Umpires accosted off the field following Midwest Collegiate League Game

[UMP25]

Yes, I know a couple attorneys. Both are ruthless, and one is a member of his father's firm, his father being the former chairman of Du Page County. However, asking one of these gentlemen to send such a letter would, IMHO, be an exercise in futility. First, if a police officer gets no cooperation, I highly doubt an attorney will. Second, the league commissioner's (who conveniently runs 2 of the league's 8 teams) wife is the attorney for the league itself. I'm willing to bet she'd relish a battle of wits between attorneys.

Is it really worth it? Yes, my attorney would do this at no cost, but still, the more damaging action may just simply be the fact that no halfway decent umpires are going to be working this league anymore, and that, in the end, may be the death knell for the league. They'd deserve it, that's for sure.

[UMP25]

We got this press release this morning. Two of the teams simply folded. One was the team that Vern Hasty was managing. I guess that's one way to get him off the field.

MIDWEST COLLEGIATE LEAGUE PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
Media Contact: Don Popravak
July 19, 2012


MIDWEST COLLEGIATE LEAGUE ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION OF WILL
COUNTY CRACKERJACKS AND ILLINOIS LINCOLNS

Chicago, IL – July 19, 2012 – The Midwest Collegiate League’s Commissioner, Don
Popravak, has announced that effective immediately, the Will County CrackerJacks and
the Illinois Lincolns baseball clubs have resigned from the League.

Jamie Toole, Owner, President and General Manager of the CrackerJacks and the Illinois
Lincolns, notified the Midwest Collegiate League’s Board of Directors of his decision to
resign from the League at approximately 6:35 p.m. tonight.
Commissioner Don
Popravak stated that “each club in the League has a financial obligation to meet its debt
payments to the League throughout the year.” He added, “It is most unfortunate that
Mr. Toole has made this decision.”

Commissioner Popravak further stated the following: “In our opinion, Jamie Toole’s
decision to voluntarily resign his clubs from the League during the season significantly
impacts the fifty-or-so college baseball players, managers and coaches that were
recruited for his CrackerJacks and Illinois Lincolns teams. These baseball players,
managers and coaches are the ones who are paying the very high price of not being
able to continue their baseball development this summer. Additionally, it affects the
communities that supported these players and clubs.”

The Midwest Collegiate League’s six remaining clubs -- the Chicago Zephyrs, DeKalb
County Liners, DuPage County Hounds, Rockford Foresters and Southland Vikings -- are
revising the League’s remaining schedule and will release it on Friday, July 20th. Its
46-game schedule this year runs from June 1st through July 29th. Post-season League
playoffs begin on July 31st.

The MCL League will continue to look for expansion franchises across the Midwest for
the 2013 season and beyond. “We are looking for experienced owners and operators
who share our vision of creating a top pre-minor league baseball destination filled with
potential Major League Baseball prospects and who can recreate the family fun
excitement and experiences that are seen at the Minor League venues,” stated
Commissioner Popravak.

###

One of the top umpires, a member of my association who had been assigned to work the upcoming playoffs, resigned yesterday effective immediately over issues of back pay. Seems he, like me and others, have not been paid for several games going as far back as June 1st (I'm owed just one game's worth).

Many other umpires are leaving at the end of this season. With the unprofessional reputation this league has earned itself, I cannot see them surviving period.

Serves them right.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by UMP25

We got this press release this morning. Two of the teams simply folded. One was the team that Vern Hasty was managing. I guess that's one way to get him off the field.


One of the top umpires, a member of my association who had been assigned to work the upcoming playoffs, resigned yesterday effective immediately over issues of back pay. Seems he, like me and others, have not been paid for several games going as far back as June 1st (I'm owed just one game's worth).

Many other umpires are leaving at the end of this season. With the unprofessional reputation this league has earned itself, I cannot see them surviving period.

Serves them right.

Looking at the attendance for some of these games, it's a wonder they even bother.

[asdf]

Our finicky little friend named Karma sure can be a bee-itch at times.

[UMP25]

Indeed.

[UMP25]

Well, this stuff just keeps getting better! The slow, hopefully painful death of this schlock league continues. Perhaps.

Toole Pulls CrackerJacks, Lincolns Out of Midwest Collegiate League |

Scroll down and read the comment by a poster named Larry.

I do find it interesting that a league that bills itself as "pre-professional" goes ahead and lets a con artist like Jamie O'Toole run two teams, and hires as a manager a guy fired from 3 previous head coaching positions for his bizarre rants and actions toward umpires.

It cost each team $25,000 to enter a franchise into the league. How did O'Toole, who skipped out on numerous other debts over the years, come up with the $50K to have 2 teams in the league? Hmmm...

[UMP25]

One veteran umpire resigned last week, and this week four more umpires tendered their resignation, primarily because of the issue of not getting paid. In fact, one guy has worked 15 games in the league and, according to this individual, has yet to be paid for any of them.

Yeah, this league is "pre-professional" all right.