My father,who happens to dispatch for our County's Sherrif's
department,told me today of an incident which took place at
a local park.Coincidentally,I played ball at this park as a boy,and umpire a two parks nearby,but have never called a game at this particular park.
It seems that a fan got rather unruly towards the PU,and
was asked(or told)by the PU to regain his composure.Evidently,Mr.Fan was either unable,or unwilling to do as he was asked.Instead he decided to enter the field
of play,and charge the Umpire.
The Umpire removed his mask,and by all accounts merely held
it face-high to his oncoming attacker.Mr.Fan ran face-first
into the mask,smashing his nose,lacerating his face,and loosening a few teeth.
Paramedics arrived and took him to a hospital for treatment,while the Sherrifs Deputies took statements from
witnesses.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Mr.Fan,for violating
Alabama's spots official assault law.
Now isn't that poetic justice?

Our Little League insttuted a "parent code of conduct" this year that they required all parents to sign. Apparently some area umps refuse to run our games because there are some parents that are out of control. More than once a sheriff escort has been used to get the ump safely from the field. The former head ump said that two years ago a parent followed an ump home after a tournament game. How sad.

As for the mask to the face, I often tell my young players that horseplay involving wrestling a bat out of another person's hands isn't tolerated. I've pointed out that it's a bad idea because you don't want to make someone mad when they are holding a bat.

If you have a coach or manager that is charging you, keep your mask on.

My family is from Alabama. Where did this happen?

Greymule,it happened in Center Point,a suburb of
Birmingham.

Thank goodness, I can't relate to a league with out of control parents. Where I work they are generally well behaved. However, your situation makes me think some about what I would do. I would not remove my mask unless I deemed it necessary to beat the sh*t out of somebody with it who richly deserves. And heaven help the s*mb*tch that follows me home. I rhink I would know if I was being followed and would not lead him to my home.

[Edited by DG on Jun 22nd, 2004 at 12:13 AM]

<b>Greymule,it happened in Center Point, a suburb of
Birmingham.</b>

My cousin is a defense attorney in Birmingham. I'll ask him whether he's ever defended people who have attacked officials.

In the 1920s and 1930s, my grandfather and his law partner were the prosecutors in Birmingham. Other relatives go back to the founding of the city.