Emporer of Umpire Empire Empirically Incorrect ?

[Emperor Ump]

BTW, Thanks for visiting my site.

[ManInBlue]

I could see potenial for an issue, if this were the entire quote. Just like in the newspapers, you have to be carfeful about what you say, because they will quote you directly and print the parts they want to. This looks like a contraversy - without the next sentence. The entire comment makes sense. This quote is accurate, but out of context. That's the only problem I see with it.

I've heard several people say that you shouldn't do it for the $$ b/c you do the game and the participants an injustice if that's your only motivation for being out there. This is nothing new - it's just not sugar coated.

[Interested Ump]

Originally Posted by ManInBlue

I could see potenial for an issue, if this were the entire quote. Just like in the newspapers, you have to be carfeful about what you say, because they will quote you directly and print the parts they want to. This looks like a contraversy - without the next sentence. The entire comment makes sense. This quote is accurate, but out of context. That's the only problem I see with it.

There was a time when people who were employed at Wal-Mart were the best among their community. In small towns, the manager of Wal-Mart was one of the most important citizens there.

I've heard several people say that you shouldn't do it for the $$ b/c you do the game and the participants an injustice if that's your only motivation for being out there. This is nothing new - it's just not sugar coated.

I support that people who umpire, including many of those on the forum who claim otherwise, do so because the money is necessary to them.

[ManInBlue]

Originally Posted by Interested Ump

There was a time when people who were employed at Wal-Mart were the best among their community. In small towns, the manager of Wal-Mart was one of the most important citizens there.

There was I time when you could buy a new car for $2000 and fill it up with gas for $2.00. This ain't a fairy tale. He's not talking about "once upon a time."

You used to be able to return things to Walmart, no questions asked. Now you get the third degree and I know of several times when they refused the return (on a NEW product WITH a receipt) and they hire anyone who can run a register. Not all Walmart employees are bad people. But to say they all are the pillar of the community is not saying much for the community.

This was not meant to insult Walmart employees. He could have said McDonald's, Burger King, K-Mart...The point is that you don't have to give a damn about WalMart to work there. That's why you need the next sentence in the quote - He said basically -WalMart employees don't have to care about Walmart but umpires should care about baseball.

What's so freaking hard about that?

I support that people who umpire, including many of those on the forum who claim otherwise, do so because the money is necessary to them.

There is a difference in doing it FOR the money and doing it because you love the game, etc. Getting paid is a bonus. Yes, the money helps. And yes I'll do a $50 game before I do a $35 game. But I'm not on the field for the money. I'm on the field because I want to be on the field and b/c I love baseball. The money being "necessary" and officiating for the money are too different concepts.

Not that I expect you to grasp the difference.

If you just need the money, you can go work at WalMart part time. Most of us CHOOSE to umpire baseball for reasons OTHER THAN the money.

[outathm]

Whenever I hear a guy tell me that he doesn't umpire for the money I go to the assigner or tournament director and tell him to give that guy's game fees to me.

I do umpire in part to stay in contact with the game I grew up with and love. In part because I know that every kid I see on the field is a kid I will not hear about in the news shooting up a neighborhood or school, and because the exercise I get keeps me from becoming Jabba the Hut and is much more fun than killing my knees on the sidewalks around the neighborhood.

But the primary reason I umpire is the money. It is a source of income for me and I will freely admit it to anyone who asks.

[Interested Ump]

Originally Posted by outathm

Whenever I hear a guy tell me that he doesn't umpire for the money I go to the assigner or tournament director and tell him to give that guy's game fees to me.

I do umpire in part to stay in contact with the game I grew up with and love. In part because I know that every kid I see on the field is a kid I will not hear about in the news shooting up a neighborhood or school, and because the exercise I get keeps me from becoming Jabba the Hut and is much more fun than killing my knees on the sidewalks around the neighborhood.

But the primary reason I umpire is the money. It is a source of income for me and I will freely admit it to anyone who asks.

A fresh breeze enters the room.

[ManInBlue]

Originally Posted by outathm

Whenever I hear a guy tell me that he doesn't umpire for the money I go to the assigner or tournament director and tell him to give that guy's game fees to me.

I do umpire in part to stay in contact with the game I grew up with and love. In part because I know that every kid I see on the field is a kid I will not hear about in the news shooting up a neighborhood or school, and because the exercise I get keeps me from becoming Jabba the Hut and is much more fun than killing my knees on the sidewalks around the neighborhood.

But the primary reason I umpire is the money. It is a source of income for me and I will freely admit it to anyone who asks.

