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Originally Posted by GarthB
It isn't a particularly gentle or kind business. Matt has his eyes wide open. When he first decided this was what he wanted in live, he read Rick Roder's, "The Narrowest Door in Baseball." He then went to several pro clinics and camps and talked endlessly with A, AA and AAA umpires about their experiences and lifestyle. Some of the friends he made were later released and some self-released, so he knows about that reality.
He wants to give it his best shot. I'm proud just that he was willing to go for it and settle for having a regret later in life for not trying. We've had some talks while he was growing up and he knows that his dad had a couple of opportunities (not in umpiring) that he didn't pursue because he was comfortable where he was and wasn't willing to take the risk necessary to reach for the gold ring. I've always been honest about the few regrets I have about that and have encouraged him to be braver than his dad was.
Thankfully, he is.
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Garth- Did he find that Rick's book helped him? I've read it because I'm looking to follow in those footsteps in the next 2-3 years, so I'm trying to get a handle on people I assume are around my age and see what they've done to get themselves where they are.