Quote:
|
Originally Posted by BigGuy
I think you're wrong about that - many of the posters here and elsewhere have "blue" in their names. As an umpire, I consider it a sign of respect. They don't know my name and they certainly don't call me "Mr. Umpire". If you want people to call you something in particular, it's YOUR job to tell THEM and not be some smarta$$ asking if they're talking to you. You're an umpire, not a person on a pedestal, so don't act like it. Just remember one thing - THEY ARE YOUR CUSTOMER - not the other way around.
|
I can call myself Blue if I so choose (I don't), but a coach can't. They do, and I mostly ignore it, especially if it is conversational. But hollering, "hey, Blue," is a rude, ignorant thing to do. Those that use that term usually do not even realize that it is a slur derived from, "hey, you blew the call." You blew, you blew, hey Blue. That is the origin of calling the umpire blue. When umpires wore black suits and bow ties, I don't believe they addressed umpires as, "Hey, Black."
Coaches and players are certainly not my "customers." That's a pretty weird way of looking at them. When I work a game, I'm in charge. It's more like being a prison guard than it is being a retail clerk. I want to be addressed with a modicum of respect, and "Blue" is not respectful.
I try to educate coaches by telling them privately that umpires don't really like being called "Blue." They usually are surprised to hear this, and say that they call umpires Blue because that's what they heard other people doing. I tell them that "Ump" or "Mr. Umpire" or my first name are preferable to "Blue," and I tell them why many umpires don't like being called Blue.