OK, I'll ask. Why do you umipre? Why not work at McDonald's, or JcPenny? If it is indeed the income you desire, why not work somewhere that you can "perform" all year (rather than seasonally) and where you can probably get more money?

I think I know why. Because you would rather umpire. So it's not so much the money you want. Although, you wouldn't do it for free. You prefer to be on the field with something you enjoy rather than flipping burgers. The fact that you get paid to do this is a tremendous motivator. But you could do something else -if indeed money was your #1 factor in the decision.

I contest that you do not umpire "for the money" I would say that you, like most, want (or need) extra income and you CHOSE to get that money on the baseball field. You chose to do something you grew up with, something you love. But indeed you could get the money from some other source.

Do you love the money or the level of play? if the level of play, then you would have been more accurate to state, "I will do a HS game before an 11yo game" or some such.

Both actually. I would take a HS game over an 11 yo game. I also would take the extra $15 regardless of level. If you were going to pay me the same for both -I'm taking the higher level. If I have a choice of the same level and more pay -I'm taking the pay. But either way, I'm going to be on the field and money has not gotten me out there. Money may have gotten me to a different field, a different contest -but I'm going to umpire anyway.

How do you know what the intention was of the Wal-Mart comment?

Because I read the ENTIRE statement. I didn't stop where your quote did. It seemed pretty clear what the intent was.

[Interested Ump]

Originally Posted by ManInBlue

OK, I'll ask. Why do you umipre? Why not work at McDonald's, or JcPenny? If it is indeed the income you desire, why not work somewhere that you can "perform" all year (rather than seasonally) and where you can probably get more money?

I answered the pay issue.

Why I umpire is for the physical nature of the work, I enjoy it and am very accomplished at it, I umpire with a small crew who are close freinds and family, for business purposes, I love the game and especially enjoy the adult semi-pro ball play, it is an offer to the communities I umpire in, several more reasons.

I think I know why. Because you would rather umpire. So it's not so much the money you want. Although, you wouldn't do it for free. You prefer to be on the field with something you enjoy rather than flipping burgers. The fact that you get paid to do this is a tremendous motivator. But you could do something else -if indeed money was your #1 factor in the decision.

Asked and answered, your paranormal powers didn't quite get to the bottom of my post.

I contest that you do not umpire "for the money" I would say that you, like most, want (or need) extra income and you CHOSE to get that money on the baseball field. You chose to do something you grew up with, something you love. But indeed you could get the money from some other source.

Incorrect.

Because I read the ENTIRE statement. I didn't stop where your quote did. It seemed pretty clear what the intent was.

"Pretty clear" is not "knowing" the mind of the OP.

[Interested Ump]

Originally Posted by ManInBlue

There was I time when you could buy a new car for $2000 and fill it up with gas for $2.00. This ain't a fairy tale. He's not talking about "once upon a time."

My comment was a reflection not a statement of the times. Well, I suppose it was considering that I would accept that Wal=Mart then and now are two different service organizations.

This was not meant to insult Walmart employees. He could have said McDonald's, Burger King, K-Mart...

But he did not. How do you know what the intention was of the Wal-Mart comment? I don't.

The point is that you don't have to give a damn about WalMart to work there. That's why you need the next sentence in the quote - He said basically -WalMart employees don't have to care about Walmart but umpires should care about baseball.

What's so freaking hard about that?

Nothing, why do you suppose I would insist otherwise? Might I suggest that you polish off your paranormal powers, the ones you used to see into the mind of the Author of the OP, and look clearly into mine.

There is a difference in doing it FOR the money and doing it because you love the game, etc. Getting paid is a bonus. Yes, the money helps. And yes I'll do a $50 game before I do a $35 game.

Do you love the money or the level of play? if the level of play, then you would have been more accurate to state, "I will do a HS game before an 11yo game" or some such.

But I'm not on the field for the money. I'm on the field because I want to be on the field and b/c I love baseball. The money being "necessary" and officiating for the money are too different concepts.

Not that I expect you to grasp the difference.

I take no pay, I grasp it firmly.

[Interested Ump]

Originally Posted by Emperor Ump

BTW, Thanks for visiting my site.

Sure, I hope you perform well with it. I am in the business of officiating and believe that good businesses in our line of work are hard to find. Success should be beneficial for all of us.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by Emperor Ump

BTW, Thanks for visiting my site.

Hey, I did too, where's my thanks?

[Emperor Ump]

Thanks Fitump and to all of you for visiting. I saw my traffic get a nice little bump directly from this thread.

