Earrings and a ponytail.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

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. ...

I have no problem some that locales don't consider a professional appearance to be important.

In my area those gentlement would be highly regarded for their mechanics knowledge and ability and perhaps their rules knowledge. Again, they would not be considred great umpires without the complete package.

Appearance, professionalism, grooming, and athleticism all appear on our rating sheet.

It does not cause us to use inferior umpires, rather, our members understand the importance placed on those traits and make them part of their umpiring. Your arguement that these guys would get short shrift in other areas in speculation. If they are that good, and if umpiring is important to them, I would speculate they would follow the rules of their association.

Different strokes. We are not California casual here. And from my experience, none of the pros I've run into are either.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Side question: How does everybody feel about gray as a warm-weather alternate?

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

I have no problem some that locales don't consider a professional appearance to be important.

In my area those gentlement would be highly regarded for their mechanics knowledge and ability and perhaps their rules knowledge. Again, they would not be considred great umpires without the complete package.

Appearance, professionalism, grooming, and athleticism all appear on our rating sheet.

It does not cause us to use inferior umpires, rather, our members understand the importance placed on those traits and make them part of their umpiring. Your arguement that these guys would get short shrift in other areas in speculation. If they are that good, and if umpiring is important to them, I would speculate they would follow the rules of their association.

Different strokes. We are not California casual here. And from my experience, none of the pros I've run into are either.

California casual ...

Do you prefer a clean-shaven, egotistical, immobile hack to a humble, diligent, knowledgeable, mobile umpiring devotee? Because our assignors often make that same choice. And our evaluators often weigh 15 different criteria against grooming, and rate great umpires with goatees accordingly.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

California casual ...

Do you prefer a clean-shaven, egotistical, immobile hack to a humble, diligent, knowledgeable, mobile umpiring devotee? Because our assignors often make that same choice. And our evaluators often weigh 15 different criteria against grooming, and rate great umpires with goatees accordingly.

Of course not, but I don't think that's the issue here.

The issue is a clean-shaven, egotistical, imobile hack vs. a bearded, egotistical, immobile hack.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Of course not, but I don't think that's the issue here.

The issue is a clean-shaven, egotistical, imobile hack vs. a bearded, egotistical, immobile hack.

The issue as I've read along seems to be that "improper grooming" [insert personal definition here] is in and of itself reason to disqualify an umpire.

Good thing that it doesn't apply to players - we'd have missed out on a LOT of really good ones.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Of course not, but I don't think that's the issue here.

The issue is a clean-shaven, egotistical, imobile hack vs. a bearded, egotistical, immobile hack.

Perfect!

That was beautiful.

We disagree almost not at all on this one, then?

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

California casual ...

Do you prefer a clean-shaven, egotistical, immobile hack to a humble, diligent, knowledgeable, mobile umpiring devotee? Because our assignors often make that same choice. And our evaluators often weigh 15 different criteria against grooming, and rate great umpires with goatees accordingly.

Why would you assume that it had to be such a choice, especially when I've specified "the complete package" in all my posts?

I believe really good umpires step up and fmeet the expectations of their associations. Different locales, different expectations, apparently. We follow the pro expectations. Some do not.

[Ump Rube]

Originally Posted by jwwashburn

Nothing better than an umpire trainer with two earrings and a ponytail.

YouTube - Umpire Training 2007

I definitely think that trainers need to be over-the-top in their (un)adherence to umpiring "taboos." They should be picked for their representation of a model umpire for probees to look up to and mimic. Which typically in the first year or two is what many umpires do, they will just mimic the dress, looks and signals of older umpires.

Just my 2-cents on the comment posed in the UMPIRE FORUM.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Here's the list that ZM was referring to:

