Speaking of Uniforms...

[OklahomaBlue]

Originally Posted by hitdawg23

IF IT IS THAT HOT WHY UMPIRE?

Well... It's obvious... There were 48 teams with 48 HS coaches from 48 public education institutions and not one coach, administrator or parent commented negatively about our uniforms...
Most of these guys ARE baseball umpires. Some of them officiate football as well. This is the only sport close enough to baseball to let them wear shorts.

[azbigdawg]

It figures that they are baseball guys..no self respecting softball umpire would be caught wearing that...... unreal....If you have ANY doubts about how ridiculous you look......... stop doubting....Im gonna use those pictures in my umpires school uniform presentation....on how NOT to look..... un-real


and dont give me any yammer about the heat or humidity....Im not buying it.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by azbigdawg

and dont give me any yammer about the heat or humidity....Im not buying it.

I worked a State Tournament here in North Texas about a month or so ago, and one game that I had the plate on, the temperature at game time was 108, a new local record for that date. Guess what....I was wearing the proper uniform. We weren't given an option to do anything else, and I wouldn't have taken it if they had.

[OklahomaBlue]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

I worked a State Tournament here in North Texas about a month or so ago, and one game that I had the plate on, the temperature at game time was 108, a new local record for that date. Guess what....I was wearing the proper uniform. We weren't given an option to do anything else, and I wouldn't have taken it if they had.

PUL EEEEZE, I guess you want a medal for wearing pants during a record high for one game... Jeeez Try three or four...
You know what, big fella, We were wearing the proper uniform for our association... BTW Merle Butler is a member as well and NO this wasn't a ASA sanctioned tournament.
You guys with your overinflated egos about uniformity... Get real...

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by OklahomaBlue

PUL EEEEZE, I guess you want a medal for wearing pants during a record high for one game... Jeeez Try three or four...
You know what, big fella, We were wearing the proper uniform for our association... BTW Merle Butler is a member as well and NO this wasn't a ASA sanctioned tournament.
You guys with your overinflated egos about uniformity... Get real...

It wasn't for one game, I worked 6 that day. It has nothing to do with overinflated egos. It is simply wearing the uniform prescribed by the association, and looking professional. My comment, if you read a little more carefully, was not addressed to you, but was a response to azbigdawg's comment. But, since you decided to address me, I simply have this to say, big fella. If you want to umpire fastpitch, then dress the part. That means wearing all the protective gear, the proper uniform...etc. If Oklahoma sanctions using shorts as a proper uniform, then so be it. (Somehow, though, I doubt that the Oklahoma High School Officials Association, ASA, or any other organization in Oklahoma sanctions shorts as part of the official uniform for softball umpires.) If you are wearing the non-uniform simply because of the heat, as I think you are, then you have two choices as I see it. Either don't umpire when it is hot, or if you choose to umpire, wear the proper uniform.

[OklahomaBlue]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

It wasn't for one game, I worked 6 that day. It has nothing to do with overinflated egos. It is simply wearing the uniform prescribed by the association, and looking professional. My comment, if you read a little more carefully, was not addressed to you, but was a response to azbigdawg's comment. But, since you decided to address me, I simply have this to say, big fella. If you want to umpire fastpitch, then dress the part. That means wearing all the protective gear, the proper uniform...etc. If Oklahoma sanctions using shorts as a proper uniform, then so be it.
(Somehow, though, I doubt that the Oklahoma High School Officials Association, ASA, or any other organization in Oklahoma sanctions shorts as part of the official uniform for softball umpires.) If you are wearing the non-uniform simply because of the heat, as I think you are, then you have two choices as I see it. Either don't umpire when it is hot, or if you choose to umpire, wear the proper uniform.

Wrong!!! Some of the Metro Association's officers were working the tourney. And yes, shorts are a part of our association's uniform. Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Assn. is the entity that governs the state's schools and certifies their officials. Here is the link to the officers and past presidents of our OKC Metro Officials Association with their email addresses. Email one of the softball or baseball advisors, VP's or even the president. They'll verify my honesty!!!

http://www.okcofficials.com/officers.htm

[mcrowder]

I think that some of you guys who live in Yankee-country (to me ... that's north of the Red River, but I'm going to give Okie a bit of a break here) have NO IDEA what it's like to be out there for 8 hours in southern heat. Yes - I've lived in the north, and yes - I've been there when it's 100 degrees. Different animal. Last week, it was 104 as a high, but at NINE PM, it was still 97 degrees. Not to mention the humidity.

I agree that it's important to look good and professional. And I agree that these guys did not look professional (and the rare tourney where I'm wearing shorts, I look a little goofy too). (I'll also concede that the white underalls in one of the pictures above was TACKY, and not necessary - wear the shorts if it's the uniform of the day, but surely you could have found black McDavids... and nice watch!)

But when the sanctioning body for a tournament makes uniform concessions for umpires working 8-10 (or even 14 once!) hour shifts, and ALL of the umpires abide by them, sometimes "the look" has to give way a bit to the health of the crew.

Sometimes it's more important to BE professional than to LOOK professional.

Scoff if you will, but I invite ANY of you to come down and work a June tournament for me next year - I'll even give you a break every 4th game (something we don't usually have the luxury of) and see if you change your tune after 10 straight hours of 95+ temperatures and high humidity.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by OklahomaBlue

Wrong!!! Some of the Metro Association's officers were working the tourney. And yes, shorts are a part of our association's uniform. Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Assn. is the entity that governs the state's schools and certifies their officials. Here is the link to the officers and past presidents of our OKC Metro Officials Association with their email addresses. Email one of the softball or baseball advisors, VP's or even the president. They'll verify my honesty!!!

http://www.okcofficials.com/officers.htm

If you had read my previous post, I stated "If Oklahoma sanctions using shorts as a proper uniform, then so be it." That is usually the end of the conversation. I never questioned your honesty nor your integrity. I did, however, state what was a doubt on my part, which you have now corrected. My original post in this thread was not even directed to you, yet you chose to single me out of a long list of posters who disagreed with your associations choice to wear shorts to work a fastpitch tournament, referred to my over-inflated ego (even though you have no clue as to what kind of ego I may have), and this certainly speaks to your character. This forum is supposed to be for the sharing of opinions and ideas, and not for personal attacks on those who have different ideas from those to which you hold. Other posters in this thread chose to use terms that I felt were insulting, yet you left them alone. I merely stated my opinion. Is there a reason you keep seeking me out?

I stand by my original statement that pants look far more professional that shorts. I am now done with this.