Would you take the field with this guy?

[APG]

Originally Posted by jkumpire

While none of us would not do thew game, the original poster has a point. I've worked with people who made no pretext of looking professional, and it causes nothing but problems.

I worked two basketball games in the past year with a guy who has pants so small that his pocket insides stick out, he has white showing all around his waist. His shirt is wrinkled, his jacket looks like it came from a Goodwill store, and we had nothing but trouble all night long. I even tried to loan him a jacket. Your looks do say something about your competence as an umpire.

IN Baseball it is somewhat different because of the gear a plate man wears, and the fact that there is a distinct difference in PU and BU because of where they work, and what the do during a game. But a bad partner does not make you look good!

You have to say something to him in the postgame. What and how you tell him is something io have no answer to.

Of course this is all true...looking professional is a very important aspect of the job. But the question is whether we would work with an official who looked like the official in the OP.

I can say as a basketball official, I would say the equivalent would be an official wearing shorts and a collared T plus white shoes during a regular season game...and there's no way I would consider not working the game. I'd definitely have a word with the partner when appropriate...and you can bet an assignor is getting a word from me and probably both coaches.