[JRutledge]

It has to be basketball. You have more opportunities to influence the game. I had a few extra inning games this past season and it was all based the fielding and the pitching. I played no role in that taking place. I can put a player on the line if I decide to make a call and avoid all of that. Not to say you just make it up, but there are many decisions that I am going to make as a basketball official that can determine the direct outcome. I do not feel officials decide the game, but we can influence a lot of what goes on in that game. It is always easy to call a strike when a batter cannot hit the ball. It can be harder to make a call and actually stop play in a basketball game. Most of all you have to be in really good shape to keep up in a basketball game. Eric Gregg can umpire a baseball game and be over 300 pounds. When have you seen an official that was 300 pounds on a basketball court and was considered one of the best officials around?

Hands down it is basketball. I know some really good basketball officials that start umpiring baseball and are really successful. I do not see the same success with a baseball umpire trying to work basketball. It takes those guys some time to adjust and achieve the same things they did in baseball. At least that is the case in my officiating experience.

Peace