Mama Gump was right, "Stupid is as stupid does!"

If you want to step into a brawl, knock yourself out if someone doesn't beat you to it. Be prepared to enjoy all the facits of our legal system. Be prepared to take time off of your job to spend time being deposed and in court. Be prepared to be sued. Be prepared for get a call from the sanctioning body which carries the insurance and any additional insurance you may have from NASO or anywhere else, to suggest that it may be in your best interest to retain a personal lawyer should any judgment be in excess of your liability coverage. If our couterparts in other sports are that stupid, that is their problem.

Did your parents ever ask you, "If Johnnie jumped off the bridge, would you do it too?" To be honest, I think that is part of the ego problem with some officials. Like I said, an umpire's job is to pass judgment on what happens, not control the extracurricular activities.

I believe the rule book (ASA) refers to an umpiring "administering" the game.