Sunflower seeds on the field

[TBBlue]

Originally posted by Dave Hensley

According to a Dallas Morning News special report on youth baseball organizations I read this past weekend, USSSA Baseball was formed in 1996, sponsors tournaments leading to world series tournaments in ages 6 - 18, and is headquartered in Kissimmee, Florida.

Dave, I did not know that. Thanks for the info. I do know they rarely have tourneys in St. Pete/Clearwater, that I have seen or heard of. A.A.U Florida, out of Lakeland rules the travel ball circuit here. Chet Lemmon runs that group. The summer tourneys are usually sanctioned by I.B.C. (I believe that's International Baseball Congress)

Anyway, since he loves us so much, I was actually being a Smarta$$ to BlueDude and his blanket statement everywhere comment.

[Plugnickle]

I have been researching AAU baseball in my area for my son this morning and came upon this page and I have to be honest with you, what I am reading here scares me, do I really want my son associated with this type behavior??
I thought the officals of these events were to have the highest standards in morals, ethics, sportsmanship and always be willing to help a child understand the game a little better. This is NOT what I'm seeing here at all. Do you have anyone overseeing your positions and what are the chances they may be reading this, how do you think this may effect your reveiws?? Do you really care?
I'm not getting a warm fuzzy here, I thought it was only the pro players who were the bone heads.
I SURE HOPE I HAVE GOTTEN THE WRONG IMPRESSION.....

[Tim C]

I do not teach or coach baseball. I don't umpire "for the kids."

I simply report what happens on the field.

You got a pretty clear understanding of this site by reading this thread.

We tell it like it is with no stone unturned. It is not a site to teach children about anything.

By posts are read by many umpires in my local association and by our assigner . . . they allow free thought, it appears that you do not.

Regards,

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Plugnickle

I have been researching AAU baseball in my area for my son this morning and came upon this page and I have to be honest with you, what I am reading here scares me, do I really want my son associated with this type behavior??

What we talk about here is between umpires and not meant for children. We needle each other, call each other out, and argue like crazy, but at the end of the day we are all still brother umpires.

Originally Posted by Plugnickle

I thought the officals of these events were to have the highest standards in morals, ethics, sportsmanship and always be willing to help a child understand the game a little better. This is NOT what I'm seeing here at all.

When we step on a baseball field, we do it with professionalism. What we say on an online bulletin board has no bearing on our behavior or demeanor on the ball field. We are all entitled to speak freely on these forums, and on occasion step over the line, at which time the moderators step in a put a stop to it. We are self-governed, and do not appreciate outsiders trying to tell us how to behave.

Originally Posted by Plugnickle

I thought it was only the pro players who were the bone heads.

No, apparently it extends to you as well.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by PWL

Huh........made you look..........

Good one. I really mean it! LOL.

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by Plugnickle

I have been researching AAU baseball in my area for my son this morning and came upon this page and I have to be honest with you, what I am reading here scares me, do I really want my son associated with this type behavior??

Hey man, this post is a year old. Everybody kissed and made up.

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by Plugnickle

I have been researching AAU baseball in my area for my son this morning and came upon this page and I have to be honest with you, what I am reading here scares me, do I really want my son associated with this type behavior??

Actually no, you don't.

Get him involved in the theatre instead, I'm sure he does a heck of Judy Garland impersonation.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Plugnickle

I have been researching AAU baseball in my area for my son this morning and came upon this page and I have to be honest with you, what I am reading here scares me, do I really want my son associated with this type behavior??
I thought the officals of these events were to have the highest standards in morals, ethics, sportsmanship and always be willing to help a child understand the game a little better. This is NOT what I'm seeing here at all. Do you have anyone overseeing your positions and what are the chances they may be reading this, how do you think this may effect your reveiws?? Do you really care?
I'm not getting a warm fuzzy here, I thought it was only the pro players who were the bone heads.
I SURE HOPE I HAVE GOTTEN THE WRONG IMPRESSION.....

I am as appalled and aghast as you are. Rest assured that I have reported everyone in this thread to the proper authorities. I assure you that further action will be taken, up to and including orchidectomies for all those involved.

Have you got a warm fuzzy now?

[spots101]

Originally Posted by bluezebra

I was always thinking that at my first game of a season, that the field would be covered with huge sunflowers, and the game would be postponed.

What a pretty dream. I few years ago I actually drove through the backroads of eastern Colorado (I like to get off the main roads once in a while) and there were many fields of sunflowers.

You know that this would never happen right? Think back to Science class. The seeds are cooked and that renders them useless as far as being able to grow.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by spots101

...I actually drove through the backroads of eastern Colorado (I like to get off the main roads once in a while) and there were many fields of sunflowers.

Did these fields, by chance, have signs posted saying "no baseball allowed on the sunflower field?"

[Lawrence_Dorsey]

I can add that in NC USSSA has been creeping up and in some instances overtaking AAU baseball for the three day tourney format. At least in NC there have been issues with tournament arrangements and entry fees that have made the competition keener. AAU has been battling back and it's hard to say who is on top but USSSA is definitely a major player here.

Lawrence

[DG]

Originally posted by Tim C
DIB wrote:

"USSSA is huge for youth baseball everywhere man."

I guess you know everything when you're from your neck of the woods and are 20.

USSSA for baseball is basically non-existent in my area. It is active for girl's softball however.

That's pretty much my comment also, and I believe we are near opposite oceans. So USSSA baseball is definitely not everywhere.

[dudeinblue]

hence the end of my post..."at least in the southeast"

I believe I clarified this and did not mean "everywhere", but at least in the southeast. Who cares anyways? This is a ridiculous topic to argue about. Didn't know everybody would get so offensive at this statement, I'll be sure to never bring USSSA up again

[cowbyfan1]

well this was entertaining... What was the original post about???

[irefky]

Tobacco use in NFHS is prohibited and most high schools also have this as a rule for players and coaches on school grounds. As an official, we must respect the rules that we use to enforce. However, I am sure you guys who dip do not enforce this rule.

That to me is poor judgement. However, I did use my judgement to eject a bench coach this year after the homeplate meeting that stated, no tobacco use. The HC wanted me to not eject, just to keep him in the dugout but I refused. Now, if he had been a base coach, I would have but this guy was a bench coach.

In my professional opinion, he had been chewing the entire time in the dugout, why keep him there. Anyway, the HC told me if I ejected him I would not do any games for him at his place which is a 10 min. drive for me. I did eject the bench coach but guess what?

The assigning secretary for me did take me off my last game to prevent any retaliation or BS in my opinion. This only prove to show that here, coaches are running the show. I did call our state association but no help there. They also told me it would be in my best interest not to do the game. I was amazed that as an official, enforcing the rules for NFHS and our state schools that I am the one who is punished. Oh yea, the bench coach sat out his game but as I watched that team play in the district, coaches were chewing/dipping.

That is the respect that they showed, and others by the way. The problem is tobacco. This stuff is provent to be bad on your health. If we as officials are not going to enforce it, no one is.

My situation is that what do I do the next time I see someone chewing or dipping, turn my head I guess. Then probably get turned into our state association for not enforcing this rule. Sorry for the long post, most of you guys seen it on the other site.