Since the general public considers many umpires to be dumb, today I am out to prove different.
I cover it all today, from writing... to important realizations in life... to Keats... to Shakespeare... to Frost... to video games... to contemporary novels... to a hundred other things and eventually, because this is why they pay me, to umpiring.
In Part I, Jeff discussed the Leagues he used to work in; the types of players that were involved; how they were run; and his opinion of a controversial rulebook.
Well, he's back.
Jeff discusses basketball in this second article in his two-part series ... or, should I say discusses softball?
Sign-in and come along for the ride. You make the call.
I have a lot on my mind today...the joy of dealing with lawyers, bigamy, Jerry Maguire, Little League baseball headhunting, Memento, Terrell Owens, and, of course, basketball officiating.
Errr...I mean, softball umpiring!
Sign-in to read a basketball official's take on softball.
In conclusion to his series "When Fans Attack," Adam writes:
The ultimate worst case scenario for an umpire is a physical altercation with a spectator. Such events typically require a "build-up" period, in which the two parties engage in a series of heated exchanges that result in a physical encounter.
Although such occurrences are rare, they can and will happen to umpires. I've seen it happen twice with my own eyes!
It is naive for an umpire to think that all altercations are solely the result of a spectator's contempt. Umpires can bring conflict on themselves quite easily, and this article is intended to help them avoid such situations at all costs.
Just sign-in now to learn how those situations can be avoided.
With the fall softball season ready to start up around the country, we umpires want to begin sharpening our skills for another "run through the fire" of handling rude spectators.
In the first of a two-part series, Adam Powell details some of the signs that will help an umpire identify fans who may be out of control.
