Bust a move!

[Daniel]

I'm suprised no one has found this yet:

I wish I could dance like that.

[JaxRolo]

Thats Great. Nothing wrong with having some fun.

[yawetag]

Those silly softball umpires and their silly mechanics! :2cents:

[zm1283]

Those silly softball umpires and their silly mechanics!

As silly as they look, these guys in this video look like even bigger buffoons. ESPN had highlights of a LL regional the other day and all 5 umpires other than the plate guy were in the outfield doing the chicken dance. I don't have anything nice to say about umpires like this, so I won't say anything else at the moment.

[JaxRolo]

As silly as they look, these guys in this video look like even bigger buffoons. ESPN had highlights of a LL regional the other day and all 5 umpires other than the plate guy were in the outfield doing the chicken dance. I don't have anything nice to say about umpires like this, so I won't say anything else at the moment.

What's wrong with having some fun.

[semper_fi_72]

As silly as they look, these guys in this video look like even bigger buffoons. ESPN had highlights of a LL regional the other day and all 5 umpires other than the plate guy were in the outfield doing the chicken dance. I don't have anything nice to say about umpires like this, so I won't say anything else at the moment.

It is LL, so what is the problem?

There is nothing wrong with having fun.

If I am going to work LL for no pay or next to nothing, then I sure am going to have some fun doing it, or I wont do it.

I am there for the kids. To call a game for them and have some fun doing it.

[JaxRolo]

It is LL, so what is the problem?

There is nothing wrong with having fun.

If I am going to work LL for no pay or next to nothing, then I sure am going to have some fun doing it, or I wont do it.

I am there for the kids. To call a game for them and have some fun doing it.

+1 Well Said!

[Umpire in Chief]

The Annual MD tournament many guys in my area do around here has some fun thing too.

Everything is done for the purpose of raising money for the MDA, and you basically have to do what you're asked for the money. In a game I worked a team's parent's put up $100 and brought grass skirts to have their coaches do a hula between innings. Next thing you know somebody put up $20 to have the plate ump call an inning wearing the grass skirt, and he did. I wish I had a camera. I can see parents putting up money to have the umps do the chicken dance between innings, and the umps doing it.

[noumpere]

Rule 1.01 Baseball is a game.

That said, there's a line between having fun and acting a fool.

[zm1283]

What's wrong with having some fun.

I have fun while umpiring and also acting like a professional at the same time. If I want to dance I'll go out and do it after the game.

It is LL, so what is the problem?

There is nothing wrong with having fun.

If I am going to work LL for no pay or next to nothing, then I sure am going to have some fun doing it, or I wont do it.

I am there for the kids. To call a game for them and have some fun doing it.

And that is why LL is seen as a joke by a lot of people....one of the reasons anyway.

Games must be in short supply in your area if you're willing to work for nothing or next to nothing.

Rule 1.01 Baseball is a game.

That said, there's a line between having fun and acting a fool.

Thank you.

[spiritumpa]

they look like fools---on the next close play someone thinks they got wrong--out will come the dance"you can't ump or dance"

[semper_fi_72]

I have fun while umpiring and also acting like a professional at the same time. If I want to dance I'll go out and do it after the game.

And that is why LL is seen as a joke by a lot of people....one of the reasons anyway.

Games must be in short supply in your area if you're willing to work for nothing or next to nothing.

Thank you.

Please know what your talking about before you open your mouth.

As I said I work LL Games for the kids.

I also volunteer time to schedule 40 umpires over 5 leagues within our district to ensure games are covered. I also go out to eval those umpires on my time.

I work HS, USSSA and Adult Ball to make my money.

Oh, BTW I work enough games to supplement my military retirement and not have to work. Life is good.

217 Games worked to date for 2010. (Had like 20 rain outs in Jan and Feb, not in that total).

No shortage of games here. In fact I have to decline games because I already accepted games for those dates and times.

How many have you worked?

Guess you never been to a MiLB game either and watched Umpires dance with a team mascot either.

Maybe I am professional enough that before, during and after a LL Game, that I can have fun and that Mangers, Coaches, Players and every one else knows that once I say "PLAY" it is all business.

If you are not having fun while you umpire, why do you do it?

ROCK ON :wave:

[zm1283]

Please know what your talking about before you open your mouth.

As I said I work LL Games for the kids.

I also volunteer time to schedule 40 umpires over 5 leagues within our district to ensure games are covered. I also go out to eval those umpires on my time.

I work HS, USSSA and Adult Ball to make my money.

Oh, BTW I work enough games to supplement my military retirement and not have to work. Life is good.

217 Games worked to date for 2010. (Had like 20 rain outs in Jan and Feb, not in that total).

No shortage of games here. In fact I have to decline games because I already accepted games for those dates and times.

