anyone wish Ron Luciano was still around?

SanDiegoSteve · #1 (**permalink**) Tue Apr 28, 2009, 12:45am

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRutledge

He asked a question and I gave an answer. I was not speaking for anyone but me. I personally did not spend my time trying to figure out all the idiosyncrasies of umpires like many people here. And I really do not go around worshiping officials from decades ago that jumped around like jumping beans to make a simple and easy call.

Peace

I still wish he were still around, as in living. I took the question to mean that, not that he could be an umpire at age 72.

JRutledge · #2 (**permalink**) Tue Apr 28, 2009, 12:53am

Quote:

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

I still wish he were still around, as in living. I took the question to mean that, not that he could be an umpire at age 72.

I took it as an umpiring issue and the way he umpired, not actually umpiring at the age of 72. Unless you personally knew the man, then you probably would not hear many of his stories now would you?

Peace

SanDiegoSteve · #3 (**permalink**) Tue Apr 28, 2009, 12:58am

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Unless you personally knew the man, then you probably would not hear many of his stories now would you?

I read all three of his books several times each, so I think I've heard (through the printed word) most of his stories without actually knowing the man.

JRutledge · #4 (**permalink**) Tue Apr 28, 2009, 01:00am

Quote:

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

I read all three of his books several times each, so I think I've heard (through the printed word) most of his stories without actually knowing the man.

OK.

Peace

tballump · #5 (**permalink**) Tue Apr 28, 2009, 03:34am

Not to switch sports on you guys here, but I will mention the names of Mendy Rudolph, Earl Strom, Ritchie Powers, Jake O'Donnell. Although not as flamboyant as Ron was in his sport, each was definitely not as sterile as their sport has turned out to be for their officials. This is the style now for all officiating it seems. Maybe that is because the powers that be all thought a guy like Ron was going way to far overboard and wanted to clamp down. It was not done overnight, but now, it appears that any styles are the exception rather than the rule. So be it. If that is what they want, that is what they will get. As long as you know how they want it, you can adapt.

kylejt · #6 (**permalink**) Tue Apr 28, 2009, 10:25am

Quote:

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

I still wish he were still around, as in living. I took the question to mean that, not that he could be an umpire at age 72.

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I watched Joe West in person in Baltimore last week, and I'd take a 72 year old Luciano over him, dead or alive. Joe can't move at all, and can't raise his hands over his shoulders any more. He was U1, and on a towering fly ball near the pole, he never left the dirt, and never made a call. None. And what's he going to do on a trouble ball to the gap? Phone a friend?

MLB is in the entertainment business, like it or not. The way they hire their umpires, and keep them around FAR past their prime is stupid. I'm not saying we need entertainers as arbitors, but they need a higher quality out there the match the players on the field. As it is, these guys stay on the field FAR too long. And having West as their boss won't change things.

Luciano got me into umpiring at age 11. His antics made the game fun to watch, and I emulated those calls when I was a kid. Gunning guys out at first, blowing the smoke off the barrels, and reholstering them was part of the fun. Right or not, I watched games when he umpired.

UMP25 · #7 (**permalink**) Tue Apr 28, 2009, 10:38am

Quote:

Originally Posted by kylejt

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MLB is in the entertainment business, like it or not. The way they hire their umpires...

You mean passing up qualified white guys just to hire more minorities simply to look good in the eyes of the public? Discrimination is wrong regardless of color. Too bad MLB doesn't realize this.

Durham · #8 (**permalink**) Tue Apr 28, 2009, 10:54am

Quote:

Originally Posted by UMP25

You mean passing up qualified white guys just to hire more minorities simply to look good in the eyes of the public? Discrimination is wrong regardless of color. Too bad MLB doesn't realize this.

Didn't the most qualified guy who happened to be white get the job?

UMP25 · #9 (**permalink**) Tue Apr 28, 2009, 10:59am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Durham

Didn't the most qualified guy who happened to be white get the job?

Not necessarily.

Durham · #10 (**permalink**) Tue Apr 28, 2009, 11:02am

Quote:

Originally Posted by UMP25

Not necessarily.

Ok, maybe a friend of yours is more qualified, but didn't Chris get the job and if he isn't white, he is the lightest skinned brotha that I have ever seen.

UMP25 · #11 (**permalink**) Tue Apr 28, 2009, 11:05am

No, no friends involved; and I didn't say that every guy hired was a minority over a white. Believe it or not, MLB was seriously considering bypassing Chris and going to the next guy on the list. Thankfully, they didn't go that route.

Raymond · #12 (**permalink**) Tue Apr 28, 2009, 03:03pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by UMP25

You mean passing up qualified white guys just to hire more minorities simply to look good in the eyes of the public? Discrimination is wrong regardless of color. Too bad MLB doesn't realize this.

Qualified people of color have been passed over for years and years, decade after decade. What's the difference? Why is it an issue now all of a sudden?

SanDiegoSteve · #13 (**permalink**) Tue Apr 28, 2009, 07:48pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

Qualified people of color have been passed over for years and years, decade after decade. What's the difference? Why is it an issue now all of a sudden?

What color? I'm a person of color too, otherwise I would be invisible, then I could really make the big bucks!