Manager Acts Like a Dipstick, I'm Sorry to Say

Originally Posted by GarthB

Wow.

If you think "Blue" is a term of respect or endearmenet you haven't been around long.

At the plate conference I exchange names along with the line-ups. I am not a color. I'm Garth, or ump, or Mr. Umpire.

I am an independent contractor providing a service for a league, not for a player or a coach. I do my job professionally and exect to be treated professionally. Calling me a color is not professional.

I've been around long enough to know that umpires were referred to as "blue" over 40 years ago. Until they know your name they will refer to you as "blue". And as I said, if you don't want to be called that, it is UP TO YOU AND YOU ALONE to tell them. You might be an independent contractor providing a service to a league but everybody in that league is still your customer whether you want to believe it or not.

The company you work for has customers - each and every one of their employees is also your customer as well, so if you treat one of them badly, that will reflect badly for your entire company.

In all my years I have never once heard an umpire complain about being called "blue". But if you don't like it, that's certainly within your rights.