Demoting MLB umpires

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

SDS:

I am well acquainted with the Giamatti family and have been for many years. If someone made the accusation or inference that Bart was homophobic, they are seriously mistaken.

There were several issues surrounding Pallone's resignation/termination. (Yes, he did submit a resignation, and yes, he did receive a letter of termination.)

Unfortunately most accounts are biased in one direction or another and Bart is not here to defend himself, not that he would have bothered addressing idiots on the internet.

The point was how the poster in question tore into someone for their opinion. My beef was not with Mr. Giamatti, or whether he was or was not. I couldn't care less either way. It was with the way the poster lashed out, which I found unnecessary and over the top.

[MikeStrybel]

Our New York based troll simply proves his last sentence correct - he is biased. By alleging that you know the family, you prove the point. Thank you.

A number of good books have been written about Major League umpiring woes. I noted one that tells specifically of Pallone's firing. There are many others, including one by an esteemed SI writer - they all state the same thing; Pallone was fired for being homosexual. It is important to note that I did not mention Pallone's own book as evidence of opinion. As others have stated, he was among the best the year he was fired. It seems ironic that on the day that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was repealed that anyone would suggest otherwise. I guess that we'll now here that he is long time friends with Joe Cronin's family too and that Salerno and Valentine weren't fired by a union buster. The clock is ticking.

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

The point was how the poster in question tore into someone for their opinion. My beef was not with Mr. Giamatti, or whether he was or was not. I couldn't care less either way. It was with the way the poster lashed out, which I found unnecessary and over the top.

Thank you. Anonymity provides safety and it is easy to throw stones over a fence.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

The point was how the poster in question tore into someone for their opinion. My beef was not with Mr. Giamatti, or whether he was or was not. I couldn't care less either way. It was with the way the poster lashed out, which I found unnecessary and over the top.

For the record, so did I.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

The point was how the poster in question tore into someone for their opinion. My beef was not with Mr. Giamatti, or whether he was or was not. I couldn't care less either way. It was with the way the poster lashed out, which I found unnecessary and over the top.

I had not read the original post the led to the response. I saw only that apparently someone inferred or accused Giamatti of being a homophobe. That's a serious accusation these days and one that intelligent people do not make casually.

While I do not agree 100% with the response you refer to, I can understand it.

[realistic]

I see my statement ruffled some feathers. Mr. Strybel, when making accusations in an internet forum, imo, I would be extremely careful how I would word what I would say. The content of your accusation could be considered libelous. I understand the law and would have not made the statement if I didn't think it could be considered as such.

I'm not sure if you are aware of who the late commish was the father of. For those of you who are not aware, the late commish's son is Paul Giamatti. If I was Paul Giamatti and was looking to make sure my name isn't used for things that it shouldn't be, I would have my family name googled from time to time to make sure that no one is illegally benefitting from the use of my name. Now if a search came up that showed that someone may have libeled my dear deceased father and they used their name and I could track that name down, I might have to cause that person to have a very bad day. You see, libel wouldn't have to be proven because I have attorney's that work for me and I have plenty of money to pay them. The person that should have stated that it was there opinion that Giamatti was a homophobe, may not have such deep pockets.

In a nutshell, that's the reason I said what I said. Don't go posting crap you can't prove or hasn't been proven by anyone else.

Years ago, Giamatti did some things that helped me and other umpires put a little more green in our wallets. I'm not taking up for him but I hate to see people spout off about things they have no idea about. You may have read that someone said something but you didn't write it.

[SanDiegoSteve]

You still didn't need to say it the way you did. I offered an alternative. You don't seem to get the point. Only the way you said what you said did I have a problem with.

I think it is stupid to call someone a name as if it were a fact (or even if it is a fact), but I also don't like wishing bad things or ill will upon people. There is enough of that in our everyday lives away from this forum. It's really not good karma, just like calling someone names isn't. I have been guilty of this kind of lashing out at people on this forum in the past, insulting them or getting in silly arguments with people I don't even know personally, or understand what their position is, or maybe what they are going through at the time. I regret having done this, and it looks very ugly when looking at it in print.

I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to people that I have insulted or belittled on this board in the past, and to Bob Jenkins for giving him carpal tunnel from all the deleting and editing he has had to do with my posts.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

I think it is stupid to call someone a name as if it were a fact (or even if it is a fact), but I also don't like wishing bad things or ill will upon people.

Reminds me of a quote from my literary hero:

"I've never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure." - Mark Twain

[MikeStrybel]

A quick look at your posts here show you once wrote, if the wife of the coach involved in an attack against umpires had confronted you in the locker room, she would have had a hard time walking away. Another member chastised you for advocating violence against women. Is that what you meant by being careful with your words and stating only things you can prove? You also denigrated Peter Gammons as a liver lipped fool and described Brewers coaches as having loose screws. Those people are still alive and no, you did not preface your statements as being your opinion.

Illinois law allows for people to state their opinions freely. That is what is done on this forum. You just did it. Parroting the words written in several books and numerous magazines further enables my freedom of speech. Pallone was fired for being homosexual. His termination letter included this topic. He was not fired for performance. Giamatti proved that he wielded ultimate authority with the handling of Pete Rose. People were not terminated without his approval. If you want to believe that Pallone was fired for another reason other than what was stated in the letter, go ahead. You have that freedom. I will retain mine to state my opinion.

[bob jenkins]

Let me sumamrize:

1) One shouldn't slander or libel

2) Whether the comments made rise to that is a matter beyond the scope of this forum.