Emporer of Umpire Empire Empirically Incorrect ?

[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!