Umpiring - More than rules

[PeteBooth]

No matter what Message Boards you visit, I would venture to guess that at least 85% of the time if not greater is spent discussing rules, however, understanding rules is not why I love to umpire.

I do not know about you, but I get bored in a classroom type atmosphere talking about the concept of "last time by" or 6.08c vs. 7.07 for the umpteenth time. Don't get me wrong, whether we play monopoly or umpire a game we need to know the rules, but personally I enjoy the fresh air (even though it gets cold or sometimes very hot) and the commodary with my colleagues. I do not have an ego to bruise so "bragging" about a game is not for me.

We can all purchase books and supplemental materials, and get a pretty good idea on the rules of the game. We might not be experts but we can hold our own If we do get one of those once in a lifetime plays there's good old 9.01c or 10-2-3g (for FED) and sort it out latter.

IMO, Mechanics and Game Control are what makes or breaks an umpire, yet they are rarely discussed on the net. In addition, whenever rules are discussed, there seems to be the thrashing that accompanies all good disucssions.

You can know the rules like the back of your hand but if you do not know where to position yourself or manage a game, no-one will care that you scored 100% on every exam that you took.

In addition, there are things like:
(A) - Family Life vs. Umpiring
(B) - Umpire Burnout
(C) - Getting along with your colleagues
(D) - Others Experiences and how they can help me
(E) - Politics

that are more of interest to me. So perhaps throughout the latter part of fall and the winter months we (as a group) can pick some topics either to discuss or get opinions on other than rules. I listed 5 above, perhaps there are more, but you get the drift

What do you think? If the aformentioned topics are of interest to you, I will initiate the first thread on Family Life and Umpiring to see how others have dealt with this and what advice we can give to the newcomer (to avoid divorce court - (G).

Pete Booth

[Edited by PeteBooth on Nov 12th, 2001 at 03:17 PM]

[devilsadvocate]

I agree. Let's switch gears for a while.

[senior]

Good idea, Pete, you even got D/A to agree, instead of being a D/A!

Naturally, I can't speak for everyone out there, but my theory on the Umpiring effect on family life is that it is a definite positive one.

Sure, there can always be a few negatives brought up, and it's not always the most convenient activity you could find, but I feel it's way ahead of whatever is in second place!

If the Wife takes a look around, our Umpiring activities are good, clean, fun compared with some alternatives. If I am Umpiring, my wife knows where I'm at, usually would be aware of whom I'm involved with, and within reason, a close guess as to when I'll be home. Of course, an added benefit is the extra cash involved on the non-volunteer nights.

If you're not working the beer leagues, the Wife and family are able to stop by, or even stay, if they wish. Oh, if only all of our extra-curricular activities were so civilized. I have never had to apologize to anyone for being involved in Umpiring, and probably never will.

[Skahtboi]

In the early days, both the kids, the wife, and myself were all at the ballpark at the same time, though never on the same fields. We would all pile into one vehicle and basically make a night(or day) of it. Now that the kids are grown, the wife is still happy to see me get out and run around a ballfield three, four and sometimes even six nights a week. She knows that for me it is fun, and provides a chance for me to unwind. (Believe it or not.)

Plus, it gives us each a healthy amount of time to ourselves to persue our own interests. She knows that if something important comes up that she really wants us to do together, that all she need do is ask. If I am assigned for games on that particular night, rest assured that I will find somebody to cover for me.

Incidentally, I like this idea Pete.

Scott

[Skahtboi]

Now you see Glen, here we were making nice pleasant conversation, and you go and mar it with the ugly spectre of politics.

[Bfair]

Originally posted by whiskers_ump
That being the case, why is it that the US government has spent more
money chasing down Bill Gates over the past ten years than Osama bin Laden?

Glen............
Exactly what are those figures?? .... for comparison.
I have not yet seen them. Apparently you have them?

Freix

[whiskers_ump]

Scott,

Pete did say we could do politics--didn't he?

You never said what chapter you were with!
Is it Collin County, SB Chapter - Bill Baker
contact? Maybe we connect during playoffs.
Aren't you in Distict 11 UIL alignment. AAA.

glen

[whiskers_ump]

Originally posted by Bfair

Glen............
Exactly what are those figures?? .... for comparison.
I have not yet seen them. Apparently you have them?

