Need help with a personal conflict

[FATUMP]

Guys, need some of your expert opinions here. On Friday my association had a senior level and well respected top umpire plead guilty in Federal court for stealing a large sum of money from the goverment. He is still being sceduled games in our local association. I dont agree with the fact that he is still being scheduled games and now tomorrow i have a high profile games with him. our assigner is unwilling for whatever reason to remove him from this game. my question is this. Would you guys remover yourself from the game or just suck it up?

[asdf]

Wow,

Your association has some real problems. If this is a high school game, your state association should know about this right now.

If it's select ball, the problems are just as serious. The fact that they even consider employing an admitted thief, tells me it's time for another association.

If he works, I am not.

[Kevin Finnerty]

What do you mean by stealing money from the government? Is it tax evasion? You can do that without even knowing it. It's different than theft.

I'm just saying that there are good people who make actual mistakes when it comes to money. Stealing from the government is very vague.

Now if it's some kind of crime against humanity, I would not only refuse to work with the guy, I would blow the whole thing open myself. Wide open. Stealing from the government? More info required.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by FATUMP

Guys, need some of your expert opinions here. On Friday my association had a senior level and well respected top umpire plead guilty in Federal court for stealing a large sum of money from the goverment. He is still being sceduled games in our local association. I dont agree with the fact that he is still being scheduled games and now tomorrow i have a high profile games with him. our assigner is unwilling for whatever reason to remove him from this game. my question is this. Would you guys remover yourself from the game or just suck it up?

Was the actual act of assigning games done AFTER the guilty plea and AFTER the assigner knew it? If so it's a problem.

If he has games on his schedule that were placed there BEFORE the guilty plea I don't have a problem with them being there but it might be wise to remove them now.

[jkumpire]

UMP,

Here are the questions I think you have to answer:

1. Does working with him offend your conscience to the point that you think it is morally wrong to work the game with him?
2. Can you work with him at this game as a partner, and treat him like any other partner in a game?
3. Are you willing to accept the consequences of refusing to work with him?
4. Does his status as an admitted felon disqualify him from working as an umpire?

In my opinion, I believe you should still work with him. If you or I were his assignor, we might treat him differently. But the assigner has made a decision that he is still eligible to work, and that is his responsibility, not yours. It seems clear that there are no legal liability issues to negatively affect you in the act of working with him. So the questions about working with him revolve around your attitudes towards him.

If he is going to jail for a long time, then his career may well be over in a short time. Maybe a little bit of grace and kindness is what he needs before he pays his debt to society. Maybe you can give him that, maybe you can't. That's up to you.

He certainly will take some hits from the fans or even the players at this game, and he needs a partner who be in his corner during the game on the field. If you can't do that, then don't work the game.

Great question, and I hope the advice helps.

[mbyron]

As an umpire, it's not my business to look into the legal situation of every one of my partners. I work the games I'm assigned.

If you're that worried about it, call your state association office and seek guidance.

[bob jenkins]

I'd make sure that he didn't handle my check.

[bob jenkins]

I'd make sure that he didn't handle my check.

[pastordoug]

IMO, I'm working with the guy and trying to see if there is anything I can help do for him. We, as umpires, are a family. When we have guys in the hospital we go see them. Shouldn't be any different because someone gets in trouble. As long as he is NOT the Sec/Tres. I'm ok..... It seems as if there are so other issues that we are not privy to? "He who is without sin cast the first stone." I think I read that somewhere before (what did you expect from a Pastor!)

[rookieblue]

To expand a moment on the good Pastor's remarks, if I may, are we excluding from our company only government defalcators? How about other reprobates?

Do not err: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, Nor the effeminate, nor liers with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor railers, nor extortioners, shall possess the kingdom of God.

1 Cor 6:9-10

As an umpire, it's not my business to look into the legal situation of every one of my partners. I work the games I'm assigned.

More pith from mbyron.

[Matt]

What, exactly, are the misgivings you have?

Do you feel that his presence reflects negatively on the reputation of the association? Do you feel that his ability to umpire is impacted (maybe due to integrity issues?) Something else?

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Matt

What, exactly, are the misgivings you have?

Do you feel that his presence reflects negatively on the reputation of the association? Do you feel that his ability to umpire is impacted (maybe due to integrity issues?) Something else?

Others might have these concerns, and since we're all independent contractors, we can each decide for ourselves whether to work with such an individual. I've already posted my decision, and I do not presume to decide for others.

The issue shouldn't arise in my state, because my state association lifts the license of a convicted felon immediately.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Quote:
Do not err: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, Nor the effeminate, nor liers with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor railers, nor extortioners, shall possess the kingdom of God.

Wow!

That's impressive. But what does that have to do with baseball in the 21st century?

And I still don't know what stealing from the government is, specifically. I suppose it's a bad thing, but there are degrees to everything, and the way the justice system works in this country, I cannot judge a person as bad because this system decided against him on something.

[Skarecrow]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

Quote:
Do not err: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, Nor the effeminate, nor liers with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor railers, nor extortioners, shall possess the kingdom of God.

Wow!

That's impressive. But what does that have to do with baseball in the 21st century?

And I still don't know what stealing from the government is, specifically. I suppose it's a bad thing, but there are degrees to everything, and the way the justice system works in this country, I cannot judge a person as bad because this system decided against him on something.

Your statement makes me a little nervous. I love our justice system. It sure beats what's in second place......

He pled guilty. He is guilty. He is going to serve his debt, and he is entitled to fair treatment by all. To continue to work with him is a personal choice. However, as has been stated, MOST professional associations will remove a member for violations of moral turpitude...which includes a massive list of indiscretions..fraud being one of them..Maybe his association needs to revisit the rules for their membership.

[Kevin Finnerty]

You love our justice system? Then, I must assume, that you have had little or no first-hand experience with it.

And, based on part of the rest of your statement, you must have very little knowledge of some of the justice systems found in other civilized countries.