I have had an opportunity to watch a lot of ESPN lately and I can tell you that the "racism" part of this story was not even a major blip on the screen for most of the media. There was more focus on what Winters said and the "baiting" of Bradley than any part of what the 1B coach claimed.

This story had legs more because the media likes to constantly rip on officials and highlight when they get in trouble. Just like when the situation with Joey Crawford took place. There is this position the media takes that officials do are not held to the same level of accountability as everyone else. This of course is not at all true, but that is the impression. It is funny how people that are so informed about things in sports never have a clue about any level of officiating. I have not even heard much about this part of the story that Bradley was the one that confronted Winters that started this whole thing. It is just a sexy story to blame the ump as usual.

Peace

Truer words have not been spoken.......

Of course officials are supposed to be held to higher standards and accountabilty than the participants. Why shouldn't they be? You just can't go around calling people a f-ing piece of sh!t, and that is all there is to it. That is the bottom line.

Just an opinion
 

I think you are acting like such a homer you are not even paying attention to what anyone is really saying. And as far as I am concerned, players should not be using any language either, but that is another discussion for another day.

Peace

Forgive me if I am wrong, but I haven't seen one report from anyone saying that Milton Bradley used profanity towards Winters BEFORE Winters called him a FPOS. Or are we all just ASSUMING that because it is Bradley and because Winters used profanity that Milton must have said something profane to Winters first? Until I see something that says Bradley directed some profanity towards Winters first, then what Winters said was wrong plain and simple and he got what he deserved.

The question wasn't directed at me, but I'll proudly admit that in 30 years of umpiring, I've never sworn at a manager/coach/player. The only time I've used profanity is if I said something like, "Did you just tell me I was full of schit?" or when I repeat to a manager/coach what his ejected player said that got him ejected.

I am not talking about this confrontation. I have no idea what was said. Unlike many others here, I have no idea what was said and do not claim that profanity was used by anyone. But there have been many taped arguments and language has been used by players and coaches in arguments. I seriously doubt that someone that has to be restrained as if someone is preventing them from fighting, is not using any "inappropriate language." I know that I have worked games and I have heard language used and I do not recall such that nice language was used. Remember, the report and Bradley admitted to confronting Winters first.

Peace

What, are you being intentionally obtuse or something?

I never said that profanity was bad to use. I said that personal comments calling someone a profane name are not to be used.

Have you even bothered to read any of my other posts? I said that Winters could have said "shut the f*** up" and he would have been alright.

Yeah, I've occasionally used profanity, but in 21 years of umpiring never once called anyone a f****** piece of sh!t, either.

One time I said to an arguing HS coach, "Dave, that's bullsh!t and you know it." I got reprimanded by my association for using profanity. This was way back in 1988.

In adult leagues, where cussing is acceptable, you still don't call people nasty names.

That is just too stupid for words, so I won't waste any.

It must not be too stupid, you responded. ;)

Peace

Even if its true? :)

The WUA is not challenging the suspension and the incident is costing Winters not only the five games but also an LCS this season:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseb...04933280_x.htm

Richie Phillips, where have you gone?

I don't know about anyone else's association, but if I called a player what Winters called Bradley, I'm sure I would have been not just suspended, but kicked out of my association. Winters got off easy.

Look, I probably know Winters as well or better than anyone on this forum. Like I have said before, I like the guy. He was just wrong in this case. Should he be fired? Of course not, but some punishment was needed.

Rutledge, just for the record, I would feel the same way if it had happened to your favorite team or player too. It just happened to involve the team I root for. No homer here.

I blame Bud Black for injuring Bradley, and I blame Bradley for being a hothead to start with. But the suspension of Winters was warranted.

Please do not try to be overly dramatic. I do not see any umpire getting thrown out if all they did was use a "bad word." Suspended maybe, but not just using a bad word.

The previous comment is that you would have been thrown out of an association and now you are saying he should not be fired? Huh?

If Bradley did not get hurt and this was a regular ejection, no one would even have made an issue out of this. Since Winters is your friend, why not ask him what was said? I would not be surprised if his side of the story is a little different. Not to say that he did not make any comments that was inappropriate. You are going off about this as if you had some inside information and you do not.

Peace

YGTBSM!!! It wasn't just for using a bad word. Where did I ever say that?:confused:

Using a bad word is different from calling someone a F.P.O.S.

I was suspended for what I said I was suspended for (the fan incident). I then posted that if I had said what Winters said, I likely would have been kicked out of my (and Winters') association. I know how my association works, and you had better be on your best behavior on a ball field. I also said I was reprimanded for once saying the word "bullsh!t" in a conversational manner during an argument. Very strict.

Try to keep up here. I would have likely have been kicked out of my association for it. MLB obviously works differently. Their mileage apparently varies. I don't think it would be right for Winters to lose his job. I'm not a firedougeddings.com member. I also don't think it was right for me to get the suspension I received in 1991, but that's how the vote came down. Like I said, very strict disciplinarians. A couple enemies on the board didn't help matters.

Bradley got hurt because of Bud Black's two-point take-down/semi-suplex that he applied. I'm not blaming Mike Winters for that. I don't think the fact that Bradley got hurt is what is driving this story at all. It's all about the calling another human being something very foul and nasty. And it is more about a professional umpire saying something that disgusting to a player when he should be rising above such behavior. Words have meaning (a concept which liberals don't ever seem to grasp), and in this case they had repercussions.

I didn't say we were friends. I know him. He knows me. We don't hang out. Got it? Sure his story might be different, but MLB decided his story didn't jibe with what really happened, didn't it? I guess they know what's up.

I'm not "going off" about anything. Now you also are being obtuse (must be contagious). I never said I had any inside information. I have the same information as anyone else does, and that is that Winters said what has been reported.