Parents Say The Darndest Things

[WreckRef]

Originally Posted by jwwashburn

A few years ago, my partner and I were working our 5th game on a very hot day...a couple of guys were sick and two turned ankles...The UIC was a friend...no way would I have orked this many games in one day otherwise.

Anyway, U14...Championship game of COURSE goes into the 12th inning. No runs since about the 3rd or 4th.

In the bottom of the 12th, the first two batters strike out swinging. The 3rd batter walked and stole second. After the second pitch to the batter, the catcher threw the ball over the pitcher's head and it rolled past second base...winning run scores.

A parent yells(then echoed by at least two others: That's how you're gonna let it end Blue? How much did they pay you?

If anyone can TOP that for stupidity, I want to hear it. Notice I said TOP it. I do not believe it can be done.

Joe In Missouri

About 17 years ago, I was working the bases on a Little League game. A couple of kids from a team that wasn't playing were in the bleachers, cheering for their friends on what a certain mom felt was the opposite team of the bleachers they were sitting it.

Between innings as I'm standing around she tells me she wants me to move the kids to the "correct" side. I politely explained to her that as long as they weren't being profane or doing anything other than cheering they can sit where they like.

Apparently she didn't like that response because when she got back to her seat, she proceeded to pour her entire cup of soda on top of the kids heads.

I looked her, she looked at me and I gave her the heave-ho. Giving me a look of disbelief I told her that I don't put up with that behavior from anybody in my ball park, ESPECIALLY an adult.

Here's the kicker, I was barely 16 at the time and she called the cops on ME and the kids. When the officer showed up, he wasn't really interested in talking to me and I tried to explain what had happened but he told me to keep moving.

[jwwashburn]

Sixteen years old is a good time to learn that you never talk to a fan unless (under extraordinary circumstances) you need to eject him. I try to never even make eye contact with a fan.

Joe In Missouri

[Kevin Finnerty]

That's a very sound practice.

[JPaco54]

Great point! I have learned as well that if you give some of them a glimpse, a smile or some type of the slightest bit of a conversation, they will start to work on you and know they have a listening ear. Some just want to be friendly and nice but you don't know which ones will blow up on the first close call etc. etc. I try to polite and respectful to everyone without displaying a chip on my shoulder. I do need to smile more though.

[Kevin Finnerty]

You're obviously there primarily to perform a service as an impartial third-party judge and supervisor of players. You perform that function so that the game's players have safe, fair contests. Only you and the players are necessary. Coaches are significantly less necessary and the spectators are insignificant. The spectators should almost never be acknowledged.

[njdevs00cup]

My all time favorite "parentism" occurred about three years ago. I was working a Babe Ruth game by myself. The batter squared to bunt and was hit in the hand. I called dead ball and awarded the batter first base. From the stands I hear, "Blue, you've got to ask for help on that one!"

[ManInBlue]

Originally Posted by njdevs00cup

My all time favorite "parentism" occurred about three years ago. I was working a Babe Ruth game by myself. The batter squared to bunt and was hit in the hand. I called dead ball and awarded the batter first base. From the stands I hear, "Blue, you've got to ask for help on that one!"

You should have pointed down the first base line and asked "DID HE GO!!!"...


..."I guess not"

[DonInKansas]

Originally Posted by jwwashburn

I try to never even make eye contact with a fan.

That's right. There's too many other juicy bits of the hot moms to glance at.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by DonInKansas

That's right. There's too many other juicy bits of the hot moms to glance at.

This very shapely gal walked over to the fence during the second game of a 90-degree twin-bill on Saturday, wearing a pale orange tank top and denim shorts and asked me if I'd like something to drink ... and I almost blurt out "milk!"... but somehow I managed to say "water, please."

Seventeen year-olds have no business having a GLM who's that, uh, GL. And that school shouldn't be sending that particular mom to the fence to mess up the umpire's game. I take this stuff seriously.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

This very shapely gal walked over to the fence during the second game of a 90-degree twin-bill on Saturday, wearing a pale orange tank top and denim shorts and asked me if I'd like something to drink ... and I almost blurt out "milk!"... but somehow I managed to say "water, please."

Seventeen year-olds have no business having a GLM who's that, uh, GL. And that school shouldn't be sending that particular mom to the fence to mess up the umpire's game. I take this stuff seriously.

Keep it in your knickers, Kevin!

[WreckRef]

Originally Posted by jwwashburn

Sixteen years old is a good time to learn that you never talk to a fan unless (under extraordinary circumstances) you need to eject him. I try to never even make eye contact with a fan.

Joe In Missouri

While I would agree with you in 99% of cases, SHE made eye contact with me after she looked up after what she had done.

If it was during a level higher than Little League I probably would have let it take care of itself. However, she was picking on 11 and 12 year old kids and I wasn't going to allow it to escalate.

[SethPDX]

Originally Posted by WreckRef

While I would agree with you in 99% of cases, SHE made eye contact with me after she looked up after what she had done.

If it was during a level higher than Little League I probably would have let it take care of itself. However, she was picking on 11 and 12 year old kids and I wasn't going to allow it to escalate.

At which point you get whoever is in charge of the site, tell them what happened, and ask for the lady to be removed. If you can't find who's in charge, tell the coach of that fan's team to take care of it. But don't deal with fans directly.

[jwwashburn]

I am fairly certain I would have never realized that the woman was pouring anything anywhere.

[archangel]

I know the topic is baseball parents, but....

Working a youth basketball game. Mom of a player is riding her kid whenever he does something wrong. I'm hearing it, feeling sorry for the player (who's by far the best on the floor), but I'm ignoring her.
He misses a layup, ball knocked out of bounds, and I'm moving past her (sitting in the 1st bleacher row), when she yells "that was a F***ing awful shot"!

Now, I could've stopped play, found the gym super or use the player's coach, to address that, but instead, in that sich!, right then and near her, I told her if I heard that type of language again, I'd have her escorted out of the gym. Parents lightly applauded, it took all of 3 sec, and she was quiet after that...

I believe in ignoring fans or having admin deal with a problem, but sometimes in a HTBT sich?........