Game fees.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

I like higher-level games for the challenge and to watch a higher level of play from the best seat in the house. No matter what the fee is, it is inadequate, so it's essentially irrelevant.

The fee is relevant for the other reasons that you so eloquently stated. We must get paid something so that we can be respectable.

A few local guys were trying to argue that JV and Freshman games should be paid the same as varsity games. I found that argument ridiculous -- it's not just the time that's being rewarded, it's the skill required to work and stick at a particular level.

Frankly, money is one of the key reasons I packed in the 3 D3 conferences I worked the past 5 years. They simply didn't pay enough for the aggravation. $185 with no mileage for an 18-inning day that frequently lasted 6 hours (not a lot of good pitching, either) with a bunch of Earl Weaver wannabes - yeah, that was a whole lot of fun. And the 2-3 hour drives up front. If they worked 3-person, I'd do it, but having to do a plate job every single day and having to drive most of the time, not worth it to me. Although I'm not really doing it for the money, it's part of the picture of respect (or lack thereof) that you get. And AFAIC, hiring 2 umpires for NCAA baseball is about as little respect as a sport can get -- they'd never think of running less than 3 for basketball or 7 for football these days.

This year I worked a lot of HS doubleheaders on Saturdays and made $120 for 14 innings and was 30 minutes from the house.