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As a Christian, I believe in the power of resurrection. My days as an official are not over yet. After some counseling and many conversations with several fellow officials, I have decided to give it another whirl. I've already talked to my assignor and he has agreed to have me back in the association next season. I'm also planning to officiate football in the fall. Ump-Attire ought to be happy with this news, as I will have to buy all new gear. So far, I've lost about 80 pounds with a bit more to go! I will be a much better official this time around. Thanks for your support when I left earlier this year. It was partly what made me consider giving it another shot. Jonathan

Glad to hear you aren’t hanging it up Rev! Sometimes we do need to take a step back and regain our perspective. Another theory on the deterioration of sporting behavior: travel ball. Teams no longer play in a local league where they see the same umpires night in and night out. Those umpires are (were) probably their neighbors, co-workers, congregation members, etc. — people who they had to turn around and face the next day at the coffee shop or the bank. Now teams can see as many as 10-12 different umpires in a day, all from another town or even another state that they will never see again. Just like the rental cars and hotel rooms the teams are using, these disposable umpires do not evoke any feeling of personal long term responsibility.

Umpires and basketball officials got screwed over when youth tournaments exploded. These complexes depend on that money and will kiss that coaches ass to keep him. Btw if you think baseball is bad basketball is worse - Did a baseball tournament last year at a complex I never worked as a favor to a friend. We were told before going out we were not to eject, tell TD or UIC and let them handle it. Well coaches must have either been told or caught on cause it was bad. Long story shot I dumped a coach in the first inning for telling me my zone F-ing sucked. After the game the TD and UIC come in to talk to me, long story short I got home early cause I walked off the field and 3 umps followed me. - Several years back we had an ump get attacked in the parking lot after his game by a coach with a bat. Thankfully parents grabbed him after the second swing, ump was not hurt but wow!!!! It is one of the reasons I carry a gun in my car. - 2 years ago had a coach come to one of my umps car (I am a UIC) get in his face and push him. My ump was 58 years old and the coach was 30. I lost my cool and shoved the coach down. He is banned from the park for life. I know we are taught silence can’t be quoted and be professional etc, but I just refuse to allow anyone on the field or in the stands to treat me like trash. I either give it back or eject.

The umpire has risen.

TW fan myself. I understand some may find them overly firm, especially in colder weather, but for me that's not a concern. I wear my mask loose, so the firmness of the pads doesn't bother my face at all.

Team Wendy Pads my .02