[mcrowder]

I think that some of you guys who live in Yankee-country (to me ... that's north of the Red River, but I'm going to give Okie a bit of a break here) have NO IDEA what it's like to be out there for 8 hours in southern heat. Yes - I've lived in the north, and yes - I've been there when it's 100 degrees. Different animal. Last week, it was 104 as a high, but at NINE PM, it was still 97 degrees. Not to mention the humidity.

I agree that it's important to look good and professional. And I agree that these guys did not look professional (and the rare tourney where I'm wearing shorts, I look a little goofy too). (I'll also concede that the white underalls in one of the pictures above was TACKY, and not necessary - wear the shorts if it's the uniform of the day, but surely you could have found black McDavids... and nice watch!)

But when the sanctioning body for a tournament makes uniform concessions for umpires working 8-10 (or even 14 once!) hour shifts, and ALL of the umpires abide by them, sometimes "the look" has to give way a bit to the health of the crew.

Sometimes it's more important to BE professional than to LOOK professional.

Scoff if you will, but I invite ANY of you to come down and work a June tournament for me next year - I'll even give you a break every 4th game (something we don't usually have the luxury of) and see if you change your tune after 10 straight hours of 95+ temperatures and high humidity.