[UmpJM]

Tuss,

My impression from reading your posts on this forum is certainly not of someone who is arrogant or someone who would think of himself as "bigger than the game"; quite the contrary, you come across as someone who is genuinely interested in the quality of his officiating and continually improving it, and, from my perspective, one who is mature beyond his years.

Of course, this is just an internet board, and you might project an entirely different image on the field when officiating. But, I doubt it.

I have found that one of the hardest things in life is being truly objective about one's self. It's extremely difficult to have a thoroughly objective assessment of one's performance in doing something one cares about doing well, and in understanding how one's demeanor and actions are perceived by other people, without getting feedback from other people. (Video can be helpful as well.)

Your description of this feedback as coming from "several sources" suggests to me that there is most likely something to these comments; and the fact that you bothered to make this post belies your assertion that you don't particularly care. It also reinforces my impression of you as a conscientious official who cares about the quality of his umpiring.

I've never seen you work, so I really don't have a clue as to what might be creating this impression in some who have and whether or not it's something that ought to concern you or something you should address. Could be a "body language" thing, could be a "tone of voice" thing, could be the way you deal with controversial plays, could be that you're too "by the book" rather than "with the book". Or something else entirely.

I once saw an umpire work a game who had a "perpetual grin" on his face. I would guess he was unaware that that was how his facial expression was perceived. He hustled, got his calls right, & had decent mechanics. Yet, his facial expression created the impression that he wasn't taking the game and his role in it seriously. Could be something as simple as that.

I would concur with others who suggest yoiu try to uncover the specifics of what is creating this impression from those whom you respect and then decide whether or not it's something you feel is worth addressing.

JM