Just out of pure shameless self promotion, by the volume of new visitors hitting my site from here I was expecting a higher rate of people becoming members. But no worries, my site is still new and I'm still developing it into what I want. When you visit shoot me (Umpire in Chief) a PM and let me know what you think or if you have any suggestions.

[Interested Ump]

Originally Posted by Emperor Ump

Thanks Fitump and to all of you for visiting. I saw my traffic get a nice little bump directly from this thread.

Just out of pure shameless self promotion, by the volume of new visitors hitting my site from here I was expecting a higher rate of people becoming members. But no worries, my site is still new and I'm still developing it into what I want. When you visit shoot me (Umpire in Chief) a PM and let me know what you think or if you have any suggestions.

Not trying to kill your dreams but the number of umpires online is a very small percentage (excluding the buying public). This forum has in a world of umpires a relative handful of posters and it would be deemd by all standards a success. There are a few quasi-forums, most runaways who have been TOSsed, have no day jobs and post about this forum.

Either way, good luck again.

[Emperor Ump]

Originally Posted by Interested Ump

Not trying to kill your dreams but the number of umpires online is a very small percentage (excluding the buying public). This forum has in a world of umpires a relative handful of posters and it would be deemd by all standards a success. There are a few quasi-forums, most runaways who have been TOSsed, have no day jobs and post about this forum.

Either way, good luck again.

Not exactly sure how to take this

The great thing about the internet is that its is unimaginably large and growing everyday. And nothing on the internet, to the best of my knowledge, is mutually exclusive nor collectively exhaustive. I personally cruise b/t 15-20 baseball/umpire sites a day and have for a few years. I even posted here under a different username until recently. Nothing other than my personal preferences (and my company's internet filter )limit which sites I go to or participate in.

I am trying to offer something very different than most other sites. My focus is to be more than just a forum, I am really gearing for the ultimate interactive site for umpires. Some of my interactive features include:

• Forum
• Reviews - Where members can load and rate equipment, vendors and as of yesterday training & clinics. Share their thoughts on different things.
• Articles - As you've read. I create little articles as to what happens to spark my interest at the time. Members can not only make comments on these articles, but write their own. One person has already taken advantage of this. And I would welcome you, Interested Ump, to submit those of your own. I don't care if I disagree with you as long as its decently well written, germane, and not offensive.
• Links - An interactive link section where you can not only see what links I've posted, but post your own favorites. I really would like to get a comprehensive list of associations. As well as discover new sites to add to my daily surfing.
• Live chat - I am currently testing two live chat boards. One has voice capability. Look out for this in the next month or so.
• Blogs - I have a predetermined number of members in mind before adding blogs for members. Once I hit my magic number in terms of members I will start offering members their own blog hosted at my site where they can post their own experiences and control who views their blog everybody, nobody invited users, etc. I think this will be a nice feature.
• Classifieds/auctions - Very much like an Ebay where umpires(members) can sell their stuff to other members. This section is ready to go I'm just waiting on some legal advice.

As you can see I'm looking to offer something far different than what is out there currently. You've just inspired me to write a new article, thanks (should be out later today or tomorrow depending on how quickly I can knock out some work here at my regular job).

I am actually very pleased with the response I've received from my site thus far. Today is the 44th day my site is live and I am just shy of my 500th unique visitor by IP address, 31 members, not to mention the numbers of return visitors. This has far exceeded my goals for this point in the game, but I've still got a long way to go.

For comparison purposes some research I did stated that the conversion rate (unique visitors to members) is <5% for sites in existance less than a year. I am just above 6%.

Do I want to be the next Officiating.com or Umpires Resource Center? No, I am looking to be more interactive. Do I want the traffic and membership levels they have? Absolutely. Is there anything preventing anybody from visiting one, two, all or no similar sites? No. Those who host forums or websites don't mind (generally) others promoting their sites. I have/had a very successful political site for a while (It's still going, I just tend it a lot less than I use to) which was essentially a glorified blog with limited interactivity and I openly solicited people to from other sites to mine and visa-versa with no problem either way because we're not competing for their money.

Before this thread came out to draw attention to my site I was planning on a Shamless Self Promotion Blitz. Very similar to what Rob Drake has successfully done. And I probably will still do, but I have a few bugs I'm still working out and want things to be just a little better cleaned up and just right before doing anything like that. Besides this is Rob's time and I don't want to step on his toes, so I'll probably continue to hang back as not to steal his spotlite.

I'll post here again and PM you personally when my latest idea for an article is posted.

[fitump56]

Ump-Emp no one is trying to offset your goasl, go for it, the more the merrier.