Emporer of Umpire Empire Empirically Incorrect ?

[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.

[gordon30307]

The only time I donate my time umpiring is for a charitable cause. I'd never be a volunteer LL Umpire. I spend too much money on equipment, travel, meetings etc. I've worked to hard on rules, mechanics etc. too give it away for free. I officiate (I'm multi sport) because it's fun (most of the time) and challenging managing a game it such a way that you're not noticed.

[Interested Ump]

Originally Posted by gordon30307

The only time I donate my time umpiring is for a charitable cause. I'd never be a volunteer LL Umpire. I spend too much money on equipment, travel, meetings etc. I've worked too hard on rules, mechanics etc. to give it away for free. I officiate (I'm multi sport) because it's fun (most of the time) and challenging managing a game it such a way that you're not noticed.

LL where I originated from was a joke, the LL umpires were paid and paid above the average. The local organization who booked the leagues were realists as were the LL officers who ran it. LL looked the other way.

As they did, the LL org morphed into East Cobb baseball, which may be the largest amateur, for-profit baseball organization in the South.

[gordon30307]

Originally Posted by Interested Ump

LL where I originated from was a joke, the LL umpires were paid and paid above the average. The local organization who booked the leagues were realists as were the LL officers who ran it. LL looked the other way.

As they did, the LL org morphed into East Cobb baseball, which may be the largest amateur, for-profit baseball organization in the South.

I think I've worked games from East Cobb in Illinois. 15 year old's playing in the CABA World Series. I believe they were from Georgia. To the best of my recollection they send competitive teams and they seem to do OK.

[Emperor Ump]

lets see what I can do to clear some of my intent as brought up here.

Money

Originally Posted by Interested Ump

The part I find untruthful is that umpires, the majority, DO officiate for the money. I would refer you to several discussions in the archives in 2007 about this matter.

I cannot and will not deny that money is a factor and an important one. Money should not be the exclusive factor nor should someone be in a situation where they are dependent on the baseball money. The season is relatively short, there are rainouts, cancellations, and other factors which can disrupt the money flow. Taking a part-time job anywhere would probably be more lucrative than umpiring when looked at on an annual basis.

Originally Posted by Interested Ump

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.

I fully agree and I believe in being successful as officials is calling out the bad ones, this includes helping bad officials find their way out of our sports. I would bet you have seen these guys that only are in it for the money. From my experience they tend to be the reda$$es who make everybody’s job more difficult. I also notice and don't shed a tear when they leave officiating after a short time. I firmly believe to transcend from an average official to a top-tier official you need to have a passion at some level in the sport, in officiating, and in your officials association you represent. There is so much more intrinsic reward to officiating than the extrinsic paycheck. I love my HS games and have earned the right to get more of these games than many other guys, just as I'm trying to earn the right to break into D-III/JuCo ball, but I will not turn-back a $25 coach pitch game either.

Wal-Mart

I will capitulate this may be a low blow. Of all the places I could have listed I specifically choose Wal-Mart. Overall when it comes to having a lack of passion for your job Wal-Mart employees and management take the cake. Obviously there are individual exceptions to the rule, but from my experience they are few and far between. Do I still shop there? Yes. Do I try to avoid them like the plague? Yes. I see Wal-Mart as a necessary evil. If given a choice I will go elsewhere, but often times they are convenient, have what I need and are lower priced.

Originally Posted by Interested Ump

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.

Amen, except we don't have semi-pro ball around here.

Originally Posted by ManInBlue

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.

Yes! I think we're all in agreement here.

Weather I agree or disagre, I love it when people get fired up about umpiring. It shows the passion which I was speaking of.

I would love both of you to come join my site and share your thoughts and views there as well as here.

Cheers!

[ManInBlue]

Amazing. That is EXACTLY what I got out of the article.

Paranormal powers functioning normally. "Pretty clear" seems to get the job done.

Interesteding.

[Interested Ump]

Originally Posted by Emperor Ump

lets see what I can do to clear some of my intent as brought up here.

Money

Quote: Originally Posted by Interested Ump

The part I find untruthful is that umpires, the majority, DO officiate for the money. I would refer you to several discussions in the archives in 2007 about this matter.

I cannot and will not deny that money is a factor and an important one. Money should not be the exclusive factor nor should someone be in a situation where they are dependent on the baseball money. The season is relatively short, there are rainouts, cancellations, and other factors which can disrupt the money flow. Taking a part-time job anywhere would probably be more lucrative than umpiring when looked at on an annual basis.

Philosophically accurate, reality short. There are many people here on this forum and in umpiring nationally that not only have officiating as a secondary, completely necessary income but have it as a sole income. I can think of a small % of umpires who do not need the money by their own admission and evidence in my 40+ years in officiating. Because they have invested and scheduled umpiring, it is a known and somewhat secure income, they often cannot abandon that choice unless a better job comes their way.

I fully agree and I believe in being successful as officials is calling out the bad ones, this includes helping bad officials find their way out of our sports. I would bet you have seen these guys that only are in it for the money. From my experience they tend to be the reda$$es who make everybody’s job more difficult. I also notice and don't shed a tear when they leave officiating after a short time. I firmly believe to transcend from an average official to a top-tier official you need to have a passion at some level in the sport, in officiating, and in your officials association you represent. There is so much more intrinsic reward to officiating than the extrinsic paycheck. I love my HS games and have earned the right to get more of these games than many other guys, just as I'm trying to earn the right to break into D-III/JuCo ball, but I will not turn-back a $25 coach pitch game either.
Cheers!

Although we suffer the transients and the “money only” guys, without them, many umpire organizations, and leagues, could not survive.

Thanks for the rebuttal.

[Interested Ump]

Wal-Mart
I will capitulate this may be a low blow. Of all the places I could have listed I specifically choose Wal-Mart. Overall when it comes to having a lack of passion for your job Wal-Mart employees and management take the cake. Obviously there are individual exceptions to the rule, but from my experience they are few and far between. Do I still shop there? Yes. Do I try to avoid them like the plague? Yes. I see Wal-Mart as a necessary evil. If given a choice I will go elsewhere, but often times they are convenient, have what I need and are lower priced.

Customer service is non-existent and officiating is a cutomer service occupation. I believe we have every right, if we do our jobs and take the grief we have to, to expect nothing less of those who don't take foul balls in the nutz.

[bluezebra]

Emporer of Umpire Empire Empirically Incorrect ?

Maybe, maybe not. But EMPEROR is the correct spelling.

Bob

[fitump56]

As Man In Blue would respond

Got it