[gordon30307]

Originally posted by Rich Ives
"Were you ever in the military? If so, didn't you learn the importance of appearance there? If not, never mind."


I was.

I was a member of an Honor Guard company where appearance was a top priority.

But in the military, the uniform rules are about dicipline, order, obeying orders, and being part of a whole. It's to say you are not an individual, you are part of a BIG team. The stakes are REAL life and death, not metaphorical life and death.

And, for the life of me, I can't imagine why having, or not having and indiclicker on the bases is even a matter of metaphorical life and death.

And I completely agree with the quote Tee posted:

Cliff Gustfason (SP) often was quoted when he was head guy at UT: "Yeah, shined shoes, a clean shirt and a razor sharp hem last ONE PITCH when you work for me!"

To a coach, it's all about how you perform - just like it is with the players. Ever seen a headline like "Damon Optioned to AAA - Hair too Long" or "Clemens Dropped from Rotation - Beard too Heavy"?

Ever see a manager quoted as saying "The umpires sure looked good today in their new shirts colors"?

We care how you perform. We don't much care how you look.

BTW, the red shirts make you look heavier.

It would be nice to be accepted for the job that you do and not how you look, however, that's not how the world works. When I walk on the field (doesn't matter what level of game that I'm working) my pants and shirt are clean my shoes are polished and my hat doesn't have any sweat stains. I look like an umpire and I have credibility. Now if the neat guy (me) and the sloppy guy (smitty) have a banger at first base whose call is more likely to be accepted? I've got to think most people would accept my call simply because I look like an umpire. That's neither right nor wrong that's just the way it is. Now that being said even if you have that intial credibility you have to do a good job to maintain it or eventually you will be found out. If you look bad I've got to think it will take you longer to be accepted. IMHO.