Lightening Almost Strikes Twice in Texas.

[Mark Land]

Tim C:

It has been a long time that someone has called me a liar. I refuse to engage in flame wars, but I will defend myself.

My initial post confessed I was being an “armchair umpire.” You can criticize me for that all you want. The only reason I made my post was because I felt it ironic that two weeks after the initial “changed call at Texas,” that an entirely new crew would have the same issue arise. I was the one that initially reported the first instance too. (BTW, since you doubt my veracity, Jon Bible confirmed that one.)

Am I being overly critical of a crew of obviously excellent umpires? Perhaps. The fact that I recognize mistakes (or at least things I believe to be mistakes) does not diminish my respect for them.

The only member of that crew that I am familiar with is Randy Christal. I freely acknowledge he is one of the finest Division I umpires out there. I have watched him call games for over 15 years. Christal has called games in 8 College World Series, was a replacement umpire during the previous strike by the MLB umpires, has called 100’s of games at UT. He is also a distinguished football official. He was the referee in a NCAA national championship game and in the Rose Bowl. His latest claim to fame is that he is a referee in the XFL. (Don’t give up your day job Randy.) I consider myself a fan. The only thing I have against Randy is that he erroneously called Spike Owen out at 3rd to keep Texas out of the championship game of the 1982 College World Series. I do not hold a grudge.

I do not know the other umpires. I believe they were a WAC crew selected by Rice. I thought Emerson had a very good game behind the plate. Perhaps I should have said so in my initial post. I guess I fell prey to the fact that “good news is no news.”

As to the accuracy of the rest of my post, check your facts before calling me a liar. I am sure Randy would agree with the accuracy of my tale, excluding the obstruction that he did not see. He might disagree that he “erred” or might explain why he acted as he did. I would enjoy that conversation. I am sure I would learn something.

I have not, learned anything, however, from defending myself against your ludicrous allegation. Had I not already typed this, I would not bother.

Mark
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