[NCASAUmp]

USC is a very grey area for a lot of us, and we all have our different trigger points. For me, it's all a matter of context - something said a certain way in one game may deserve a warning, and the same sentence in another game may not. Sometimes, it's just teams "cutting up" and having some fun, and who am I to spoil their fun if both sides are having a good time? I listen to what was said, the tone of their voice, and the reaction of the players. If it's two buddies on opposing teams who are just teasing each other, I let it slide.

Then you have other instances that are specifically in the book. Throwing a bat in anger should result in an immediate ejection (ASA R/S #52), and I wish more umps would enforce that rule a bit more (some give warnings to be the "nice guy," while others do nothing at all - ARGH!). Flagrantly crashing into a fielder who has the ball = immediate ejection (and an out).

As for fans, yes, we can eject them from the field, but I've only done this once in 15 years. Most of them have no clue, and if I paid attention to everything that's said in the park and tossed people for their comments, we wouldn't have a game, and I'd have a stack of paperwork afterwards. My tolerance is pretty high, but if I hear profanity being directly addressed to me, or if I hear a threat, then I will have them removed. However, most of the time, I'm pretty much deaf to what's behind me (ask some of my other umps who have tried to talk to me between innings - it takes them about 4 or 5 times to get my attention).

Be firm, but be consistent.