MadMax

As of the New Year of 2019, I'm embarking on my 11th year of umpiring. This past summer, I served as Crew Chief of Crew One in the brand-new Expedition League. The League is an independent league, with college players playing under MLB (AL) Rules. While the travel was 3-7 hours between cities in the upper Great Plains, it sure did beat 115° temperatures in Arizona!

Otherwise, I call Phoenix my short-term residence, having moved there 2.5 years ago – from frigid Wisconsin – at the encouragement of @KenBAZ (AKA The Outreach Ambassador of Baseball Officiating in the Desert) and several other colleagues to do “more and better baseball”. I have the more covered, now calling 400+ games per year, and have been blessed with better quality of baseball, often called in to do MLB/MiLB Spring Training Games, college, high school, and showcase games.

I am a founding member of the Vultures, a group of umpire colleagues who share mentorship, development, and evaluation of each other and take a “honor among thieves” approach to assignment opportunities. It is completely different than conventional associations. If anyone would like more information regarding the “vulture concept”, please PM me.

Around U-E, I’m known as being a gear tinkerer, as it plays into my other career work as an environmental designer. I’ve turned my hand at several occupations, and have worked as a graphic, web, product, and furniture designer. Outside of baseball, I also officiate soccer and hockey, as well as still mountain bike (nothing as extensive as @Majordave), windsurf, and snowboard.