[aceholleran]

A few years ago, I was doing bases in a big LL tounrey game. I know it's just LL, but behold the power of the press.

In a rundown between HP and 3B, I had the latter end. It was a typical LL rundown (too long), so I had ample chance to get position. R3 finally decides to slide back into 3B, and F5 gets tag down in plenty of time. As I waited my half-beat, I could clearly see the ball rolling up F5's arm. He retrieved it (after R3 was saefely on the sack) and held up the rock just as I signalled "safe." I followed this with a "bobble" mechanic.

Hue and cry from defensive bench, but no big argument. I forget the ensuing play, but next batter drove in R3; his team won by one run.

Behold in the local paper the next day: "Saabville Loses on Umpire's Call." Of course, the writer interviewed only the losing coach, who moaned like a nancy boy. "The kids deserve better umpiring" was part of his mantra. The article named me, too.

I called the paper the next day and blasted the sports editor, whom I knew casually. My stance was: "Your writer has every right to give me the business; how about if he asked my opinion?" Then I told him what I saw. Plus, I was available for quite a while after the game; I spent most of that time in the administrators'/press box. Several writers were present.

It was the only time in 29 years that I have been mentioned in a game article. Go figure.

Ace