Who in at least one state cannot drive a car unless there's a man walking in front, waving a red flag.

But she has to be in front! How else could she pull my wagon?

Well, in Milwaukee, you can't park long-term on the street... unless you have your horse (or wife, in this thread) tied to the car.

Also, no offensive-looking people on the street in Milwaukee during the daytime.

*sigh* My hometown is weird.

That must mean everyone worked the night shift :D

Damn, my dad wasn't that ugly!

Actually, he was a cop, so I'm sure he saw plenty of the freaks at night.

I know this is an old thread (I'm sorry), but a situation happened to me tonight. I'm a rookie ump in city league SP. A little background: This was the 3rd game tonight that I umpd for this team (end of season tourny and this is the championship game and about 11:15 at night). This guy is the pitcher of the game and he has voiced his disgruntlement (real word?) of some of my ball/strick calls. Two innings prior I call him out on a obstruction call (he hit the first baseman's glove knocking the ball free) while reaching first base. Last inning of the game he hits and I call him out at first on a bang/bang play. On his way back in my direction he yelled he was safe and I informed him it was that close (two fingers close together on my left hand). As he passes me he lets me and everyone in the park know about my intelegence level and something about my sexual involvement with my mother. I eject him and he comes after me. The first baseman and first base coach hold him back (just inches from me) and he spits right in my face (I'm glad I wear glasses). I didn't respond, didn't do anything but step back, wipe off my glasses, and wipe off my face. As I left the field I told the league official what he did and contemplated pressing charges (I'm not going to). Has this happened to anybody else and if so what did you do?

Yeah I've had that happen.... player took a 2 year ban from the league (to avoid assault charges...guess they taking spitting pretty serious down here) plus the parks director witnessed the whole thing. BTW I called my guy out for interference not obstruction on the whole "knocking the ball free from the glove thing" and called the female out who was running to third for the second out of the play. (dude, i coulda ran to first took the ball away and threw her out.... why she was running on a non-force only god will ever know. well him and wade. ;)

As CNB has mentioned, your call on knocking the ball out of the glove should have been "interference," not "obstruction."

Why are you not going to press charges? I would do it in a heartbeat. Are you going to send the message to this guy that what he did is okay? Are you going to let him do this to future umpires? He deserves to feel the repercussions of his actions, IMO.

I'm with Skahtboi on this one - something MUST be done. If you intend to continue umpiring and NOT be a doormat for the rest of your career, you need to show this guy (and everyone else) that this behavior has no place on a ballfield, or anywhere else for that matter.

Look, no one likes to be the bad guy, yet there are times when you have to stand your ground. If it had been another umpire instead of yourself, you'd expect him to press charges, wouldn't you? So why should it be any different if it happened to you?

I'm with the others. You should not hesitate to call the police (even right now).

Next step, take some time and learn officiating and the rules; you do not know them. Walking out and pretending to call balls and strikes is not enough; you are going to keep getting into trouble. IMO, They smell blood in the water because they know you dont know what you are doing and it is helping instigate trouble.

Now, call the police and your UIC and press this at every level you can.

Come on, guys... Let's be supportive... :)

I thought we were being supportive. :cool: Of course, Wade is just a little more abrasive in his support. :D

Like sandpaper on a jockstrap. ;)

Just kidding, wade.

But seriously, azgreg, the best recommendations that any of us can make would be to pursue this matter further, as well as pursuing umpiring further. Yes, you're new, but so was I many years ago. So was Skahtboi, and so was wade (though he won't admit it). We all were.

So get in some umpiring clinics, stick around on this forum (and don't take anything personally), and keep at it. You'll learn, you'll grow, and before long, we'll be seeing you around the circuit.

I agree, this is supportive - Wade's just a bit more blunt, not abrasive.

Greg,
As a rookie ump, start keeping a journal/diary of strange stuff that happens & how you ruled, results, ... Do that with this, then look back at it in a couple of years. I suspect that your response after a couple more years of umpiring wuld be much closer to what you hear folks here saying.

Now, grow a set, report this and make sure that league & tournament & your association know you've reported it. If they choose to accept that as a resignation, F*** them. At that point, your association should let that group go without umpires.

HA!

Man, most of you would be hard pressed to make the mistakes I've made umpiring. But no one beats up an umpire for making an error more than I beat myself up. It can last days and weeks! :D