[bkbjones]

I'l take a little credit for him too. He came to me in 2005 and wanted "some input." So I got ready to evaluate. Top half of the first, ball is in foul territory, girl was in fair territory on a weak little dribbler close to the third base line, but definitely foul by a foot when she picked it up, pivoted and threw to first for the out. He didn't know the infield fly rule from the fly fishing rule. His strike zone was crappy. Those were his strong suits. Oh, one more thing, he was eager to become the best umpire he could possibly be, and that is what training is all about.

Our weekend assignment-type boy always called him "your boy." I was glad to have him. Happily worked with him through 2009, handed him off to Sean when I was deemed no longer suitable to help train umpires (no matter the track record ... I will never understand THAT one).

Between me, Sean, a couple others and Nick's eagerness to learn, Nick has made a helluva umpire.

Hope you all are doing well. I miss the diamond tremendously. Never take the opportunity to be an umpire for granted, not for a second.