[Jim Porter]

Here's a little added info to the situation:

The entire first base defensive dugout, all their fans nearby, as well as most of the fielders on that side all noticed the flinch. They were yelling for a tag on the BR. After the call, they were all convinced I was right, and took my side vehemently.

The entire third base offensive dugout was convinced I was wrong. They opposed me vehemently. They were ahead 12-4, but still voiced their disgust with the call.

My Umpire-in-Chief was the plate umpire. He started right in on me with that call when we talked next to his van as he took off his gear. I didn't want to talk about it there, but he's kind of an old stubborn fella, and he loudly expressed his dislike for the call.

Well, one of the fans from the defensive team, who had been razzing my UIC all night from the stands, overheard my UIC and began defending my call. Before I could say anything, this guy said to my UIC, "You shouldn't have been umpiring this game. Talk about a conflict of interest!"

You see, my UIC was once the coach of the offensive team. Most of the players on that team also play for a team my UIC currently coaches in another amateur league. But he assigned himself the plate for the finals nonetheless.

The next thing I know, my UIC loses his temper and says, "Oh yeah? You've wanted a piece of me all night. Now you've got it!" and begins charging for this guy. My UIC walks right up to him and gives him a right cross to the jaw. Mind you, my UIC is, like, 75 years old. It was as funny as it was sad.

Well, the cops were called and I actually had to give statements against my UIC. Needless to say, he is not my UIC this year. He's been removed from duties, but not for the fight. It was because he stubbornly assigns himself all the "good" games, and the league president, and too many others, thinks he stinks.

Considering the rate of official abuse in today's amateur sports, I figured the front office would be a little upset to learn that an official assaulted someone else. However, that was not the case. The league president said to me, and I quote, "I know the guy he hit. He was riding him all night. If I was there, I would've told him to get a few shots in for me."

And that's the whole shocking story. In retrospect, maybe I should've called him safe. *grin*