Parking lots... where the clowns live

[DG]

Originally Posted by LDUB

You said that you seldom eat a places where you have to check to see if you can get a table. Almost all restaurants other than fast food restaurants take reservations because people never know if a table will be available when they arrive. If don't eat at those restaurants that means you either: 1) Almost never go out to eat, or 2) Only eat at fast food restaurants.

You clearly live in a different place than I do, big city maybe? So the partner who ran across the street, he is getting a reservation for a table for two? How long do you wait for this table?

[Dave Hensley]

As someone who has an opportunity to travel amongst many of the major metropolitan areas in the country, I can say the concept of making reservations at restaurants as a standard practice is standard in some cities (San Francisco, e.g.), and a completely foreign concept in others. Here in the Dallas area, about the best we have is some restaurants allow "call-ahead" seating, which gets you on their list when you call. But it is not unusual, especially on a busy night like Friday or Saturday, to have to wait 30 minutes to an hour for a table at the typical mid-level or above restaurant. But what's the problem, we all need that time to get liquored up at the bar, right?

[Striker991]

Originally Posted by LMan

A NCAA umpire is doing 9U games? Is work that hard to find?

It's called "volunteering" and "community service". Two terms you must be very unfamiliar with.

Sorry that it's beneath you.

[briancurtin]

striker,
where did you come up with that?

[Striker991]

Originally Posted by briancurtin

striker,
where did you come up with that?

Sorry...it seems that more than a few umpires on this board have an attitude toward doing anything at a lower level...comments like LMAN's demonstrate an attitude that doing a 9yo game would be out of the question and beneath their status. This high and mighty attitude is one of the main reasons there is a shortage of good umpires at lower levels; once they progress, they aren't willing to return to their "roots." I am not suggesting that we stretch ourselves too much so we are always doing games, but a little community service now and then would be great. There are two associations in my community, one for softball and one for baseball. Both require a certain number of games volunteered to the community throughout the year to maintain membership. It is minimal, and most occur in the post season. However, it really, really helps out the organizations that need umpires but must contain costs to make sure every kid plays that wants to.

A great example of this kind of service occurred with me and my partner last year. We were scheduled to do a game, but it was cancelled while we were at the field. On the adjacent field, there was a 9-10yo game that was getting ready to start that needed umpires. You should have seen the look on those boys' faces when we arrived on their field! I think it even improved their level of play to have "real" umpires (rather than dads from the stands) in "real" uniforms for a regular season game. They played their hearts out and we received thank-yous from just about everyone there, including the coach that had a few close ones go against him!

My point is this...once in while, do something just because it is the right thing to do and it makes someone else happy. That includes umpiring a 9yo game because they need good umpires, too.

Sorry to hijack the thread. This is just a huge pet peeve of mine.

Striker

[LMan]

I am familiar with the terms. But that is about as wide a disparity between ability and level-of-ball that you are ever likely to see. Not quite Joe West doing T-Ball, but close.

Sorry you thought it unbecoming to comment (and it was just a comment). I didn't realize NCAA umpires worked 9U games so commonly where you live. A wonderful luxury!

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Striker991

Sorry...it seems that more than a few umpires on this board have an attitude toward doing anything at a lower level...comments like LMAN's demonstrate an attitude that doing a 9yo game would be out of the question and beneath their status. This high and mighty attitude is one of the main reasons there is a shortage of good umpires at lower levels; once they progress, they aren't willing to return to their "roots." I am not suggesting that we stretch ourselves too much so we are always doing games, but a little community service now and then would be great. There are two associations in my community, one for softball and one for baseball. Both require a certain number of games volunteered to the community throughout the year to maintain membership. It is minimal, and most occur in the post season. However, it really, really helps out the organizations that need umpires but must contain costs to make sure every kid plays that wants to.

