Dumb Athletic Directors.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Yesterday (May 12/Thu., 2011), I umpired a boys' H.S. jr. varsity baseball DH.

I was the BU in the second game (MichiganHSAA allows DH to be played even if the schools have class the next day). R1 on 1B when the batter ripped a single to right field. F9 threw the ball to F6 who threw to F5 in an unsuccessful attempt to throw out F1 at 3B. F6's failure to throw out R1 caused him to drop an F-bomb. And we all know what happened next. I informed the young man that he was done for the day and escorted him to his team's dugout where I explained to V-HC what I had. No problem.

My problem was this morning with school administrators. I called the school's principal and was connected to her assistant (not assistant principal, the principal's assistant; and this is a public school). I was told by the assistant that the principal was unavailable for me to speak with her today. I told her why I was calling and she transferred me to the school's AD.

Convesation with AD:

MTD, Sr.: Good morning Mr. Xxxxx, I am Mark DeNucci, Sr., and I umpired your school's jr. varsity baseball DH with Xxxxx H.S. yesterday. I am calling to inform you that Player Xxxxx Xxxxx was ejected in the bottom of the second inning for dropping an F-bomb after failing to throw out a runner at third base.

AD: Do you always eject a player for swearing?

MTD, Sr.: Mr. Xxxxx that question is not germain to the subject we are discussing. Xxxxx Xxxxx's actions is why I am calling.

AD: But I am asking the question so I can understand why you ejected Xxxxx Xxxxx.

MTD, Sr.: Mr. Xxxxx, your original question is not germain to Xxxxx Xxxxx ejection.

AD: Yes, it is. I want to know if you always eject a player for swearing?

MTD, Sr.: Mr. Xxxxx, the MichiganHSAA requires me to make contact with a school adminstrator when there is a player ejection and inform the adminstrator that a game report will be filed.

AD: But, I want to know if you always eject a player for swearing to be able to understand your actions.

MTD, Sr.: Mr. Xxxxx, this conversation is over. Goodbye. "click"

What a way to start a weekend.

MTD, Sr.

[DG]

Interesting, we just write up a report and send to assigner and the state.

First question answer should have been, "no, I don't eject for swearing, but in accorandance with HS rules I eject for profanity".

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by DG

Interesting, we just write up a report and send to assigner and the state.

First question answer should have been, "no, I don't eject for swearing, but in accorandance with HS rules I eject for profanity".

1) Both the OhioHSAA and MichiganHSAA require the official to speak with a school administrator the very next school day after the ejection as well as file a game report.

2) "Swearing" or "profanity", it really does not matter because my silence cannot be misquoted. The question was not germain to the player's ejection.

MTD, Sr.

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

1) Both the OhioHSAA and MichiganHSAA require the official to speak with a school administrator the very next school day after the ejection as well as file a game report.

I found this difficult to believe, so I researched it:

Ohio: Whenever an ejection occurs, the ejecting official shall speak with the offender's principal/athletic director no later than the first school day following the ejection. ( Game Ejections of Coaches or Players )

Michigan: Following the contest, an official shall contact the Ath letic Director of the violator’s school prior to noon of the day following the ejection to ad vise the administration of the ejection. Contact may be made after the game if an administrator is present or by phone in the morning on the first school day after the contest. ( http://www.mhsaa.com/LinkClick.aspx?...lU%3d&tabid=58 [page 15])

In Missouri, we're only required to file a written report of the ejection, sent to the state. At that point, it's sent to the school. We make no contact with the school, and have been advised by our organization to only make verbal statements to MSHSAA, and only after we've verified the person calling.

Personally, I'll make my statements in person or in writing.

[MrUmpire]

Too much conversation:

MTD, Sr.: Good morning Mr. Xxxxx, I am Mark DeNucci, Sr., and I umpired your school's jr. varsity baseball DH with Xxxxx H.S. yesterday. I am calling to inform you that Player Xxxxx Xxxxx was ejected in the bottom of the second inning for unacceptable use of profanity.
AD: Do you always eject a player for swearing?
MTD, SR.: I am required to notify you of this ejection, feel free to contact my assigner or me by mail with any questions. Thank you for your time.

[ODJ]

Illinois: A report is to be made on-line to the state within 24 hours. An e-mail is sent to principal and AD automatically. Most assignors want to know right away if you tossed a coach, because that coach is going to call the assignor.

