Parking lots... where the clowns live

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Striker991

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!"

Here is my priority list.

1. God

1. Family

1. Job

1. Officiating

I feel sorry that you have nothing else to do with your life than umpire. I think I give back quite enough to the sports I officiate and spend enough time away from the people I love working games. I do not need another reason to stay away from my home and my job (which actually pays all the bills BTW).

Originally Posted by Striker991

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.

Great comeback my man. Now I know why the divorce rate is so high in this country.

Peace

[Striker991]

Wow...what a backlash....

Alright you guys....if you feel that strongly...then, how about this?

No more demeaning and belittling those that do small ball and are willing to make the commitment to it.

No more demeaning and belittling the organizations that are created for the purpose of allowing all those that want to the ability to play.

If you aren't willing to be a part of the betterment of these organizations and those that commit their time and efforts without recompense to them, then

SHUT THE F UP!

[Striker991]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

1) "God" is a proper noun.

Depends...which "god" you are speaking of and the context in which it is used.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Striker991

Depends...which "god" you are speaking of and the context in which it is used.

Okay, in your asinine comment, God should have been capitalized, as you were referring to a specific god. You did not say "one of the gods' gift." You said "God's gift," and in that context, it is a proper noun.

Quit telling people in big letters to shut up, you know nobody is going to! I have done more than my share of big time HS varsity, Legion, adult ball, whatever. I'm not above working LL games, as this past season I worked proves. The highest level I did this season was a few Senior Games. The rest were lower levels. But I got paid to do these games, and not just a hot dog and a Coke. LL Majors pays $38 to $45 dollars here, depending on the league. The reason is that they don't have anyone who will do it for free!

And judging by the amount of grief you receive working these games, as Tee would say, as a "glorified baby sitter," it's no surprise that there is a shortage of volunteers.

In 20 years of HS ball I didn't get as much crap thrown at me as in ONE season doing Little League! There is no way I would even consider working games for free.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Striker991

Wow...what a backlash....

Alright you guys....if you feel that strongly...then, how about this?

No more demeaning and belittling those that do small ball and are willing to make the commitment to it.

No more demeaning and belittling the organizations that are created for the purpose of allowing all those that want to the ability to play.

If you aren't willing to be a part of the betterment of these organizations and those that commit their time and efforts without recompense to them, then

SHUT THE F UP!

I have an idea for you, grow some sack.

If you do not want people to talk badly, talk down about or belittle the youth ball, then either help change the type of people that run these leagues all over the country, or get over it. Many people talk badly about youth leagues because of their direct and personal experiences. I have had people beg me and many others to work these games. Many pass at all costs. So if you do not like the banter, you have a lot of people to convince and if you talk to many officials off this site, we are being very kind in our positions about these leagues. In every sport I work, officials hate working these leagues other than the "weekend warrior" types that want to spend an entire weekend away from their family while chasing a couple of hundred bucks.

Peace

[LDUB]

Originally Posted by Striker991

No more demeaning and belittling those that do small ball and are willing to make the commitment to it.

Does that include those who are forced to work those games for free by their association?

[Striker991]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Okay, in your asinine comment, God should have been capitalized, as you were referring to a specific god. You did not say "one of the gods' gift." You said "God's gift," and in that context, it is a proper noun..

No, I wasn't referring to the specific god of Christianity. I wasn't referring to any specific god. Don't assume. If I would have meant that, I would have capitalized it.

"In 20 years of HS ball I didn't get as much crap thrown at me as in ONE season doing Little League! There is no way I would even consider working games for free."

In the words of Mr. Rutledge, maybe you need to grow some sack.

The sad part of all of this is that people feel they need to get paid for helping out in their community, whether it is officiating, helping with community centers, working in parks, etc. It is a very sad commentary about what our society has become when people don't feel that something is worth doing unless they are compensated.

Those that are commenting about doing what they do for a living or for extra money isn't worth doing for free should look at programs like Habitat for Humanity. These people that make much more as carpenters, plumbers, roofers, etc at their jobs than you would ever dream about making as an umpire are willing to use their talents for free to assist someone else, even though they get nothing for it and it is "work" and time spend away from their immediate families.

Even though there are issues with many youth programs, the truth is that these programs teach the kids many valuable life lessons and keep them from spending their time in less favorable activities. It is easy for you guys that refuse to involve yourselves to criticize. What did you do to help improve the situation while you were (if you were) involved? Or, as most do, just gripe and complain and leave?

So, don't be involved; that is your choice. You have other priorities; that's great! However, if you have nothing to contribute to improve, then you have nothing to belittle and demean. It just shows how little of a person you must be to belittle and demean those that are trying to make a difference in those programs.

