ISF World' on TV

[John Robertson]

I stand corrected. Thanks.

[Antonella]

Dear friends,
take a look to www.2006softball.org and you can find a video section with very good images from ISF World Championship.
Quality is not very high, but still very enjoyable.
Gold medal game has just finished and USA won over Japan 3-0 (I saw that LIVE).
Home plate umpire is italian: Gianluca Magnani, a friend of mine. Very good achievement especially if you think about the fact this WC was is 1st one!!
Would like to have some opinions from you about his hockey-style mask.
I've just loose the bet I made with him before he leaves to Bejing: I told him UIC of the tournament would never allow him to use such a gear (together with protection on his left arm). But UIC let him use it (both).
Now I could I ask 'young' umpires to NOT use such unstylish items?

Greetings from Italy

[NDblue]

Unstylish? I think that gear looks very stylish and I have no problem with it. If what he is wearing is a true hockey goalie mask, it will take a lot more punishment than a regular umpires mask. Hockey pucks are a lot harder and fly a lot faster than a softball does.

[Steve M]

I wonder if he was wearing a hat under that helmet?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by NDblue

Unstylish? I think that gear looks very stylish and I have no problem with it. If what he is wearing is a true hockey goalie mask, it will take a lot more punishment than a regular umpires mask. Hockey pucks are a lot harder and fly a lot faster than a softball does.

Personally, I think they are ugly no matter who is wearing them.

They are also not as easy to get off with the hat on.