[badbamaump]

With Rut! LOL...

Pete, I'll agree with you to a certain degree about the requirements of good games to become a better umpire. I'll also add that the "poor" games require MORE concentration than a tight game. It takes a lot of mental focus when a pitcher has walked 3 in a row not to miss that borderline strike. On the bases you'll have to stay focused not to get caught up in some "case book" play. In a "poor" game you'll probably find ample opportunity to exercise your game managment skills.

The political issue....hmmmmm, Politics is a fact of life when there's power and money...good or bad. I'll admit that my political skills have helped me to advance just as much as my umpiring skills. I don't kiss ***, but I'm willing to listen to a big dog and do my best to do what they tell me. An example:

I attended our FED playoff camp, the Head Instructor owes my mother a favor... I didn't even talk to him on the first day of camp, he finally approached me and asked why hadn't I bothered to talk to him..."I didn't feel like getting in that line of people kissing your ***." He laughed. Now all camp I did pick his brain on how "things are done". Guess what? that Summer I get an invite to the college association tryout camp.

Politics without being political...

Will