The really small people are the ones that ridicule the umpires in these programs that come here with questions and looking for information. They berate, belittle and demean their programs, then when they come here trying to improve they berate, belittle and demean them. What sense does that make? Why not be helpful and courteous? If you refuse to participate, why not assist them in these forums where you can?

Hmmmmmm?

[dddunn3d]

Rut,

It seems as if you have a problem with your priorities:

"Here is my priority list.

1. God
1. Family
1. Job
1. Officiating"

[umpduck11]

Originally Posted by LDUB

Does that include those who are forced to work those games for free by their association?

There's no commitment like one forced upon you. Just ask
Joseph Stalin.

[JRutledge]

One of these days you will realize that there are more things to life than sports. I would rather give back to educational concerns and helping poor people than umpiring or officiating a youth league as a volunteer activity.

Peace

[umpduck11]

[QUOTE=Striker991]
The sad part of all of this is that people feel they need to get paid for helping out in their community, whether it is officiating, helping with community centers, working in parks, etc. It is a very sad commentary about what our society has become when people don't feel that something is worth doing unless they are compensated.
All of the youth organizations around here charge a
fee for the kids to participate. They are technically "not-for-profit groups, but
this doesn't keep them from making money. Let the kids play free, then maybe some minds would change.

Those that are commenting about doing what they do for a living or for extra money isn't worth doing for free should look at programs like Habitat for Humanity. These people that make much more as carpenters, plumbers, roofers, etc at their jobs than you would ever dream about making as an umpire are willing to use their talents for free to assist someone else, even though they get nothing for it and it is "work" and time spend away from their immediate families.

Habitat is a wonderful,noble, program, that helps people
get back on their feet. But you cannot compare it to youth baseball. People don't show up at a Habitat site, watch a while, and then start yelling at
workers that are giving their best. That is one major reason why I'd
volunteer for Habitat, but never for youth baseball.

Even though there are issues with many youth programs, the truth is that these programs teach the kids many valuable life lessons and keep them from spending their time in less favorable activities. It is easy for you guys that refuse to involve yourselves to criticize. What did you do to help improve the situation while you were (if you were) involved? Or, as most do, just gripe and complain and leave?
Some people believe that it is not their responsibility
to raise other people's children. I have done that with my own children, and
am not doing it for other's kids.

Maybe you cannot understand these points, but I tried.



QUOTE]

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Striker991

No, I wasn't referring to the specific god of Christianity. I wasn't referring to any specific god. Don't assume. If I would have meant that, I would have capitalized it.

"In 20 years of HS ball I didn't get as much crap thrown at me as in ONE season doing Little League! There is no way I would even consider working games for free."

In the words of Mr. Rutledge, maybe you need to grow some sack.

My sack is just huge enough, thank you. Not that you should need to get personal with me to start with. Now you're just being flat-out disrespectful. To God, to me, to others who don't share your viewpoint on volunteering.

Just exactly what does not wanting to work a kiddie ball game for free have to do with having a sack, huh?

People just assume the umpires working these low level games are rooks to begin with, so they rag on the umpire. So what? That's a fact. I can deal with it just fine, I simply won't do it for free. Why should I take that kind of abuse for a hot dog and a sody pop?

Feel free to go build houses with James Earl Carter if that's what floats your boat, but quit trying to shove volunteerism down everyone's throat. It is not our civic duty to work for free.

[TussAgee11]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

One of these days you will realize that there are more things to life than sports. I would rather give back to educational concerns and helping poor people than umpiring or officiating a youth league as a volunteer activity.

Peace

Youth sports and programs are educational concerns in our societies. The lessons the kids learn through these programs (perhaps baseball), are just as important as "other" educational concerns. I volunteer alot of my time to the Local Boys and Girls Club coaching youth basketball. Yes it is time spent away from my family or my job, but I consider it just as important.

I am not shoving volunteerism down people's throats, all I'm saying is that we are all members of our respective community, and should seek to better it in anyway possible, which may or may not include volunteering.

[Striker991]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

It is not our civic duty to work for free.

What a wonderful community citizen you are. An example for all to follow. You and Rut are wonderfull illustrators of the point I'm trying to make. I'm not sure what your religion is, but you may want to research the origins of your faith...I'm not judging here, but your writing and the writings you may be claiming to follow might be contradictory...your "God" may have a different opinion than the one you share here.

[Chukinrox]

Let's stick to officiating and baseball here... If you prefer religion or politics, go to POPE.COM or BUSH.COM