Earrings and a ponytail.

[zm1283]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

The fact that he said that is it rather obvious he has not.

Peace

I guess you missed the sarcasm.

[tballump]

Originally Posted by Tim C

Two points:

1) At least they are getting training. We run into local group after local group that get ZERO training.

2) With a ponytail and earrings you would not even smell a playoff assignment in Portland (one of the most liberal towns in America).

I think it is great to acknowledge the fact that at least he is training or trying to train people in point one.

However, I think it is chicksh$t that your group will let him work during the season but will not consider this person for the playoffs. If his appearance is not appropriate for playoffs then it is not appropriate for regular season either. In other words, he can do the "dirty work" (regular season) for your group with that appearance, but he cannot do the "plush assignment" with that appearance.

If your group comes right out and tells everyone (verbally and in writing) that they can work regular season with a non-uniform or unacceptable personal (and list what is unacceptable) appearance but it will automatically eliminate them from any playoffs, then at least your group is being honest and each individual can decide how they want to handle this.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by tballump

If his appearance is not appropriate for playoffs then it is not appropriate for regular season either.

In our area, we cannot afford to be picky during the regular season and must regularly assign poor umpires to varsity games. Everyone concerned feels that it's usually better to have 2 umpires on a varsity game, even if the second is poor, rather than just 1.

The playoffs are a different story. Since there are far fewer games, it is possible to be more selective, based on experience, skill, appearance, etc.

I suspect that our area is not unique in this regard.

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by jwwashburn

Bizarro.

It would be a strange arse world if we dressed the same , thought the same and lived according to jwwashburn.

First it was Canadians and then pony tales, what next Mr Perfect.

I was raised that ALL men are created equal in this country, one of the rights that many have died to perserve. But for some reason those who choose to be bigots forget those facts to enable them to spread their hatred among us.

"Let he, who is without sin cast the first stone" Obviously something you have never learned.

This used to be a good forum until the likes of you and "lets find something wrong with someone" threads appeared.

Grow up!

If you can't find anything good to say about someone, then shut your mouth.

Please do most of us a favor.

If this gets this thread removed then I have suceeded.

[jwwashburn]

Originally Posted by Matt

I'm going to tell you a little story. It's little, so you can understand.

I just received word that I am going to be a 1SG (you want a translation, let me know) of a headquarters company (BTW, not to toot a horn, but I'm 29 years old.) I keep seven piercings and three visible tattoos. The tattoos are in reg. The piercings stay, due to my job, and I have an exception to policy (for you Catholics, a dispensation) to have them.

This is not an issue for my association. I have never had anyone involved in the game, besides an umpire or assignor, ask me about them. I have had, on exactly one occasion, had a manager say that he would not have recognized me but for the tatt on my right arm, and he didn't care.

I can guaran-damn-tee you that whatever needle has entered my skin has not affected my ability to umpire, and since Big Army has blessed off on them, I'm pretty sure it's not a detriment.

Matt,

1) Thank you for your service to our country.
2) What does the Army changing its policy on body piercing have to do with how an umpire should look?
3) I never said or thought that an umpire that comes to the field looking like a goof will umpire like a goof. Long hair(like I said, I used to have it 20+ years ago) and earrings make and umpire look like a goof. I certainly realize that some people will disagree with me. I think that one umpire wearing a red shirt and one wearing a navy one looks goofy-some people disagree and think that it looks ok. Obviously, somebody involved with the MLB thinks the smocks look good...I think they make the umpires look like goofs.

If you are confident that your look is a good one for an umpire then why would you care what I think?

[jwwashburn]

Originally Posted by jicecone

It would be a strange arse world if we dressed the same , thought the same and lived according to jwwashburn.

First it was Canadians and then pony tales, what next Mr Perfect.

I was raised that ALL men are created equal in this country, one of the rights that many have died to perserve. But for some reason those who choose to be bigots forget those facts to enable them to spread their hatred among us.

"Let he, who is without sin cast the first stone" Obviously something you have never learned.

This used to be a good forum until the likes of you and "lets find something wrong with someone" threads appeared.

Grow up!

If you can't find anything good to say about someone, then shut your mouth.

Please do most of us a favor.

If this gets this thread removed then I have suceeded.

The Canadian thread was obviously in jest, eh. If you had read it you would have seen that others were much harder on the hosers I was. In fact, I readily admit that the moron in question is not necessarily a Canadian.

