Earrings and a ponytail.

[jwwashburn]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

Are you concerned at all with what he's teaching these young umpires, or are you just bigoted against anyone that differs from your appearance?


Tim.

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.

[Matt]

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.

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.

[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?

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by Matt

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.

Matt - first, congrats on your assignment (I'm retired Army) and understood everything you said!

I guess one question we need to ask - are you an exception to the rule or the new breed?

I am very conservative in my beliefs and as you know, being that you're in the military, first impressions are important. I'm sure you've had your share of "issues" due to your decisions - and that's natural.

Some (me included) are pre-disposed to their ideas about long hair, facial hair, tatoos, etc. Until the playing field is leveled (in the future, if it ever is) there will always be two sides to this....and there is really no sense trying to talk the other side out of their opinion.

Just my $02.

PS - we have this discussion annually on the basketball referee forum. Same issues.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by grunewar

... I am very conservative in my beliefs and as you know, being that you're in the military, first impressions are important. I'm sure you've had your share of "issues" due to your decisions - and that's natural.

Some (me included) are pre-disposed to their ideas about long hair, facial hair, tatoos, etc. Until the playing field is leveled (in the future, if it ever is) there will always be two sides to this....and there is really no sense trying to talk the other side out of their opinion.

Just my $02.

PS - we have this discussion annually on the basketball referee forum. Same issues.

The problem starts when you see everything as having only two sides. That's why you are limited in your scope. There are far too many people with far too many concerns for there to only be two sides.

Open up and look around. You're only here once; you gain way more when your eyes are open.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

You're only here once;

Again you fail to recognize that there are other religious beliefs.

[Kevin Finnerty]

I sure hope that if I do have another life, it's as a man again.

[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!