Freix

Steve,

This was an article in a Philly paper. I only saw it
when my niece sent it to me. Just thought since it slow
and Pete wanted something besides BB to discuss, I would
throw it up. Confirmation would not hurt, huh???

glen

[Jim Porter]

Originally posted by whiskers_ump
This would probably qualify under politics.

Something to Think About.

After the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, which killed six and injured
1,000, President Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted
down and punished.

After the 1995 bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed five U.S. military
personnel, Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down
and punished.

After the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed 19
and injured 200 U.S. military personnel, Clinton promised that those would
be hunted down and punished.

After the 1998 bombing of U.S. embassies in Africa, which killed 224 and
injured 5,000, Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted
down and punished.

After the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole, which killed 17 and injured 3
U.S. sailors, Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down
and punished.

Maybe if Clinton had kept his promise, an estimated 6,000 people would
be alive today.

glen


[Edited by whiskers_ump on Nov 15th, 2001 at 05:54 PM]

I find your finger-pointing to be very distasteful.

If the critics of the former President Clinton had spent their time a little more constructively than going even to the lengths to uncover who-did-what-with-a-cigar-to-whom, then perhaps those Americans would not have so harshly criticized the President for his retaliation against terror camps in Afghanistan and a chemical weapons plant in the Sudan. At the time, Clinton's critics lambasted him for that move. He had no choice but to stop. America clearly did not support him.

But since those Americans do not have the cajones to admit their responsibility for our future inaction because of their very vocal protests against those strikes, they also get a spot in the Finger-Point Hall of Fame, and share in the responsibility for those 5000 deaths on September 11th.

It is spineless to have condemned Clinton for those strikes, and then now point your finger at his subsequent inaction. Oh, but I suppose you were one of those in full support of President Clinton at the time, weren't you? What hogwash!

The reality is that not many in America cared too much about terrorism because it always took place on foreign soil. Since you weren't in an embassy in Africa, you weren't ready to support what needed to be done. Now, the terror has hit the homeland, and you're pointing your finger? Where I come from, we have names for people like you. I'm just too much of a gentleman to mention what that word is.

[Bfair]

Originally posted by Jim Porter

I find your finger-pointing to be very distasteful.

Jim, while I didn't vote for Clinton in either election, and while you and I don't tend to agree on many things, this is certainly an issue we see eye to eye on.

Freix

[whiskers_ump]

Since I posted the original post, I have deleted it.
It seems to have made some really upset. But if they
read it, and/or my follow up post they should know
that I did not make these statements, merely printed
what was written in a Philly paper. I did make any
statements as to whether I did or did not support what
had been said therein.

glen

[Jim Porter]

Originally posted by whiskers_ump
Since I posted the original post, I have deleted it.
It seems to have made some really upset. But if they
read it, and/or my follow up post they should know
that I did not make these statements, merely printed
what was written in a Philly paper. I did make any
statements as to whether I did or did not support what
had been said therein.

glen

Well, you're not the first source where I've heard such drivel. You certainly presented as if it were your own beliefs, so I acted angrily towards you.

What burns me up is that the Clinton Administration - - no matter what you think of them - - did, indeed, try to deal with the problem of Bin Laden and Al-Qaida. They had no support, from home or abroad. The Clinton-hating world had a new catch-phrase at the time, "Wag the Dog," - - remember?

This is a prime example of how the public's inability to keep themselves out of the White House bedroom harmed our country in a most extreme way. The business of our country was halted by a society fixated on the groin. There was a time when society, for the betterment of our country, would find it inappropriate to discuss such matters as the fondling habits of our President. Richard Nixon, JFK - - many of our Presidents had Mistresses, but no one talked about them. We certainly didn't get intimate details and material evidence.

I just hope this country has learned something from all this.

[Skahtboi]

Glen wrote:You never said what chapter you were with!
Is it Collin County, SB Chapter - Bill Baker
contact? Maybe we connect during playoffs.
Aren't you in Distict 11 UIL alignment. AAA.


You're right, I didn't! I am part of a new chapter that is starting this year. Grayson County Chapter. We are an offshoot of the Lewisville Chapter. I transferred over to them this year from the Bonham Chapter since they are much closer to home, get more gigs..etc. Its looks to be a great bunch of officials, so I am really looking forward to getting underway in Feb. Yeah...I'll be looking for you during the playoffs, and possibly at one of these larger metro area tournaments they have if you ever work those.

Scott