Cooperstown Tournaments

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Rich

Bandwidth was a relevant argument when we all had 300 baud modems.

Not sure that's always true... We've had some discussions here that were a waste of bandwidth even with the existence of infinite bandwidth!

I'm curious if anyone's gone, and what were their experiences - what to look for, what to expect, etc. I'll be going in June to help a friend's team from Dallas. But all my info is from someone who couldn't even tell me what ruleset is being used in their league or at this tourney. So I'm looking for umpire POV's on this.

The site Tim recommended had a grand total of 10 posts on it, all but one related to "I want to work, I need a team" or "I am a team, and need an umpire".

[Rita C]

All second hand but the friends I have who have gone have enjoyed it.

You aren't paid, it's dorm room facilities, and it's OBR. They may have special ground rules.

Rita

[nopachunts]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

The site Tim recommended had a grand total of 10 posts on it, all but one related to "I want to work, I need a team" or "I am a team, and need an umpire".

Go to umpire.org and check the forums listing. There are currently 530 threads related to Cooperstown Dream Park. As you posted, There are many of the threads that are "I want to work, I need a team" or "I am a team, and need an umpire", but there are also many threads from umpires that have attended that pass on information to those that will go in the future.

I have not been, but if I had the chance to go, I would just for the experience. From what I have read in the posts, either you really like or you really don't.

[Steven Tyler]

Long way to go to live in an unconditioned barracks for a week, with vitually no place to grab a meal. No telling what you will have as partners. Six man crews on championship games with people that have trouble working two man.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

Long way to go to live in an unconditioned barracks for a week, with vitually no place to grab a meal. No telling what you will have as partners. Six man crews on championship games with people that have trouble working two man.

I normally don't have an opinion on stuff like this, but I agree with you. From everything I've heard, I feel I would be incredibly uncomfortable in this environment. Even working LL tournaments (I've worked 2 regionals and a World Series), we were always put in hotel rooms. Non-air-conditioned dorm rooms and also how they run their tourneys doesn't do it for me at all.

For those that are OK with these kind of conditions, have fun. Go for it. Don't think I'll be running to do this, myself. I've been to Cooperstown and I enjoyed simply going as a tourist.

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

Six man crews on championship games with people that have trouble working two man.

Yeah, at one time I thought I wanted to do it...but from what I've heard it's Smitty haven.

For me, no thanks.

[Publius]

The conditions aside, I'll never understand the motivation of those who donate their labor to someone else's for-profit enterprise.

There's an adage about them; something to do with a lollipop, childbirth, and 1/60 of an hour.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Publius

The conditions aside, I'll never understand the motivation of those who donate their labor to someone else's for-profit enterprise.

There's an adage about them; something to do with a lollipop, childbirth, and 1/60 of an hour.

Donate? I'm getting paid. Not as much as I normally would, but then again, free food and I get to go to the HoF (never been). But I'm really going to support a team in our league that is going.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

Donate? I'm getting paid. Not as much as I normally would, but then again, free food and I get to go to the HoF (never been). But I'm really going to support a team in our league that is going.

I think the main issue is that the organizer is making money on these tournaments with the expectation that the umpires will be working for free (unless individually compensated by their teams).