How many have you worked?

Guess you never been to a MiLB game either and watched Umpires dance with a team mascot either.

Maybe I am professional enough that before, during and after a LL Game, that I can have fun and that Mangers, Coaches, Players and every one else knows that once I say "PLAY" it is all business.

If you are not having fun while you umpire, why do you do it?

ROCK ON

I admire you in that you evaluate on your own time and umpire for free. I would not umpire for free unless it was a charity event, but to each his own. If that's your thing, do it I guess.

I worked 121 games this spring/summer, but I didn't start until late March and finished in late July. (Except 4 college games in late February) I rarely work more than two games a day and never more than three.

I have seen MiLB and MLB umpires play along with the mascot, but they don't break out into a choreographed dance with each other to a musical selection. I just think it looks silly. Maybe that stuff is accepted and even encouraged in LL, but not in any games I'm a part of.

Like I said, I have a lot of fun, but my fun comes from umpiring the game itself. I don't need to dance during the game to have fun.

[jnazz]

And that is why LL is seen as a joke by a lot of people....one of the reasons anyway.

Games must be in short supply in your area if you're willing to work for nothing or next to nothing.

In many areas (including ours) senior umpires work LL games free of charge as a way of giving back. The younger umpires get their $25, but we'd rather not. And there is no shortage of games.

[catoblue]

And that is why LL is seen as a joke by a lot of people....one of the reasons anyway.

Games must be in short supply in your area if you're willing to work for nothing or next to nothing.

You know what? All I work is LL games, and I do it for free!!!!

Could I work other leagues if I wanted to and had the time? Sure, but first off, I don't have the time, and second, right now, I'm more than happy calling at perhaps the most challenging level of baseball.

Go ahead and turn your nose up at calling LL games, but if all you ever do is higher level games, you're missing out on the opportunity to really use your knowledge of the rules and interpretations. Crap happens on the LL diamond that you'll never see at higher levels - that makes it fun and challenging. That doesn't even touch on the crap that goes on courtesy of the coaches and parents! Guys who won't touch youth baseball have it EASY!!!!

Now to the other reason I call LL games for no money - if the kids don't have umpires, they don't play games. I love the game of baseball, and want kids to learn to love it too. If they don't have games because there are no umpires, then they aren't going to have the opportunity to learn to love baseball - they'll all be playing soccer. I can see the headline now... "Fifa World Cup to replace World Series!". If kids stop learning to love baseball, it could happen! Some say they do it "for the kids". For me, that's half-right. I also do it "for the game". Those two pieces, put together make it rewarding enough for me to use my $0 paychecks from the league (meaning on my own nickel) and go out and buy my own equipment and uniforms, attend clinics, and spend a whole lot of what little free time do I have, working to always improve my skills, knowledge, and mechanics.

When it comes to having fun with it... If I were working a LL World Series game, and was asked to do the chicken dance to get the kids and fans to have just a little more fun, well... nana-nana-nananah, nana-nana-nananah, nana-nana-nananah, clap clap clap clap!

LL baseball is supposed to be , first and foremost, fun. If you can't grasp that concept, I honestly feel sorry for you.

[Stan W.]

You know what? All I work is LL games, and I do it for free!!!!

Good for you! I certainly would support anyone who chooses to work for free....

Yet my policy is that I do not umpire for free. Of course I have, on occasion, umpired free for league fundraisers or a benefit tournament...but for the whole, I am paid.....

Paid for what?......... I agree totally that if I am to be paid then the league who hires me has a right to expect the best product (umpiring) I can supply. I am also in agreement that the more they pay the better quality they should expect to get....

For my fee, you get 20+ years of experience, an unbiased umpire who is on time, professionally dressed and equipped, current on the rules applicable to the game level to be played, Registered and /or certified with the supporting organizations,recently educated on the developments of the game through Pro clinics, HS clinics and independent study of all the available reference resources...and fully insured with a 1 million dollar liability policy............and I love the game.

I believe that is what a league deserves when they hire me. I believe you should be able to expect that from someone who you are paying. And I would fully support pay based on ability.....

I also do not do that level of baseball anymore for much of the reasons you posted.....the poor level of play, the circus come to town atmosphere and the behavior of the coaches and parents....been there years ago...........my goals now center around doing better baseball and not just any baseball....

there is plenty of baseball for all of us....but no I would not dance the chicken dance or with a mascot......

Edited August 17, 2010 by Stan W.
chicken dance info

[zm1283]

You know what? All I work is LL games, and I do it for free!!!!

Could I work other leagues if I wanted to and had the time? Sure, but first off, I don't have the time, and second, right now, I'm more than happy calling at perhaps the most challenging level of baseball.

