Quote:
Originally posted by Panda Bear
I realize many of us have a military background that stresses the elimination of any trace of individuality.
OTOH, attracting new, upwardly mobile types into our line of work is important in many localities. In the society we live in, many of the people we need to attract as new participants, as well as spectators (read supporters), value individuality, freedom of choice, and, yes, colorfulness. If all the diamond sports are to remain viable, we need to appeal to new blood. Like it or not, we are competing with every other diversion out there whenever we step onto the field.
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I am not sure that I agree with your line of thinking here. When I first became an umpire, lo these many years ago, I was not an ex-military person, nor anything slightly akin to that. I had just left a lucrative job with the government and secured a comfortable teaching post. In short, I was one of these free thinking, professionals that you are talking of here. And yet, I am a stickler when it comes to following the uniform code to the letter, including the color of the ballbag...etc. I am also a stickler when it comes to the use of a prescribed set of signals to be used by all umpires. It is part of what being an umpire is.
Some of the new recruits in this area include a 30-something "techie" and a college student. Both also adhere to, and are learning to respect the "uniformity" of umpiring. In short, no matter what your background, military or private sector, liberal or conservative, white collar or blue collar, I believe that if you choose to be an umpire as your advocation, then you should embrace all aspects of being an umpire, which includes the proper uniform and signals.