This sent the wrong message.

[Dave Hensley]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Maybe if we took the attitude that people have the right to do what they want to do considering they are leaving their jobs and families to do so, then we would get rid of the "arrogance" attitude that prevails these websites when people exercise their right.

There's something that trumps having the right to do what one wants, and that is the expectation that people live up to the agreements they make. If the umpire in question has voluntarily accepted membership in his association, and the association has agreed on a protocol to follow when a game (even a JV game) is uncovered, then that umpire is bound by agreement to honor the protocol.

The arrogance in this situation is not with the posters in this thread; it is with the umpire who breached his agreement with his association because he considered umpiring JV ball to be beneath him.