profanity in fed games

[WindyCityBlue]

The FCC cannot define profanity.

You can turn on E.R., The Shield, NYPD Blue or a myriad of prime time shows and hear "****", "*******", "Tits" and much more.

Rut, While it's true that the umpire started the conversation, he didn't say, "Oh ****, [deleted colorful language]?"
He politely asked and was responded to in a teenage vernacular. I would probably laugh it off, but would keep it in mind, when I get the catcher looking at strike three on the outside corner and he says, "****, that wasn't a strike."

It takes a lot for me to dump someone - usually swearing at me, my partner(s) or another player or showing me up on a call. What this guy did in the original posts was forget who he was talking to, nothing more.

[Edited by mick on May 26th, 2004 at 05:30 PM]

[w_sohl]

Originally posted by mcrowder
While I agree with everyone else here that in this particular case the most you should do is say "Watch that language", I do take issue to the assumption that you shouldn't eject a player just because YOU started the conversation and his comment was a response to your question.

For example, after a couple of semi-audible groans from a particular coach on a couple of outside pitches(perhaps one you know almost never does this), you ask the catcher (no - I don't normally do this, but I've heard and read that some umpires do):

PU: "Catcher, am I missing those outside strikes?"
F2: "Yeah, those calls were bulls---".

You initiated the conversation - he crossed the line (and if that particular line doesn't cross YOUR line, insert one that does for purposes of this example - perhaps "Yeah, you must be F---ing blind"). He's gone.

COMPLETELY different situation from the original post. I could possibly see an ejection here, but in the original post I think the most you can do is just ask them to watch their language.

Big difference from, "My pitcher ain't got sh*t!" to "Your calls are sh*t!" Daryl and Rut put it best.

[mcrowder]

No, Rut - I did NOT say I thought the kid should be ejected for that. I was merely disagreeing with the assumption that since the umpire started the conversation, the kid could say whatever he wanted with impunity.

[Rich]

Originally posted by w_sohl

COMPLETELY different situation from the original post. I could possibly see an ejection here, but in the original post I think the most you can do is just ask them to watch their language.

Big difference from, "My pitcher ain't got sh*t!" to "Your calls are sh*t!" Daryl and Rut put it best.

I can't imagine asking someone to watch his language based on what was posted in the original post. Serious OOO.

[DG]

Originally posted by JRutledge

I would love to see you or any umpire eject a player for a conversation that you the umpire completely started. The player was not arguing. The player was not disputing anything and did not chastise you. He simply responded to your silly question that you did not need to ask.

I would love to hear your explaination to a coach or an assignor/evaluator for this one. That should be a fun conversation.

Peace

You obviously did not read the rest of my post and chose not to quote it all. Read carefully and you will see that I said I am funning you guys.

[DG]

Originally posted by Rich Fronheiser

Who actually considers the word sh1t "profanity?"

Jeez, you guys are prudes. Are youze looking for trouble?

--Rich

I think most folks would consider the word sh*t, used in the proper context to be profanity. I am not a prude, far from it. If a player were to strike out and say sh*t very loudly for all to hear, are you saying you would not eject because sh*t is not profanity? Many or most of the fans would disagree with you.

[JRutledge]

Originally posted by mcrowder
No, Rut - I did NOT say I thought the kid should be ejected for that. I was merely disagreeing with the assumption that since the umpire started the conversation, the kid could say whatever he wanted with impunity.

That is fine. But I would have never put myself in that situation. I would never ask a catcher his opinion about another player. I do not care what his opinion is about another player. And this whole thing was started by what the umpire asked.

Peace

[JRutledge]

Originally posted by DG

You obviously did not read the rest of my post and chose not to quote it all. Read carefully and you will see that I said I am funning you guys.

I responded to the part of the post that I felt was the most relevant.

I think you take yourself too seriously if you really think someone was upset or outraged by your post. I was just responding. Not trying to start a war.

Peace

[DG]

Originally posted by JRutledge

I responded to the part of the post that I felt was the most relevant.

I think you take yourself too seriously if you really think someone was upset or outraged by your post. I was just responding. Not trying to start a war.

