Why do they call it uniform

[bkbjones]

RANT ON

Here is something I do NOT understand.

In NFHS, ASA and I'm sure other groups there is a uniform. "Standard uniform" would be redundant. Uniform has more than one definition, and I am interested in two uses of the word.

1) We do not wear a costume or have a suggestion. It is a uniform (especially in NFHS). It is spelled out in many places, is written in plain language and should be easy to follow.

2) The other usage is uniform as in uniformity. We wear a certain shirt, certain hat, certain pants, &c. These items are readily available from a number of sources. A proper uniform is a valuable investment. I know every chapter or association or whatever is different, but I also know that many associations or chapters or whatever sell uniform items (or make them available) and make the process painless. You get your stuff, and the money is taken from your earnings. Ya never see it, kinda like withholding taxes.

With all that being said:

WHY THE HECK CAN'T PEOPLE DRESS IN A PROPER UNIFORM?

I was at the State 3A/4A Tournament today. I saw two distinct styles of powder blue shirts and several shades of heather gray. I saw plain blue coats with Washington Officials Association patches (the proper uniform coat for NFHS here), I saw blue coats with white piping around the collar and sleeves, and a black coat. I saw mostly all-black shoes with one lone exception that was corrected with 2 minutes of shoe polishing.

This is NOT unique to our area, the Pacific Northwest, the portion of the country west of the Rockies where by God prices are higher. It's all over. Some places are better than others, some are worse. But the prescribed uniform is spelled out. ARRRRGGGGH.

AND THEN THERE ARE UNIFORM MECHANICS. ALLEGEDLY.

The mechanics are spelled out in umpire manuals. NFHS issues one generally every two years. I do not understand how it is possible for me, an overweight somewhat unhealthy at times 51-year-old human to be able to drag my fat *** inside from "A" on a two hopper to the right fielder...but several someones 20 years younger and much healthier are unable to come inside on a 7-hopper to the left field corner.

I do not understand how, with no one on and no one out, many umpires trail the b/r up the first base line, BUT OTHERS FEEL THEY HAVE TO GO AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT UP THE THIRD BASE LINE.

There's more, and I feel like I am somewhat preaching to the choir. BUT...if you see yourself in any of this, please don't take offense. Take action. Do more, and for God's sake take a little pride in what you do. I don't care if you are a volunteer for Little League or working NCAA or NPF or NAFA or whatever...TAKE SOME FREAKIN PRIDE IN YOUR WORK.

Otherwise you are STEALING from me and other umpires who do take pride in this avocation.

RANT OFF

Thank you and have a nice day.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Yeah, what he said!!!

However, I do have an answer as to why. The reason is because the people in this country don't believe rules apply to them. The common train of thought is, "They just put that down for display, they really don't mean it" or "those are for the trouble makers, that doesn't apply to me".

You think I'm kidding? How many time do you witness people throwing cigarette and ashtray contents onto the streets, but do you think the same people would appreciate me dumping my trash on their front lawn?

We live among a group of ignorant people who believe that the "freedom" people are dying for every day means there are no rules. Their freedom trumps everything. Their freedom includes violanty attacking another human being because they were "offended" or that person had something this individual wanted. Funny thing is quite often when asked to help, this "society" turns their back because they "don't want to get involved". Don't think that phrase disappeared after the '80s, it is still around and quite alive in our neighbor's minds and hearts.

We all see this every day. We see this in almost every game we umpire. "How can you call that?", "How can you end a game on a call like that?", "That's not how the rule works at home?", "Our umpires don't call that!", etc.

Ballgame, life and death, they are all played the same. We are of a pampered "society" whom really have no idea how easy their life is compared to other parts of the world.

Sorry, John hit a subject that gets me just as upset.

Hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday weekend.

[IamMatt]

Mike for President.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Yeah, what he said!!!

However, I do have an answer as to why. The reason is because the people in this country don't believe rules apply to them. The common train of thought is, "They just put that down for display, they really don't mean it" or "those are for the trouble makers, that doesn't apply to me".

Commonly expressed with pride and a definite tone of self-righteousness on this and other officials' boards as "I'm not a robot..."

As to the several shades of heather gray, I'm sure some of what you saw were dress slacks (I even once saw a somewhat corpulent female umpire wearing skin tight capris), but I have a couple of older pairs of actual umpire pants that have faded to a brownish gray that has kind of a pink tinge to it. Now THOSE are attractive!

[NCASAUmp]

And I just looooove the pink buttons on my older ASA shirts. Never throw them in the dryer. Just hang 'em.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

And I just looooove the pink buttons on my older ASA shirts. Never throw them in the dryer. Just hang 'em.

If I remember correctly, I was told it is the detergent used. If it was one of those which has any type of bleach, even the alleged color-safes, that is what would change the color of the buttons.

But to be honest, even though I know they are there, I've never noticed them on an umpire.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

If I remember correctly, I was told it is the detergent used. If it was one of those which has any type of bleach, even the alleged color-safes, that is what would change the color of the buttons.

But to be honest, even though I know they are there, I've never noticed them on an umpire.

Actually, I've been using the same detergent for years (Tide with the color safe stuff). After a year or so of using the dryer, the buttons would turn pink. Once I stopped putting my shirts in the dryer, the buttons stayed blue, even on shirts that were a couple of years old.

Even if I take them out of the washer at midnight and hang them up, they're dry by the morning. Good tip for anyone who's tired of pink buttons on their powder blues.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

If I remember correctly, I was told it is the detergent used. If it was one of those which has any type of bleach, even the alleged color-safes, that is what would change the color of the buttons.

But to be honest, even though I know they are there, I've never noticed them on an umpire.

I think this is probably true. My buttons turned a violet color. and I never dry my shirts in the dryer.

[debeau]

Here in New Zealand we have blue shirts wth dark blue piping around the collar and sleeves and of course navy pants .
Due to a sponsor fo some UMPS ( They fully kitted out all our ISF Umps , 12 of them )
we changed to a lighter blue shirt . As shirts wear out we buy the new ones .
Now we have umps with different coloured shirts .
Also with different tournaments we get dark blue or black ,even white shirts and unfortunatly these are starting to be worn in normal week games or national tournaments .
Looks very messy .
Whats worse we dont get paid so if we have to get new gear its all on us .