[PeteBooth]

The Board has been rather quiet to say the least so I thought I would post a topic so others can comment if they wish.

Our fellow bretheran Officials in the NFL should have taken a page from the MLB Umpires from last year.

Officials are needed, but they are not an intregal part of the game. When's the last time you heard someone attending a game because so and so was officiating.

Apparently, the NFL Officials didn't get it. Who knows, these replacement officials might turn out better than some of the vets who have been there for years. Also, even with the veteran officials, you always heard something. So the point is: whether replacement officials or the vets, teams will always have something to complain about.

One of the things that bothers me the most is when after a game an official says to me "hey Pete did you see that great call I made". IMO There are no great calls simply calls to be made - Period. If we see something call it, thats what we are trained to do. No need to glorify ourselves afterwards.


We as Officials are not above the game . Some umpires go out of there way to make some wierd call or go looking for something (ie; Balk that isn't a Balk) to either supplement their ego or to make them think they are Joe Umpire The game is called the way a particular league / association expects it to be called -

Whenever as a unit we walk off the field and hear nothing means we did our job . Some umpires like to hang around and for some strange reason want to hear a coach or some parents say "good game blue" - perhaps Politicking for their next assignment.

When the game is over good or bad I simply meet my partner and we both walk off together towards our cars. No hanging around etc.

Umpiring in a way is like being a Parent - It's a thankless job and only we ourselves or our partner know if we did a good job or not.

Example; we could have a game in which our mechanics were way off, our strike zone a little shaky and our positioning on the bases was sub par - yet the game went smooth and no complaints. To everyone else we called a good game, but we know differently, conversely,

we could have a game in which both you and your partner were in a zone right there for every call, strike zone right on , but you and your partner had one of those games in which just about every play was a banger and throw in an obstruction call to boot.

Even though we know we called a good game, to everyone else it seemed as though we didn't. So go figure.

Bottom Line: We as Officials deserve to be treated with respect and payed accordingly - but that's it. We are not bigger than the game.

Ok it's Monday - any thoughts!

Pete Booth