Steve,

I guess I better not let them see me in Black.

I hope you're like me and only made that mistake, once. :D I mean, when my manager said it, it really took the wind out of my sails. I couldn't eject him...he was right I had insulted him and broken an unwritten rule. (I mean I guess I could have ejected him...but it just wouldn't have been right).

You can see a picture of the manager at: http://crosscutters.com/pressroom/07staff_120106.htm

If a coach comes to the conference and says "hi blue!", I simply respond, "No, I'm wearing cream/black (whatever) today, so you can call me (my name)."

If that doesn't get the message across in a nice way, well then we are dealing with an a-hole coach that would have gotten on my bad side anyway.

I don't mind so much if a coach is just greeting me with something like "hi Blue." I just consider the source, and if I feel like it, I will tell him that many umpires don't like being called Blue.

Where I have a problem is when they draw the word out when getting on you, as in "come on, Bluuuuuuuuuuue. Call it both ways, Bluuuuuuuuue. What the hell kind of call was that, Bluuuuuuuuuuuuue." Or when they yell "Hey, Blue!" like I'm a Golden Retriever or something.

I find it funny that there are some that actually see using a first name as a sign of DISrespect. Those people need to get out more.

Most managers will learn your name at the plate meeting (if they don't already know) and use it when needed. I probably should try to remember their names also and use when needed, but I generally call them "coach" unless I know them and then I call them by name as they would me.

Players and fans don't know so "blue" is fairly commonly used. I have never been offended by being called "blue".

If I had a manager that said that, I'd also have a problem. I'd have an equal problem if they replaced "Bluuuuuuuuuuue" with "Boooooooobbbbbb". It's not the specific word that matters, it's the manner in which it's used.

Now that's funny! And true!!

Thanks
David

Home team umpires!
 

I guess I notice it a lot more in basketball since you confer with the coaches much much more frequently than you do in baseball, but the good coaches always will know your first name - and they like to use it in a way that benefits THEM!

I always hate it when at the administrative meeting you have one coach that knows you and calls you by first name and the other coach that will address you as "mr. XXXXXX".

But I surmise that is part of the home field advantage right?

Thanks
David

But the thing is, they don't replace the word Blue, it is the word they use, so that is the objectionable word in question.

Of course, there are associations with Blue in the title, like your group, the Fox Valley Blues, and the group I was with last year, the San Diego Blues. I don't have any answer for this dilemma.

I don't think it's a dilemma for most.
I'd say almost every game as I approach the field a parent or spectator says "hey blue" Hi blue" How's it goin blue" and mean nothing by it except being polite. After most games as I leave via the winners side of the field the spectators I pass acknowledge my partner and I with such nicities as "good game blue" or "good job blue" and I take it as a compliment.
If they say "Keep your day job blue" or "you suck blue" I take it they didn't like my calls, but it has nothing to do with "blue", that's simply a traditional way to address an umpire.

And a bad tradition it is, for the reasons myself and others have posted ad nauseum.

*faints dead away at his keyboard*



;)

Pithy. . .very pithy.:)