This has nothing to do with sin. I never said it was a sin to umpire looking like a goof. I never said nor do I think everyone should look like me. I am a bald guy so, a lot would balk at looking like me. I do think it is a bad idea to train young umpires and not give them the very important fact that looking like a goof is not a good idea-ESPECIALLY for a young umpire.

First impressions have a lot to do with a game. When I show up at my plate conference with my partner(s), I want both teams to see my crisp and clean shirt, my shiny shoes, my clean hat, no stubble, etc. I want them to think that I look the part before they see that I know what I am doing. I want them to immediately realize I am in charge before I ever say anything. I think if I showed up looking like a goof, that would be a lot harder to do.

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by jwwashburn

An umpire with a ponytail and or one or more earrings looks even dumber than any other guy with the same appearance. that is the first thing he is teaching young umpires-it is ok to look like a goof on the field. It is exact opposite of what young umpires need to learn first. Young umpires who look like they are supposed to look have taken a giant step. Young umpires taught by this goof have taken a step backwards.

PS That is why I got rid of my long hair over 20 years ago, I realized how stupid I looked.

So, it's exactly as I thought. It's not about his competence or skill, your opinion of him is based on his personal appearance. His uniform looks sharp, and he has a commanding presence. I think it's great that he doesn't feel the need to conform to your bigoted standards. If I had to guess, I'd think that he takes the earrings out during games for safety reasons, so that just leaves you with his hair style to complain about.

Tim.

[jwwashburn]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

So, it's exactly as I thought. It's not about his competence or skill, your opinion of him is based on his personal appearance. His uniform looks sharp, and he has a commanding presence. I think it's great that he doesn't feel the need to conform to your bigoted standards. If I had to guess, I'd think that he takes the earrings out during games for safety reasons, so that just leaves you with his hair style to complain about.

Tim.

The way the video is chopped up, it is hard to tell what he is training them to do.

One thing that he is training them, however, is that personal appearance is not important for an umpire. Young umpires need to be shown that first impressions are very important.

I do not think that an umpire should have regular hair and no earrings because of my personal preference. I think this because it is a more professional look.

My mailman has a ponytail and several earrings. He brings me my mail. The guy at the hardware store has the same appearance. Lots of guys at my gun club have all sorts of interesting piercings and hair. It is not the look that i would choose not is my look the one that they prefer...we have a great time.

If you have a job where you need to command respect instantly, then don't look like a goof and it will help a lot.

[BigUmp56]

Would a man with a comb over or an afro fail to meet your standards?


Tim.

[jwwashburn]

I love it when people who disagree because I have an opinion pretned that they have no opinions.

I think that Combovers would be great for anyone-especially an umpire.

Afros? Sure, why not?

The truth is that you have standards that a lot of umpires think are silly. You probably shine your shoes, right? We all know that there are thousands that do not. You wear your shin guards inside your pants, right? How many chuckleheads do not do that? How many around North America wear shorts? Dirty, sweat stained hats? No matter what standards that you have for appearance, there are some out there who would disagree with you just as there are some that disagree with my opinion that long hair and earrings are bad ideas for an umpire.

[dash_riprock]

Is that Oscar Gamble?

[jwwashburn]

Yessireeebob!

[jwwashburn]

If any of you guys are Photoshop experts maybe you could put a beanie on him.

[greymule]

Just because you think a line ought to be drawn somewhere doesn't mean you're a bigot. Do you really want to work with a partner who sports a bone in his nose?

[Tim C]

Such as things are larger groups we need "warm bodies" for the regular season. In 2009, for the first time in over 20 years, we filled all games with the proper number of umpires:

Probably a factor of the poor Oregon economy. In fact, some officiating groups in Oregon have "frozen" their membership and are not accepting new officials for 2009-2010 season.

We have talked for the last decade on this site about how umpires should "look". An important part of umpiring "appears" to be a first impression.

In Portland about 10 years ago we had a very good umpire that was NEVER getting playoff games. He went ot the assignor and asked, "why don't I get playoff games?"

Commish answered: "You have a beard and a ponytail . . . lose the tail and you'll move up."

Within three years this umpire worked a State Championship Final.

He was smart enough to select his battles correctly.

If I were King and assigned umpires I would be understanding of body art but strict to a sense on items such as ponytails.

I have the "right" to have my own opinions.