[tballump]

From what I have read, I agree with BBD when you are talking about the pro game and it is just a statement, but a complete scream and any jesture where the whole world can hear and see would be unacceptable there also. However, at the amateur level, this whole scene should be handled even tougher than the pros. I believe there is something about profanity audible to the stands somewhere in both pro and amateur.

If you let this guy say it loud enough for all the world to hear, then you have to let all the other players that night say it at least once for all the world to hear. Then every umpire after you has to hear and suffer the repercussions of this the next night because the players will say you did not act on that outburst, so why should the following crews handle it any differently.

This is much like a batter drawing a line, how you handle it, and what it means for the rest of the night. It also has repercussions for umpires that follow you in that league, when you let some sportsmanship issue arise and either act or do not act on it.

One other point. A league is only as good as how the person in charge "backs" the umpires in that league.

NOTE: In many areas the assignors (many but not all) have 40-50 or more schools (high school and middle school and other leagues) where they are paid $100 or more for every sport and team they assign (JV&Varsity boys and girls football, basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball, wrestling, field hockey etc. etc.). This can work out to a nice 5-6 figure salary.

So, this leads me to "wonder" where they stand when it comes to backing umpire/official vs. team/league/school/coach on sportsmanship/contentious issues such as ejections. The above does not mean "all" assignors, or maybe it does not mean "any" assignors at all and I apologize if I have questioned any assignors integrity (yeah, I'll hear about it) , but I think it is food for thought and maybe that's all it is, food for thought.