Go ahead and turn your nose up at calling LL games, but if all you ever do is higher level games, you're missing out on the opportunity to really use your knowledge of the rules and interpretations. Crap happens on the LL diamond that you'll never see at higher levels - that makes it fun and challenging. That doesn't even touch on the crap that goes on courtesy of the coaches and parents! Guys who won't touch youth baseball have it EASY!!!!

Now to the other reason I call LL games for no money - if the kids don't have umpires, they don't play games. I love the game of baseball, and want kids to learn to love it too. If they don't have games because there are no umpires, then they aren't going to have the opportunity to learn to love baseball - they'll all be playing soccer. I can see the headline now... "Fifa World Cup to replace World Series!". If kids stop learning to love baseball, it could happen! Some say they do it "for the kids". For me, that's half-right. I also do it "for the game". Those two pieces, put together make it rewarding enough for me to use my $0 paychecks from the league (meaning on my own nickel) and go out and buy my own equipment and uniforms, attend clinics, and spend a whole lot of what little free time do I have, working to always improve my skills, knowledge, and mechanics.

When it comes to having fun with it... If I were working a LL World Series game, and was asked to do the chicken dance to get the kids and fans to have just a little more fun, well... nana-nana-nananah, nana-nana-nananah, nana-nana-nananah, clap clap clap clap!

LL baseball is supposed to be , first and foremost, fun. If you can't grasp that concept, I honestly feel sorry for you.

Good for you. Here is another thing that gets on people's nerves: LL volunteer umpires acting like they're "holier than thou" and acting as if they're doing some great community service by working for free. You say I turn my nose up, but some of you guys do the same thing....turn your nose up at those "paid" umpires. It's like "How could you guys take pay for umpiring?....It's for the kids!"

I'm with Stan here. I don't umpire for the kids. I also don't want to umpire 10-12 year olds on small fields and deal with idiot coaches and parents. I'm trying to work better games, not just more games.

[mstaylor]

I do both. I do anything from 9/10 LL to adult wooden bat regionals. If they throw a baseball I umpire it. Some is paid, some is not, but that's just me.

[jjb]

I've never had problem with umpires having fun out there. Joking with the kids, tie-dye shirts, whatever. However, if I were a LL WS Umpire this year (which I'm not), I'd try and stay as far under the radar as possible. These are tough times, and there's going to be a lot more scrutiny on the umpires this year. I don't think this helps.

[mstaylor]

I don't understand the propensity to slam LL umpires that do games for no pay. As PIAA said, he choses not to and that's fine but others seem to want to look down their noses at LL umps. There are some leagues that don't train and have terrible umpires but guess what, there are paid guys that suck too. Go watch a youth travel tournament and you will see game whores out there bringing absolutely nothing to the field. Rate of pay has no correlation to ability or knowledge. I have less patience for a paid guy that sucks over a volunteer.

[semper_fi_72]

I don't understand the propensity to slam LL umpires that do games for no pay. As PIAA said, he choses not to and that's fine but others seem to want to look down their noses at LL umps. There are some leagues that don't train and have terrible umpires but guess what, there are paid guys that suck too. Go watch a youth travel tournament and you will see game whores out there bringing absolutely nothing to the field. Rate of pay has no correlation to ability or knowledge. I have less patience for a paid guy that sucks over a volunteer.

PLUS 1

I would much rather work with a Volunteer willing to learn then a guy getting money and could care less about improving.

I expect the guy taking money to be a professional. A professional Umpire, umpire amateur baseball.

[Mr Umpire]

I have done the volunteer games. I don't want to go back to it as long as I have a choice. I will do it if there is a need or if it is the only way I will be able to get out there.

I do not umpire for the kids, whether paid or not. I umpire b/c I want to. It is for me. I am going to be the most selfish b@st@rd out there b/c it is FOR ME. I don't care who is playing. I am not going to be a jerk to the players and if they want to chit chat a little, fine. The reason I don't umpire for the kids is b/c they DON'T NEED me. I may be in charge of the game conduct and enforcing the rules when I walk on the field but they chose to have an umpire. They could do it without me.

I have no issues with what the umpires did in the video. You won't catch me doing it. That is just me.

If I am ever in the area, I will walk on the field with any umpire regardless of any dealings I have had with them off the field. How I feel after the game may be a different issue. Semper and Cato, I would be glad to walk on the field with you even if it is for free or LL. But, you may have to pay me depending on how things go. :shakehead:

Edited August 19, 2010 by Mr Umpire

[spiritumpa]

if it was not for the parents or coaches (one and the same) little league would be fun to work--the kids are the best---but if I am going to hear it from the adults I am getting paid--and if I am getting paid --you might as well get some training and get paid the most--and if you are getting paid the most in the area--your skill is wotrth it--skill can not be facked.