First of all any community service as you call it, requires the individual that does it to get something out of it. When people give a "service" and they are not enjoying the experience, you do not have to do it. I am so sorry you feel like no one has anything better to do than work a 9 year old league where the parents treat the umpires and coaches as if their kid is the "next coming." It is not an obligation to stay away from their families, jobs and any other obligation we might have to umpire a game that when it is over, no one is going to remember the outcome or even care about the outcome. If the "adults" want umpires to come down and work these games, then they need to pay more money, treat the level for what it is and treat the everyone with a bit or respect. I would rather sit at home and watch a game with my family than go out and work a game in the hot sun for a bunch of people that do not respect the sacrifice I made to be out there.

Originally Posted by Striker991

A great example of this kind of service occurred with me and my partner last year. We were scheduled to do a game, but it was cancelled while we were at the field. On the adjacent field, there was a 9-10yo game that was getting ready to start that needed umpires. You should have seen the look on those boys' faces when we arrived on their field! I think it even improved their level of play to have "real" umpires (rather than dads from the stands) in "real" uniforms for a regular season game. They played their hearts out and we received thank-yous from just about everyone there, including the coach that had a few close ones go against him!

Once again you miss the point. It is not the kids that make these leagues a totally waste of time.

Originally Posted by Striker991

My point is this...once in while, do something just because it is the right thing to do and it makes someone else happy. That includes umpiring a 9yo game because they need good umpires, too.

It makes my family happy for me to be with them when so many other times I am somewhere else. My obligation is to my family first, not to working a youth league or umpiring on some night during the week. If I do not make money in my real job, my family might not eat or get other bills paid. So I am so sorry that you think taking off from our jobs and working these leagues are low on your priority list. I do not even have kids and I can imagine that some umpires want to take time to spend with their children and their activities and it might not have anything to do with a field or sporting event.

When I started into officiating 10 years ago, I did it to make more money than I was making delivering Pizzas while in college and to be close to the sports I played in HS and wish I had when I was in college. I did not do this for community service or to work a specific level. Now that I know what it takes to get to certain levels and what time it takes to maintain that, I give back to every single association I belong to help train those that have not achieved the things I have so they can raise the level of officiating. As far as I am concerned that is the only obligation I am required to do. If these leagues want better officials, make the accommodations surrounding these leagues better. Like many leagues in my area have done, they pay a lot more, they treat the officials with more respect and they empower the officials to make decisions and league administrators work with the officials to make their time in these leagues enjoyable.

Originally Posted by Striker991

Sorry to hijack the thread. This is just a huge pet peeve of mine.

Striker

And it is a huge pet peeve of mine to be told by guys like you what I should be doing because I am an umpire or officiate other sports. You have no idea what I have to do in my daily life or the lives of others when it comes to umpiring. If you want to work these leagues, more power to you. Do not tell us what we have to do because you feel everyone should work all levels at all times. Until we get paid 6 figures for umpiring, then we all have a right to make choices how we see fit.

Peace

[LDUB]

Originally Posted by Striker991

There are two associations in my community, one for softball and one for baseball. Both require a certain number of games volunteered to the community throughout the year to maintain membership.

Do these associations also donate a certain percentage of their members' game fees to local curches and charities?

[DG]

Originally Posted by Dave Hensley

As someone who has an opportunity to travel amongst many of the major metropolitan areas in the country, I can say the concept of making reservations at restaurants as a standard practice is standard in some cities (San Francisco, e.g.), and a completely foreign concept in others. Here in the Dallas area, about the best we have is some restaurants allow "call-ahead" seating, which gets you on their list when you call. But it is not unusual, especially on a busy night like Friday or Saturday, to have to wait 30 minutes to an hour for a table at the typical mid-level or above restaurant. But what's the problem, we all need that time to get liquored up at the bar, right?

I had a mid-week dinner at the Palm in Dallas while attending a convention. We had reservations, waited 10 minutes in the bar and had a very nice meal. It's not the kind of place you walk in off the street between games to see if you can get a table.

[Striker991]

Originally Posted by LDUB

Do these associations also donate a certain percentage of their members' game fees to local curches and charities?

EVERY member, including officers, are required to participate in community sports programs as an official.

The associations donate through service in kind instead of donations.

[Striker991]

"And it is a huge pet peeve of mine to be told by guys like you what I should be doing because I am an umpire or officiate other sports. You have no idea what I have to do in my daily life or the lives of others when it comes to umpiring. If you want to work these leagues, more power to you. Do not tell us what we have to do because you feel everyone should work all levels at all times. Until we get paid 6 figures for umpiring, then we all have a right to make choices how we see fit."

