Kudos for going out there! I volunteered to umpire one casual exhibition game coached by one of my closest friends. When I missed a call at third base, that friend raked me over the coals in front of everybody. Loudly.
Beautiful piece. Moving, optimistic and made me see umpires (and hard, helping jobs) in a new way. My dad was a softball umpire in Lagrange, GA when I was a kid. He loved it but never shared much about why he did it. Maybe he felt the same as you and your grand dad.
Excellent column. Follow you every time your newsletter posts to my e-mail. We lived in Athens for about 15 years until we headed back to California in 2022. I enjoy your references to the city. I have fond memories of that town.
The umpire story reminded me of a book I read you might enjoy “The Best Seat in Baseball but You Have to Stand” by Lee Gutkind. It follows a NL umpire crew which included Doug Harvey. You might like it
i suppose you should take it as an honor that your Illini rantings awaken long dormant feelings in this long-ago Michigan grad. GO BLUE !!! (but have fun in Minny...)
I am a Penn State alum and a long suffering Penn State basketball fan. Hope we get you in the Big Ten Tournament! 😁 Thank you for another excellent column. I appreciate your writing very much.
I umpired for a season of intramural softball in college. I mostly called stuff on the base paths, which was easier than calling balls and strikes. For the most part, people -- students -- were cool. Tried volleyball, a little harder but not wildly different. The players in both were a lot nicer than the people playing basketball whom I reffed a few games. (To be honest, I wasn't good at all.)
One other point you can make (which applies to "public school teacher" or "mail carrier" or "journalist") is that you probably get what you pay for. I mean, you need a love (or serious interest) in what you're doing, but at some point, you gotta pay a reasonable amount. The amount of yelling, even in softball, wasn't worth the $4.25 (or less) minimum wage I was making, even if it was nice to be outside on a southern spring night.
Kudos for going out there! I volunteered to umpire one casual exhibition game coached by one of my closest friends. When I missed a call at third base, that friend raked me over the coals in front of everybody. Loudly.
That one game was enough for me!
You could substitute "public school teacher" in place of umpire or journalist and the article would still be right on target.
Beautiful piece. Moving, optimistic and made me see umpires (and hard, helping jobs) in a new way. My dad was a softball umpire in Lagrange, GA when I was a kid. He loved it but never shared much about why he did it. Maybe he felt the same as you and your grand dad.
Excellent column. Follow you every time your newsletter posts to my e-mail. We lived in Athens for about 15 years until we headed back to California in 2022. I enjoy your references to the city. I have fond memories of that town.
The umpire story reminded me of a book I read you might enjoy “The Best Seat in Baseball but You Have to Stand” by Lee Gutkind. It follows a NL umpire crew which included Doug Harvey. You might like it
I would have asked your grandfather what the appeal process was. lol
i suppose you should take it as an honor that your Illini rantings awaken long dormant feelings in this long-ago Michigan grad. GO BLUE !!! (but have fun in Minny...)
I am a Penn State alum and a long suffering Penn State basketball fan. Hope we get you in the Big Ten Tournament! 😁 Thank you for another excellent column. I appreciate your writing very much.
I umpired for a season of intramural softball in college. I mostly called stuff on the base paths, which was easier than calling balls and strikes. For the most part, people -- students -- were cool. Tried volleyball, a little harder but not wildly different. The players in both were a lot nicer than the people playing basketball whom I reffed a few games. (To be honest, I wasn't good at all.)
One other point you can make (which applies to "public school teacher" or "mail carrier" or "journalist") is that you probably get what you pay for. I mean, you need a love (or serious interest) in what you're doing, but at some point, you gotta pay a reasonable amount. The amount of yelling, even in softball, wasn't worth the $4.25 (or less) minimum wage I was making, even if it was nice to be outside on a southern spring night.
Another Home Run, Will! Such wonderful writing.
Don't know if you noticed on "that" Bruce Weber's Coaching Record page - it says the final AP Ranking for 2005 was 1??? Ooops...
Enjoy the tournament with your son and Go Illini!!!