[LMSANS]

I have done the volunteer games. I don't want to go back to it as long as I have a choice. I will do it if there is a need or if it is the only way I will be able to get out there.

I do not umpire for the kids, whether paid or not. I umpire b/c I want to. It is for me. I am going to be the most selfish b@st@rd out there b/c it is FOR ME. I don't care who is playing. I am not going to be a jerk to the players and if they want to chit chat a little, fine. The reason I don't umpire for the kids is b/c they DON'T NEED me. I may be in charge of the game conduct and enforcing the rules when I walk on the field but they chose to have an umpire. They could do it without me.

I have no issues with what the umpires did in the video. You won't catch me doing it. That is just me.

If I am ever in the area, I will walk on the field with any umpire regardless of any dealings I have had with them off the field. How I feel after the game may be a different issue. Semper and Cato, I would be glad to walk on the field with you even if it is for free or LL. But, you may have to pay me depending on how things go.

I don't always agree with Mr.Umpire, but this time I'm with him. :cheers:

[catoblue]

Good for you. Here is another thing that gets on people's nerves: LL volunteer umpires acting like they're "holier than thou" and acting as if they're doing some great community service by working for free. You say I turn my nose up, but some of you guys do the same thing....turn your nose up at those "paid" umpires. It's like "How could you guys take pay for umpiring?....It's for the kids!"

If you really want to talk about "holier than thou" attitudes - you just might want to look in the mirror. From the way you talk, just because I am content to call at one level for the time being, and that level happens to use volunteer umpires and involves 9-12 year old kids, I am somehow a lesser umpire. Pay and/or the level of play does not mean an amateur umpire is good or bad. I know I can always improve my skills, mechanics, and knowledge of the rules as covered in official interpretation publications. That's why I continually work to get better and find ways to improve. (Note my avatar - mask in right hand - as an old F2, I've been working to correct that for 2 years, and have gotten to where I use my left hand about 80% of the time, but still slip up now and then)

I go to clinics, I show up in a clean pressed uniform, I know the rules backward and forward for the level of ball I'm calling, I always critique my performance looking for things I can do better, I work regular season and district tourney games - in fact, more likely than not, I do all the same things that you (a paid umpire) do. Somehow, just because I don't get paid for what I do, because I volunteer my time, because my uniforms and gear are completely out-of-pocket, I'm a lesser umpire?

I know paid guys that call HS and men's summer league games, who suck and don't care that they suck, as long as they get their pay checks. I also know guys that work those same games, who are role models for umpires who want to get really good.

I enjoy umpiring, I enjoy learning to do it better, in the case of LL games, I enjoy being the one professional acting person on the field, and most of all, I enjoy the game of baseball.

Personally, I have no reason to look down on anybody that does the job the way it is supposed to be done - regardless of what level they are calling or if they are paid or not. I've seen tons of paid "association" guys and unpaid volunteer guys alike, that are piss-poor enough that I'd rather work solo than to have them as partners. I've also seen outstanding umpires of both the paid and unpaid varieties. The reality is, that regardless of the pay status of an umpire, they come in every flavor from outstanding to absolutely horrible.

I'm with Stan here. I don't umpire for the kids. I also don't want to umpire 10-12 year olds on small fields and deal with idiot coaches and parents. I'm trying to work better games, not just more games.

Good for you! You're doing the levels you want to do. That is what you should be doing. As for what levels someone is willing to work, that is up to personal preference. "To each their own" is a good way to think about it. Umpires who work diligently at being the best umpire they can be, regardless of what levels they call or how much or little they might or might not get paid, do not deserve to be belittled.

Here's a different "take" on volunteer umpires in LL. People volunteer for all sorts of things in order to contribute to their communities. There are tons of things to volunteer for. I chose LL (and so do many others) because baseball is something I enjoy. I have two kids that played up through LL. It is an organization that I am familiar with and have a long history of involvement with. I kill two birds with one stone - be around a game I love, doing something I enjoy, while at the same time volunteering my time to give back to the community. That is a win-win situation.

When I have better availability after our youngest child (who is involved in multiple sports) graduates, I'll be getting into higher level ball and paid games, but for right now, I'm content with what I'm doing.

Even when I do move into calling higher levels for pay, I'll still volunteer for LL games when I am available to do so. That's just my personal preference.

Now, to the item regarding the LLWS umpires doing the chicken dance... the LLWS is a kids baseball game. LL is supposed to be fun, and when it gets to the level where these kids have played through multiple rounds of the tourney, have done tons of fund raisers to travel to where the games are, the parents have taken a bunch of time off work and traveled a bunch, and everyone is thinking WIN, a little thing like the umpires doing the chicken dance between innings, might just be the thing that is needed to bring everyone back to job number one - having fun playing baseball. It's not for everyone, but again... to each their own.

Edited August 20, 2010 by catoblue