Getting "Black Listed"

[piaa_ump]

like the inscription on King Solomons ring says......."this to shall pass"..........

I think it is near impossible to go through an umpiring career and not run into some form of black list, scratch list or another....In the early days, I know I was held off some games due to my inexperience...(rightfully so)......and later held off some games due to past conflicts with a manager or coach........(growing pains)...

I remember talking to a very senior member of my chapter at that time and being concerned about being blacklisted/scratched......He told me:

A. If your going to be in umpiring long term, that some conflict going to happen.... nature of the beast, comes with the territory........handle it.......deal with it or get a new hobby...

B. Unless you live in a area totally unlike most places......there are never enough umpires....one game, one team or one school that does not want your services wont kill you....or your career.....

C. You will still be umpiring long after the coach is gone....Perfect example......I called a balk on a coaches son and the coach did not like it.....he told me Id never work in that league again.......I still call that league, and he has been gone for years...........

I like Tee's comment " I dont go where Im not wanted".....and I take it to heart......I actively check my game diary and work with my assignor to rotate my scheduled games so that I do not habitually work the same teams.

If I have been to a town or school too often I move to other assignments because familiarity sometimes does breed contempt..... I don't want to be considered the hometown umpire. I recently turned down a summer league championship game just because my son had played for one of the teams in the game over 3 years ago.

What I saying is manage your business........and it will turn out all right.....one day you will find yourself on a game where you are on one coaches black list and the others championship reccomendation list........and the truth will be somewhere in between both....


Stan

[Edited by piaa_ump on Jul 19th, 2005 at 12:20 PM]