Quote:
Originally posted by tzme415
gsf23 - I was there when that first went in. It took some learning curve, but I think made the game better. As I ump now in the Chicago suburbs, some leagues have the rule and others don't. I will let anything not directed at me or the opposition go, even for leagues with the rule unless I deem it can be heard by the fans. I tend not to have 'rabbit ears', so it has to be blatant. But just the threat of being ejected is often enough to keep the players from using profanity, they realize it can happen. I have had a few use a questionable word, then turn to me and apologize. I wasn't going to throw them out, but I usually just say to not let it happen again and consider this your warning and smile. I think this keeps with the intent of the rule. It isn't so much to make us 'language police', but to try to keep the game spectator and player friendly.
JMHO
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Most players here have learned that if you are going to let one fly, to do it quietly. I'm the same way, if it's not going to be heard by the spectators, then I will just tell the player to watch it and move on.
The last time I called it: a team of high school kids were playing one of the better teams in our league. The kids hadn't one a game all year but were hanging tough. Bottom of the seventh, one of the kids hits a two-run bomb to pull them to within one with two outs. As they are walking into the dugout after the hi-fives, one of the kids yells out, "about f$$cking time you did someting" and I mean yells it loud.
I call time, announce I have casual profanity on the dugout, point to the batter, say you are out, that's ballgame. Then the parents that were watching the game all starting to applaud and after the game I got about five thank-yous for calling it. It sticks out cause I've never had the fans of a losing team, and especially parents of the players, thank me for making a call that ended the game.