Cooperstown Tournaments

[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).

[maven]

Originally Posted by Welpe

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).

I took Mike's point to be that they're not working for free: they're receiving lodging and food.

From the "Umpires" section of their website: "As a guest of Cooperstown Dreams Park your stay will be expense free."

That's compensation (adequate or not) and, according to the IRS, could be taxable income.

[Welpe]

Well that is true and in the eyes of the IRS I'm sure cafeteria quality food and dorm conditions are "compensation".

I will amend my statement to "without monetary remuneration."

That said, Mike, go and have a good time. Share some pictures on Facebook if you would be so kind.