Thanks, Mr. Rutledge. I couldn't have provided a better example of how selfish our society has become and the attitudes people have concerning community service. I appreciate your assistance in illustrating my point. Your attitude has become pervasive..."sorry...won't do it unless you pay me...and it has to be enough!...Oh, and I have to enjoy it...if it might be a little work, forget about it!"

Sounds like your opinion of yourself as god's gift to officiating one-ups a parents opinion that "little Johnny" is god's gift to sports.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Striker991

"And it is a huge pet peeve of mine to be told by guys like you what I should be doing because I am an umpire or officiate other sports. You have no idea what I have to do in my daily life or the lives of others when it comes to umpiring. If you want to work these leagues, more power to you. Do not tell us what we have to do because you feel everyone should work all levels at all times. Until we get paid 6 figures for umpiring, then we all have a right to make choices how we see fit."

Thanks, Mr. Rutledge. I couldn't have provided a better example of how selfish our society has become and the attitudes people have concerning community service. I appreciate your assistance in illustrating my point. Your attitude has become pervasive..."sorry...won't do it unless you pay me...and it has to be enough!...Oh, and I have to enjoy it...if it might be a little work, forget about it!"

Sounds like your opinion of yourself as god's gift to officiating one-ups a parents opinion that "little Johnny" is god's gift to sports.

1) "God" is a proper noun.

2) I would not work for any association that forced volunteerism upon its members.

3) What is wrong with wanting to be compensated for one's work. Umpiring is hard work. Volunteering is a commendable endeavor, but one shouldn't criticize those who prefer to be paid for their work.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Striker991

"And it is a huge pet peeve of mine to be told by guys like you what I should be doing because I am an umpire or officiate other sports. You have no idea what I have to do in my daily life or the lives of others when it comes to umpiring. If you want to work these leagues, more power to you. Do not tell us what we have to do because you feel everyone should work all levels at all times. Until we get paid 6 figures for umpiring, then we all have a right to make choices how we see fit."

Thanks, Mr. Rutledge. I couldn't have provided a better example of how selfish our society has become and the attitudes people have concerning community service. I appreciate your assistance in illustrating my point. Your attitude has become pervasive..."sorry...won't do it unless you pay me...and it has to be enough!...Oh, and I have to enjoy it...if it might be a little work, forget about it!"

Sounds like your opinion of yourself as god's gift to officiating one-ups a parents opinion that "little Johnny" is god's gift to sports.

I feel the same way about forced volunteerism as I do when the United Way people used to tell my boss that he needed to make sure we were a 100% donating group. We never were, not while I worked there. That money went somewhere else.

It's up to me how I give my time and money. If I do it on a field or court, it's cause I *want* to, not because someone tells me I should.

[umpduck11]

Originally Posted by Striker991

EVERY member, including officers, are required to participate in community sports programs as an official.

The associations donate through service in kind instead of donations.

If it's required, is it truly "volunteer" work ? How do you know who is
doing it for the volunteer aspect of it, or just because they're required
to do it ? I wonder how many of your members actually consider it
"volunteer".

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by Striker991

Sorry...it seems that more than a few umpires on this board have an attitude toward doing anything at a lower level...comments like LMAN's demonstrate an attitude that doing a 9yo game would be out of the question and beneath their status. This high and mighty attitude is one of the main reasons there is a shortage of good umpires at lower levels; once they progress, they aren't willing to return to their "roots." I am not suggesting that we stretch ourselves too much so we are always doing games, but a little community service now and then would be great. There are two associations in my community, one for softball and one for baseball. Both require a certain number of games volunteered to the community throughout the year to maintain membership.
Striker

1. My "roots" are high school ball.

2. Mandatory volunteerism is an oxymoron.

3. Does not working youth baseball negate the time, expertise and financial resources I freely give to several other charitable organizations?

4. What business is it of yours whether anyone chooses to work small ball for free or otherwise? (Hint: The proper answer is: none.)