This is annoying
 

Haven't been here for a week or so. Whats with the ads. I feel like I'm driving on the xway with all the billboards.

Gordon
 

I am a little surprised that your comment is the first one about the change.

By nature, people do not like change.

So let me get this straight:

You are annoyed by ads that help the owner of this site keep this portion FREE.

I can be annoyed but silent on this issue.

If you want to speak of annoying we can talk about three specific people that post here.

Regards,

To keep it free and pay some bills. I guess I just got to go with the program.

Ads? I don't see any ads. Adblock Plus on Firefox must be doing its job.

Yup. Shh.

What Ads?

I only see small ads at the top between the title link and the actual threads. Not annoying at all. Most websites have adds now. Maybe if more people who use this forum actually were paid members......

To be honest, I see no benefit from being a member. The $25 you end up paying just to see articles is a bit much. Especially, when as an umpire, there are so many other dues, fees that you have to pay. JMO

I agree it is your opinion. But, you obviously have not read the articles. I would agree that lately some of the offerings have not been great but still good. AND you get access to every article they have in their archive. There is quite a bit of excellent reading in the archive. Plus, if you want BRD (trust me, you want it and NEED it) you get it plus the articles for your subscription. JMO but true professionals read and try to learn every day from every source they can find.

Here's my take, are you an umpire for the money or for the game itself? I choose the latter. I would not do it just for the money. The money helps but I really do it for the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than myself. I enjoy the camaraderie, the plays, the enthusiasm, etc. I consider myself a professional. Not a Professional Baseball Umpire, that's MLB and MiLB. But someone who is dedicated to their craft. Someone who wants to be better the next day than the day before.

I am not saying I am better than you or anyone else. I just need to be a part of something that matters and that makes me a better person. For me, umpiring baseball games gives me a little bit of that something extra in life.

My two cents. Your mileage may vary.

As J.G. Wentworth says: "It's your money....."

Major,

Don't you think that's a little over the top bringing in professionalism and the "whys" of us umpiring just because I don't see the value in it? I'm glad you enjoy the articles and get a lot out of them. I also keep up with news and such, just not from here.

Troy

I'm not trying to put you down Troy....
 

I just gave my views of what works for me.

Have you ever subscribed and read the articles? They are not news. There are some deep, well researched, experience based commentary articles written with conviction and a significant amount of care and effort by most of the writers.

We don't have to debate publicly or privately. I am not moralizing on you or anyone else. I am stating my opinion and I respect yours. I am however trying to convince you and anyone else reading our little debate of my position that more readers, posters and lurkers on the forum should be paid members. JMO.

If you have never subscribed you will never know what I am talking about. I originally subscribed only because I wanted a BRD in 2006. I did not subscribe in 2007 because Carl did not publish a BRD. I missed the articles and re-subscribed for 2008. I have gone back and re-read some of the articles and researched the archives quite a bit this fall/winter and now that I have more training and experience they make even more sense to me. I don't think I would be working the level of games that I am now without the information I have gained from reading and studying these articles along with the rule books, Jaksa/Roder, the BRD, the CCA manual and the forums combined with working a heavy schedule of games from February to November each of the last three years.

So, do whatever you want. I have fun umpiring but I also take it very seriously and I approach it like a profession. I am working toward personal goals I have set for myself. Membership has its privileges and I think that if more people who use this forum were paid members of the website we wouldn't need the advertising someone complained about when they started this thread.

Take it for what its worth. Spend your money any way you like. I don't think you would be wasting it if you joined and used the archives. Remember there are many other sports covered here as well. If you officiate any others.

Whoops: When I click on "Become a Member!" it links to http://www.rightsports.com/join.php . I get a wonderful 404:

Not Found

The requested URL /join.php was not found on this server.

Guess they've made their quota for the year.

Try this link instead: http://shop.officiating.com

You'd think they'd fix that.

2009 BRD Out
 

Well, get the word out. Order the 2009 BRD.