[Dave Reed]

If you really don't want to answer any questions about the ejection, notice that you aren't required to state a reason for the ejection. So you can make it even shorter.

But why on earth are you unwilling to answer some questions about the ejection? Of course by rule the player will have to sit out a game, but depending on the severity of the action, the AD may want to take additional action. In fact, quoting from the link yawetag provided, "The MHSAA will request that the administrations of the schools involved conduct internal investigations and voluntarily take punitive or remedial action."

I would expect that the AD would like to know whether the ejection was automatic or if additional bad behavior aggravated the offense. He'd probably like to get a sense if the F-bomb was a single event or an escalation of profanity. He undoubtably knows that umpires vary widely in their tolerance for profanity, and in which words an umpire considers to be profanity. I suppose that the AD would like to have a short discussion to get more color than is likely to be included in the ejection report. He can then compare that information with the account that the player and coach provide, and decide what additional punitive or remedial action is needed.

And in this case I suppose that, justified or not, he suspects the ejecting official is an a**hole who won't even answer a simple polite question. He'll probably decide that no additional action is required.

[Stu Clary]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

AD: Do you always eject a player for swearing?

MTD, Sr.: Mr. Xxxxx that question is not germain to the subject we are discussing. Xxxxx Xxxxx's actions is why I am calling.

AD: But I am asking the question so I can understand why you ejected Xxxxx Xxxxx.

MTD, Sr.: Mr. Xxxxx, your original question is not germain to Xxxxx Xxxxx ejection.

AD: Yes, it is. I want to know if you always eject a player for swearing?

MTD, Sr.: Mr. Xxxxx, the MichiganHSAA requires me to make contact with a school adminstrator when there is a player ejection and inform the adminstrator that a game report will be filed.

AD: But, I want to know if you always eject a player for swearing to be able to understand your actions.

MTD, Sr.: Mr. Xxxxx, this conversation is over. Goodbye. "click"

Why didn't you just answer the AD's simple question? You come off looking bad here, IMHO.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Stu Clary

Why didn't you just answer the AD's simple question? You come off looking bad here, IMHO.

It was not a simple question. It was the beginning of an S-storm, one Mark properly avoided. You can't tell me you think AD was asking this for any reason other than to get into an argument, can you?

[DG]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

It was not a simple question. It was the beginning of an S-storm, one Mark properly avoided. You can't tell me you think AD was asking this for any reason other than to get into an argument, can you?

If that is his purpose then he is a RAT too, and less said the better. Follow the stupid state rules and no more. These rules apparently require you to speak with, but not to argue with.

[Publius]

Originally Posted by DG

Follow the stupid state rules and no more.

My seasons go a lot smoother because I ignore the stupid state "rules". The state association is not my employer, and I don't see any compelling reason to care about what they think I ought to do relative to a contract I have with a school to officiate baseball games at that school.

Schools are association members; officials are not. You don't have to dance to every tune it calls.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Publius

My seasons go a lot smoother because I ignore the stupid state "rules". The state association is not my employer, and I don't see any compelling reason to care about what they think I ought to do relative to a contract I have with a school to officiate baseball games at that school.

Schools are association members; officials are not. You don't have to dance to every tune it calls.

Don't they have a say over if you are eligible to work games? The requirement was to have them inform the school, not give reasons why they made a call or what is even typical. Mark followed that with flying colors and probably could tell by the tone in the voice of the AD and the nature of the questions how it was going to end up. If he had had a confrontation with him it would have been blown out of proportion. Best to just get off the phone and move an anyway. Not sure how anyone can think that is not acceptable. But then again people have a right to their opinions.

Peace

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

It was not a simple question. It was the beginning of an S-storm, one Mark properly avoided. You can't tell me you think AD was asking this for any reason other than to get into an argument, can you?

I agree, Mike. As I said before, if the AD was wanting more information for a possible higher-degree punishment for the kid, then he went about the questioning the wrong way.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

It was not a simple question. It was the beginning of an S-storm, one Mark properly avoided. You can't tell me you think AD was asking this for any reason other than to get into an argument, can you?

"Sir, I pulled you over because you were driving 61 in a 55 mph zone."

"Do you stop everyone who drives 6 mph over the limit?"

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

"Sir, I pulled you over because you were driving 61 in a 55 mph zone."

"Do you stop everyone who drives 6 mph over the limit?"

Yeah, that is going to go over well.

Peace