[Dakota]

Long pants are not the be-all and end-all of professional appearance. We've all seen umpires with various uniform no-nos (sweat-stained caps, shirts that haven't seen a hanger all season, etc., etc.).

One of the problems with your pics is your association, while allowing shorts, did not require the remainder of the uniform that goes along with shorts (uniform appearance long socks). And, you posted pictures of umpires who compounded this with other umpiring faux pas - the exposed underwear, the sunglasses on the hat, the watch.

It is my personal opinion that shin guards worn with shorts look ridiculous, like the high school kid who shows up to call the local LL baseball game and uses the community shin guards and the chalky balloon protector out of the field box and puts on the face mask over his backwards Braves hat. You did not help that impression with the general disorder of the rest of the uniforms worn. Shorty socks and exposed underwear make the ridiculous look laughable.

Sorry if that offends you, but that is my opinion.