Giving Game Fees back

[IowaMike]

I don't work for free. The only time I have was a benefit basketball game for a kid who was fighting cancer, which is a completely different thing altogether. They are playing a tournament to make money and they want you to pay to work it? That's pretty ballsy in my opinion. I'd tell them no thanks and look elsewhere. As a previous poster noted, we all spend a lot of money on equipment, local and state association fees, and sometimes clinics as well. I do it because I enjoy it but I also consider it a part time job to earn some extra cash. If they can't afford to pay umpires, then they aren't doing a very good job of running their tournament. I don't know about the area where you live, but most assigners and schools in my area would be pretty hesitant to blacklist an umpire for refusing to kick back money to work a tournament, because they are pretty difficult to find anymore. There are a million places I can pick up games if I want to, so I'm certainly not going to work for free and would be even less likely to pay to work.

[johnnyg08]

It's hard to believe that an assigner thought his umpires would agree to buy in to a tournament...work can't be that hard to come by out there. I had a couple of umpires approach our assn asking to work a memorial game (free game) for a team who lost a player in a motorcycle accident last summer. I think for the guys who reach out for this...is admirable to say the least.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

It's hard to believe that an assigner thought his umpires would agree to buy in to a tournament...work can't be that hard to come by out there. I had a couple of umpires approach our assn asking to work a memorial game (free game) for a team who lost a player in a motorcycle accident last summer. I think for the guys who reach out for this...is admirable to say the least.

What team was that?

[tballump]

Tuss

Good to see you are back. From all your previous posts, this semester should be the your last, and over or almost over. Must be nice to go to a school where Joe West and Drew Coble went and are in the school's athletic hall of fame. Were you able to finish in 4 or did it take longer?

To your question. Since you know that many assignors (no not all) have 50-100 schools and each school pays $200 for each of 10-15 sports to be assigned (2-3k per school) and are making 6 figures for this job, in addition to whatever they make at their "real job", I would have said the assignor is looking after his pocket. Many of these assignors also handle summer leagues for different sports also. However, you said that was not the case, but it just doesn't pass the smell test to me. If he loses business, you lose business.

That being said, if I have read your past post's correctly and your future can go as you would like it, and you have read up on your history concerning your future endeavor, as the good history major you are, this summer thing might just be the least of your worries concerning a decision to that must be made. The decisions that you will have to make down the road over these types of financial issues and situations and to work or not work could be much more challenging if history continues to repeat itself ever so many years if you get my drift. Good luck with whatever you decide (you could seek council from some veterans in your CT association and why it doesn't bother them on this current issue), and good luck in the future. Never park where it says umpires(bearef??might get rid of this). Enjoy NASCAR and hockey when you can.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

When my uncle (my late father's younger brother) died this past March, my sons told me that I was now "The Godfather" of the family. When they told me that I replied that if we were a Mafia Family, we should get a stimulus check from Uncle Sam because we are so lousy at being a Mafia Family, .

My point is, it sounds like the Tournament Director wants a kickback if you want to umpire and I would think that is racketeering under the RICO Act (see bribery or extortion, but probably bribery).

MTD, Sr.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

When my uncle (my late father's younger brother) died this past March, my sons told me that I was now "The Godfather" of the family. When they told me that I replied that if we were a Mafia Family, we should get a stimulus check from Uncle Sam because we are so lousy at being a Mafia Family, .

My point is, it sounds like the Tournament Director wants a kickback if you want to umpire and I would think that is racketeering under the RICO Act (see bribery or extortion, but probably bribery).

MTD, Sr.

Nope. RICO requires two predicate offenses.

[Steve87]

If they are asking to give back game fees or pay extra costs after the fact, then it’s tacky and wrong. I volunteer for a charity tournament every year; they give us t-shirts, food and drinks. It’s a fun time with my brother blues and it’s for a good cause, but I know I’m volunteering upfront.

[Cub42]

Sounds like to me that either the TD, Assignor, or a crony of theirs is in the uniform business. Most of us retalize that for NCAA or HS there are required uniforms. But we wear them all season not for one tournament. It is hypocritical to use the bad economy as an excuse to relieve the teams of some financial burden, yet throw it on the officials.

[Kevin Finnerty]

My experience with running travel tournament teams for many years shows that the parents of most travel ball players need much less of a break than the average umpire.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

I've just been notified by one of the assignors I work for that in order to work one of the bigger tournaments, we need to send him a check that matches one game fee for shirts, hats, etc. Normally, we are provided with tournament shirts and hats. I believe that this typically comes out of each team's entry fee, along with our game fees as well.

The reasoning is because of the bad economy, we as umpires can do something to make it easier on each team that signs up to play.

Now listen, I'm all for giving back. I had no problem last year working 4 games in a tournament and giving back all but enough for gas and six pack. The tournament was a fundraiser for a local girl who was sick.

But this one peeves me a bit more and I'm not sure I'll cave. The decision was made without my input at all, since I'm still in school and am 600 miles away from meetings. I guess perks of the union life...

Anyone have anything similar going on in their area?

Tell the assignor you won't be home during that tourney.

[PeteBooth]

[QUOTE]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

I've just been notified by one of the assignors I work for that in order to work one of the bigger tournaments, we need to send him a check that matches one game fee for shirts, hats, etc.

Tuss I do not understand the aforementioned

When my assignor is contacted to cover a tournament we wear our HS Certified uniforms.

We do not buy separate apparel for each tournament that we cover.

I can understand getting a reduced FEE (as long as each umpire is guarenteed a certain number of games) due to the hard economic times but as mentioned I do not understand the need to buy shirts hats etc.

Pete Booth

[chartrusepengui]

I don't mind doing a game for free for a good cause - BUT - I will be the one choosing to do this. I hope he can't find anyone to do his tournament.

[Kevin Finnerty]

This is another excellent example of how people inside baseball are absolutely out of touch with umpiring.

I can't imagine an umpire that I know who would gladly comply with this preposterous arrangement.

But I know many other than myself, who would gladly donate their time for a worthy cause.

[Cub42]

So I guess that the " bad economy" does not affect Umpires. Your Assignor should be ashamed of himself for agreeing to this

[Kevin Finnerty]

Umpires are already exploited. The standard fee for the work that is performed is so far below what it's worth, it's a borderline disgrace. We're baseball's greatest suckers.