Earrings and a ponytail.

[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.