Earrings and a ponytail.

[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.

[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).

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Tim C

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

Here, in one of the most conservative towns in America, the assignment secretary runs the show, and assigns the people he wants to. The umpire with the ponytail was a CIF finals umpire nearly every year for 25+ years. Being a damn good umpire counts for something, and his hair style was never a consideration, just his talent. Of course, he never wore earrings either.

[zm1283]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Here, in one of the most conservative towns in America, the assignment secretary runs the show, and assigns the people he wants to. The umpire with the ponytail was a CIF finals umpire nearly every year for 25+ years. Being a damn good umpire counts for something, and his hair style was never a consideration, just his talent. Of course, he never wore earrings either.

You've never lived in the Midwest, have you?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by zm1283

You've never lived in the Midwest, have you?

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

Peace

[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.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

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

Peace

Shows how little you really know, I guess. You presume way too many things.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by zm1283

You've never lived in the Midwest, have you?

Yes, I've lived in KC, Illinois, and 10 years in Texas, but we're a big Republican stronghold in a sea of liberalism which is California. We are a military city and damn proud of them.

[Tim C]

"And the point is, the umpire I'm talking about didn't just "happen" to get D-1 assignments. Back in the day, being a D-1 umpire was really not that big of a deal, and nobody cared what an umpire looked like. That is a more recent phenomenon. Now it's all about how purty the umpire looks, not whether or not he can umpire a friggin' tiddlywinks contest, which is how I equate many of the D-1 umpires I've seen lately. He was assigned good games because he was a good umpire all around, and was well respected by coaches and administrators everywhere."

Steve this might be the FIRST thing you have written in this thread that I agree with . . . In my "olden" days even "D1" schools didn't overly react to uniforms, shoes, hair, and tatoos. That is not the case today.

While I strongly disagree with your statement that "Being bigoted against long hair went out in the 1960s" isn't true. It simply isn't true.

There are still specific trades and professional jobs still don't allow long hair.

Sorry Steve -- I have my standards and IF I were King no umpire with a ponytail would work playoff level games.

That being said: my GF has plenty of ink and it has never stopped her from getting modeling jobs.

BTW, see me (in all my largeness) in the Season Ending January episode of Leverage.

And Jesus is not on our roster of eligible playoff umpires. (What a trite arguement -- I expect more from you).

[zm1283]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Yes, I've lived in KC, Illinois, and 10 years in Texas, but we're a big Republican stronghold in a sea of liberalism which is California. We are a military city and damn proud of them.

Are you implying that you can't be proud of the military if you're not a conservative?

[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.

[umpduck11]

Originally Posted by mbyron

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

It indeed is not.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

Sorry, I wouldn't call an umpire who doesn't care about maintaining a professional appearance one of the best I've ever known. It takes the whole package to the be the best.

This is the crew for the L.A. City Final at Dodger Stadium in 2008:


In Los Angeles, umpires are given assignments according to knowledge, ability, reliability, character, competence and other key areas related to umpiring. All four of these guys are first-rate umpires and first-rate human beings. The guy on the right--one of the finest umpires and people that I know--has a pony tail (not showing) and a short goatee. The guy on the left also has a goatee (he wears a HSM, so he doesn't have a cap). The guys in the middle both have mustaches and the short guy has a curly hairstyle that sticks out of his cap. Oh, and they're wearing gray.

Two of these guys are black, one is Hispanic, and the one white guy's a long-hair. In some circles, not one of these guys would get a key assignment. And in those circles, they do not assign the best umpires and the best people to the most important games. They assign the best ... uh, you know, qualified. ...