Democrats
Richard Gephardt: Air National Guard, 1965-71.
David Bonior: Staff Sgt., Air Force 1968-72.
Tom Daschle: 1st Lt., Air Force SAC 1969-72.
Al Gore: enlisted Aug. 1969; sent to Vietnam Jan. 1971 as journalist in 20th Engineer Brigade.
Bob Kerrey: Lt. j.g. Navy 1966-69; Medal of Honor, Vietnam.
Daniel Inouye: Army 1943-47; Medal of Honor, WWII.
John Kerry: Lt., Navy 1966-70; Silver Star, Bronze Star with Combat V, Purple Hearts.
Charles Rangel: Staff Sgt., Army 1948-52; Bronze Star, Korea.
Max Cleland: Captain, Army 1965-68; Silver Star & Bronze Star, Vietnam.
Ted Kennedy: Army, 1951-53.
Tom Harkin: Lt., Navy, 1962-67; Naval Reserve,1968-74.
Jack Reed: Army Ranger, 1971-1979; Captain, Army Reserve 1979-91.
Fritz Hollings: Army officer in WWII; Bronze Star and seven campaign ribbons.
Leonard Boswell: Lt. Col., Army 1956-76; Vietnam, DFCs, Bronze Star.
Pete Peterson: Air Force Captain, POW. Purple Heart, Silver Star and Legion of Merit.
Mike Thompson: Staff sergeant, 173rd Airborne, Purple Heart.
Bill McBride: Candidate for Fla. Governor. Marine in Vietnam; Bronze Star, Combat V.
Gray Davis: Army Captain in Vietnam, Bronze Star.
Pete Stark: Air Force 1955-57
Chuck Robb: Vietnam
Howell Heflin: Silver Star
George McGovern: Silver Star &DFC during WWII.
Bill Clinton: Did not serve. Student deferments. Entered draft but received #311 in the lottery.
Jimmy Carter: Seven years in the Navy.
Walter Mondale: Army 1951-1953
John Glenn: WWII and Korea; six DFCs and Air Medal with 18 Clusters.
Tom Lantos: Served in Hungarian underground in WWII. Saved by Raoul Wallenberg.

Republicans
Dick Cheney: did not serve. Several deferments, the last by marriage.
Dennis Hastert: did not serve.
Tom Delay: did not serve.
Bill Frist: did not serve.
Mitch McConnell: did not serve.
Rick Santorum: did not serve.
Trent Lott: did not serve.
John Ashcroft: did not serve. Seven deferments to teach business.
Jeb Bush: did not serve.
Karl Rove: did not serve.
Saxby Chambliss: did not serve. (Chambliss is the man who attacked Max Cleland's patriotism)
Paul Wolfowitz: did not serve.
Richard Perle: did not serve.
Richard Shelby: did not serve.
Dana Rohrabacher: did not serve.
JC Watts: did not serve.
Jack Kemp: did not serve. "Knee problem," although continued in NFL for 8 years.
Rudy Giuliani: did not serve.
George Pataki: did not serve.
Phil Gramm: did not serve.
Christopher Cox: did not serve.
Newt Gingrich: did not serve.
Lindsey Graham: National Guard lawyer.
Arnold Schwarzenegger: AWOL from Austrian army base.
Bob Dornan: Consciously enlisted after fighting was over in Korea.
Dan Quayle: Journalism unit of the Indiana National Guard.
Ronald Reagan: U.S. Army (due to poor eyesight, served in a non-combat role).
Don Rumsfeld: served in Navy (1954-57) as flight instructor.
John McCain: US Navy 1958-81; Vietnam P.O.W.; Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross.
George H.W. Bush: U.S. Navy in WWII; Distinguished Flying Cross
George W. Bush: failed to complete six-year National Guard assignment; re-assigned from Texas to Alabama National Guard so he could campaign for family friend running for U.S. Senate; failing to show up for required medical exam and duties, was stripped of his pilot status.

Pundits, Pontificators & Preachers
Sean Hannity: did not serve.
Rush Limbaugh: did not serve.
Bill O'Reilly: did not serve.
Michael Savage: did not serve.
George Will: did not serve.
Paul Gigot: did not serve.
Bill Bennett: did not serve.
Pat Buchanan: did not serve.
Bill Kristol: did not serve.
Kenneth Starr: did not serve.
Antonin Scalia: did not serve.
Clarence Thomas: did not serve.
Ralph Reed: did not serve.
Michael Medved: did not serve.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Look at all those Democrats with Distinguished Flying Crosses and Purple Hearts! And then, look at McCain, Dole and Bush I---very impressive trio!

Let's hear some more deferment stories, Grandpa Dick.

[BigUmp56]

What is the proper mechanic used by a liberal umpire on type A obstruction?

Is it different for a conservative umpire?

Thanks,


Tim.

[Kevin Finnerty]

So while we're here in the middle on something, let's all shake hands.

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

Here's the list that ZM was referring to:

