Umpire "Etiquette"

[Bob James]

1) I have never clasped hands with a partner on the field, or anywhere near it. Aside from nodding and saying "thanks" on those rare occasions when participants/parents/spectators say "good job, blue," my partner and I say nothing until we're back at our cars. I shake his hand when I say good night.

2) I'm with BBUMP99. Here, many (not all) coaches guard baseballs like the Hope diamond, so if I'm short, I'll actually beckon the on-deck guy to toss me the ball. Likewise for fouls straight back to the screen; just toss me the ball. If I'm completely desperate, I'll even accept a long toss. I've actually gotten complements for snagging errant throws, which is hilarious, since I'm no athlete. But I sure as hell don't like it.

As to throwing baseballs to F1, I avoid it as much as possible, both for liability reasons and because, after 20 years of playing rubgy flanker, lock, and number 8, I can't seem to throw a baseball properly. No pain, I've just delivered CKS - Chuck Knoblauch Syndrome. Can someone design a colored ribbon for guys like us?

Finally, I had to howl at kylejt's post. How true. I attended a World Cup preliminary match many years ago between Mexico and Columbia. I was young, stupid and liberal (not coterminous) and convinced I just needed to love so@#er (thanks, JM)) when I saw the same player carried off the field three times on a damned litter. He returned after each exit. Feh.

Oh, and Easthire, rugby works the same way. The official timekeeper is the referee, period. Stadium or TV clocks are just best guess estimates. As it should be.