Peace

Peace

[umpduck11]

I'm sorry.Somehow I must have conveyed the thought that I actually considered ejecting the catcher. I did not. I was simply asking how you would handle it yourselves.
I was actually amused at the response he gave,as he was looking me straight in the eye,and was quite serious.I chuckled at his reply,and stepped away to watch the warm-up throws,only to see tha Bill was absolutely correct in his assessment of the pitcher.

[umpduck11]

P.S.

Am I to assume JRutledge , that you've never enquired about what pitches a pitcher throws , when you've never seen him before? I like to know if he has one,two, or three different pitches,but I guess I'm not as "Big Time" as some guys are.

[JRutledge]

Originally posted by umpduck11

P.S.

Am I to assume JRutledge , that you've never enquired about what pitches a pitcher throws , when you've never seen him before? I like to know if he has one,two, or three different pitches,but I guess I'm not as "Big Time" as some guys are.

I honestly do not care what he throws. I call the game regardless of what he throws. The batter needs to worry about what a pitcher has much more than I.

Peace

[Edited by JRutledge on May 27th, 2004 at 08:35 PM]

[ecurebel]

i don't think that i would eject but i would specifically warn the player and team about using this type of language. if i started the conversation is not important it is the fact that the word was used. the player knows better, and the coach shouldn't stand for it.

if he says any words that i can hear i will tell him whats going on, and that i will not and do not tolerate any language of that kind on a ball field.

but if he says it loud enough for everybody in the stands to hear, you bet your but he is gone from the ball game. talking to me is one thing letting the crowd here it is another. i would rather deal with the booking agent on why i tossed him rather than hear from the coaches on why i let him stay..

[Rich]

Originally posted by ecurebel
i don't think that i would eject but i would specifically warn the player and team about using this type of language. if i started the conversation is not important it is the fact that the word was used. the player knows better, and the coach shouldn't stand for it.

if he says any words that i can hear i will tell him whats going on, and that i will not and do not tolerate any language of that kind on a ball field.

but if he says it loud enough for everybody in the stands to hear, you bet your but he is gone from the ball game. talking to me is one thing letting the crowd here it is another. i would rather deal with the booking agent on why i tossed him rather than hear from the coaches on why i let him stay..

I've had kids yell out "sh*t" after getting thrown out at first base and I've smiled, made the call, and headed to right field between innings. If their coach doesn't want to handle that, I'm certainly not bothering.

I'm an umpire, and I'm not the morality police. Swear at me or get personal with me, and you're done at any level. But I don't get involved with nonsense like this. OOO.

[Carl Childress]

Originally posted by Rich Fronheiser

I've had kids yell out "sh*t" after getting thrown out at first base and I've smiled, made the call, and headed to right field between innings. If their coach doesn't want to handle that, I'm certainly not bothering.

I'm an umpire, and I'm not the morality police. Swear at me or get personal with me, and you're done at any level. But I don't get involved with nonsense like this. OOO.

In my career I know of several umpires (I reached six while deciding whether to join this thread) who lost important games because they ignored a player's cussing that was loud enough for ladies in the stands to hear.

Sh!t is certainly a taboo word. The way to determine what is proscribed: Would you use that word in conversation with a priest after mass?

Several in the thread have offered the "correct" solution: Regardless of who started the conversation, talk between umpire/coach and umpire/player is priviledged. No harm, no foul.

Mr. Fronheiser says he never gets excited when a player loudly cusses ("Sh!t") after he's been called out; after he made an out.

In my games at any level -- and in any association I've ever been involved with -- such language would be instant grounds for dismissal. As I said, some umpire who did not discipline the offender were put on the "don't-call-'em-for-a-game" list after complaints by spectators.

Well, perhaps that's a southern "thing," a Texas thing. Apparently, it's not a Fronheiser thing, and he's been in associtions in perhaps six or seven states.

Too bad. I'm sorry baseball in Wisconsin has dropped to that level.

Rich: Last year you called a very important Little League majors tournament. Eleven-year-old kid is out at first to end the inning. "Sh!t!!," he screams after you call him out.

You say you'd trot out to your position in right field.

I don't believe it.