Democrats
Richard Gephardt: Air National Guard, 1965-71.
David Bonior: Staff Sgt., Air Force 1968-72.
Tom Daschle: 1st Lt., Air Force SAC 1969-72.
Al Gore: enlisted Aug. 1969; sent to Vietnam Jan. 1971 as journalist in 20th Engineer Brigade.
Bob Kerrey: Lt. j.g. Navy 1966-69; Medal of Honor, Vietnam.
Daniel Inouye: Army 1943-47; Medal of Honor, WWII.
John Kerry: Lt., Navy 1966-70; Silver Star, Bronze Star with Combat V, Purple Hearts.
Charles Rangel: Staff Sgt., Army 1948-52; Bronze Star, Korea.
Max Cleland: Captain, Army 1965-68; Silver Star & Bronze Star, Vietnam.
Ted Kennedy: Army, 1951-53.
Tom Harkin: Lt., Navy, 1962-67; Naval Reserve,1968-74.
Jack Reed: Army Ranger, 1971-1979; Captain, Army Reserve 1979-91.
Fritz Hollings: Army officer in WWII; Bronze Star and seven campaign ribbons.
Leonard Boswell: Lt. Col., Army 1956-76; Vietnam, DFCs, Bronze Star.
Pete Peterson: Air Force Captain, POW. Purple Heart, Silver Star and Legion of Merit.
Mike Thompson: Staff sergeant, 173rd Airborne, Purple Heart.
Bill McBride: Candidate for Fla. Governor. Marine in Vietnam; Bronze Star, Combat V.
Gray Davis: Army Captain in Vietnam, Bronze Star.
Pete Stark: Air Force 1955-57
Chuck Robb: Vietnam
Howell Heflin: Silver Star
George McGovern: Silver Star &DFC during WWII.
Bill Clinton: Did not serve. Student deferments. Entered draft but received #311 in the lottery.
Jimmy Carter: Seven years in the Navy.
Walter Mondale: Army 1951-1953
John Glenn: WWII and Korea; six DFCs and Air Medal with 18 Clusters.
Tom Lantos: Served in Hungarian underground in WWII. Saved by Raoul Wallenberg.

Republicans
Dick Cheney: did not serve. Several deferments, the last by marriage.
Dennis Hastert: did not serve.
Tom Delay: did not serve.
Bill Frist: did not serve.
Mitch McConnell: did not serve.
Rick Santorum: did not serve.
Trent Lott: did not serve.
John Ashcroft: did not serve. Seven deferments to teach business.
Jeb Bush: did not serve.
Karl Rove: did not serve.
Saxby Chambliss: did not serve. (Chambliss is the man who attacked Max Cleland's patriotism)
Paul Wolfowitz: did not serve.
Richard Perle: did not serve.
Richard Shelby: did not serve.
Dana Rohrabacher: did not serve.
JC Watts: did not serve.
Jack Kemp: did not serve. "Knee problem," although continued in NFL for 8 years.
Rudy Giuliani: did not serve.
George Pataki: did not serve.
Phil Gramm: did not serve.
Christopher Cox: did not serve.
Newt Gingrich: did not serve.
Lindsey Graham: National Guard lawyer.
Arnold Schwarzenegger: AWOL from Austrian army base.
Bob Dornan: Consciously enlisted after fighting was over in Korea.
Dan Quayle: Journalism unit of the Indiana National Guard.
Ronald Reagan: U.S. Army (due to poor eyesight, served in a non-combat role).
Don Rumsfeld: served in Navy (1954-57) as flight instructor.
John McCain: US Navy 1958-81; Vietnam P.O.W.; Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross.
George H.W. Bush: U.S. Navy in WWII; Distinguished Flying Cross
George W. Bush: failed to complete six-year National Guard assignment; re-assigned from Texas to Alabama National Guard so he could campaign for family friend running for U.S. Senate; failing to show up for required medical exam and duties, was stripped of his pilot status.

Pundits, Pontificators & Preachers
Sean Hannity: did not serve.
Rush Limbaugh: did not serve.
Bill O'Reilly: did not serve.
Michael Savage: did not serve.
George Will: did not serve.
Paul Gigot: did not serve.
Bill Bennett: did not serve.
Pat Buchanan: did not serve.
Bill Kristol: did not serve.
Kenneth Starr: did not serve.
Antonin Scalia: did not serve.
Clarence Thomas: did not serve.
Ralph Reed: did not serve.
Michael Medved: did not serve.

This only proves that Democrat heroes are the only ones sleazy enough to enter politics! (Just kidding I don't believe that for a second.)

I agree with Kevin - it's the extremes (left and right) that scare the hell out of me.

[Paul L]

Would you refuse to assign a playoff game to an umpire who loathes the military?

[Kevin Finnerty]

Why would that, or should that come up within the framework of umpiring? I would like to think I was on the field with a fair, honorable, courageous man. Most of the rest of the details of his life and beliefs are irrelevant.

I have three regular umpiring partners that are ex-Marines. I have a regular partner that seems like a fringe character, who would never make it as a soldier, could possibly loathe the military, but has more guts than anybody out there.

I refuse to offer an opinion either way, and instead I make us talk about relevant things like baseball.

The only reason the subject was broached here was to dispel the myth that Democrats, or liberals, are too soft to serve in the military.