[WhatWuzThatBlue]

That type of pontificating is exactly what the AMLU boys did prior to walking out. (By the way, it is possible to walk out without a contract - check the language used by the Teamsters during the NY City garbage strike. The local 813 reps repeatedly said that they were walking out since they have been working without a contract since November.)

The MiLB umpire's union begged amateur umpires to support their decision by not accpeting their schedules. They pleaded and muttered about all umpires knowing how it feels to be abused and maltreated. Then...sit odwn for this, they turned on their brethren. Yes, the very same souls they tried to influence were now the targets of their terror. You cannot deny that their photo gallery was shameful - posting names and petty comments was really beneath them. These professional umpires espoused back street mentality - threats, retaliation and intimidation. Compound that with the hubris of a certain IL crew chief (I don't print names - this guy deserves no more attention) saying that the Delmon Young incident likely wouldn't have occured if a professional umpire had been on the field and you've got a new moniker: AMLU - Association of Men Lacking Understanding.

I have no qualms saying that I would support any umpire who chose to work those games. Obviously you have no qualms acting in such a shameful manner. I can't understand how you can justify what they did to their fellow umpires.

You claim to be of some influence in the basketball world. Do basketball officials regularly mock their colleagues and threaten their safety?

Most of us supported the need for our apprentice brothers to seek better salaries. A few of us took issue with the suggestion that the union wanting more say in player punishment and monitoring. Others felt that if you didn't want to accept the salary for the chance at glory, step aside - the schools are full of candidates. I considered the issue to be union brass driven. I almost always took specific issue with the when driving that bus into the ditch. I find little fault with the guys who are grinding it every day. That was until they started their senseless barrage on the amateur arbiter. Replacement umpires were necessary because the game is bigger than any umpire. Judging by the continuous stream of similar sentiment, I'd say I'm not alone in this judgement. You may want to ask around, but I'm pretty sure that glass house you're living in has a few cracks.