I also need a name...

[Daniel]

What do you call a guy who goes behind our assignor's back, to see out becoming the assignor for an upcoming tournament by going directly to a TD and asking to assign umpires (and now getting to!) as he himself never gets assigned games? Back story to follow..

[Welpe]

Entrepreneurial.

[Jocko]

Totally depends on situation. Maybe he'll do better. Maybe everyone is sick of the other guy and this dude had the balls to step up. Maybe the league asked him to step up. Or maybe he's just a dickhead.

[carolinablue]

Around here he would be called " blackball" but if he's not getting any games he probably doesn't care. The question is, Is he going to able to get umpires?

[Daniel]

Well here is the back story.

Our assignor does a pretty damn good job, well respected. The umpire in question is a total douche, VERY smitty-like. I umpired with him ONE game since I started umpiring, and it was in fact the last game I'd ever do with him. Shows up late, wears pants a shade a way from being white, no hat, white socks, rolls his sleeves up, etc etc. He does HS too, and the assignor there barely gives him JV games. He does not get called for these tournaments because of this. So he decides to contact one of the TDs for an upcoming tournament and convinced him to let him assign umpires. Initially our assoc. board said to boycott it, and now they are playing into it and allowing it to happen! WTF.

This a$$hat doesn't deserve to assign games, much less work them. I saw the email asking for umpires and I sure as hell will not work them. :spit:

[Jocko]

Thats how you beat it. I worked a tourney with a guy (different fields not partners) who is a complete ass. He has somehow gotten to assign a few small time gigs and emails for umps. I don't respond. Hopefully he'll get the message.

[Daniel]

He's a complete tool, really. He even made a personal comment to me, something to the effect of "We'll you're just the perfectionist" when I made him wear a cap the one game he did work with me. Did I mention he brought the tournament rules sheet onto the field with him and read verbatim to the coaches during pregame?

I'm just pissed at the way the organization is handling this.

Coincidentally, we have an association meeting this week before this tournament, which just happens to be at a small building, next to where this guy is scheduled to work a rec ball game right before the meeting starts. I hope our guys see him in all his glory. :wave:

[renegadewolf]

I don't know what you call a fellow like that, but i do know we call a person like you resentful. This fellow may well be the worst umpire ever and a complete douche but this is a fine job taking a personal grudge public, and you have the nerve to call this guy a smitty? Pot... meet Kettle

[umpcoachfather]

Never attribute to malice that which rightfully shoud be attributed to stupidity.

[Umpire in Chief]

I agree with your association in saying boycott the games. He made a promise and now has to deliver but not with the associations guys...

He is essentially taking money away from the association, no matter how meager the booking fee was.

[Daniel]

I concur Warren. Not sure what he getting paid to do this, but there's definitely some sort of compensation. I just can't believe we actually have guys who believe he is a "good guy" and will work for him, yet each one of them acknowledges his stupidity on the field. I hope he doesn't try to call me at the last minute, and if he does, he'll be getting an earful of curse words. :hopmad:

[noumpere]

I'll just sya that different skills are needed to be an umpire than to be an assigner and maybe hes not a good umpire as you describe but its possible hed be a good assigner. And the way associations work in deiferent areas can be different. So if I work a lot for assigner A but Assigner B takes over a tournament next year Id consider workling for Assigner B even if he wasnt a good umpire. I might give Assigner A first crack at giving me games. NOw, there are some assigners that I dont want to work for and maybe this guy is like that, but Id give him a chance first.

[Dragon29]

I don't know what you call a fellow like that, but i do know we call a person like you resentful. This fellow may well be the worst umpire ever and a complete douche but this is a fine job taking a personal grudge public, and you have the nerve to call this guy a smitty? Pot... meet Kettle

Came down kinda hard on him, didn't you?

He didn't "go public" with it - he used no names. He went public w/the situation, not the specifics. Where better to do that than on an umpire web-site? I don't see anyone rolling under a bus here - just another blue asking for some opinions.

Now, if he had used the guy's name, I would agree with you.

[Stan W.]

Acouple of years ago my association had agreed to provide umpiring for a local tourney...about a week prior, the league called and told us they had decided to go with another group who had undercut our fee by $5 .....turns out the other group was 2 guys from our association who lived in the town.....

ex- association members........

[mstaylor]

Each umpire has to make his personal choice. I doubt I would work for him, but one the other side of the coin, take the high road and resist the urge to go bad talk him to the TD. I was in that boat in the business world. My partner and I split up our business. I eventually started another business at the request of the contractors using him. There was no competition so I started another company. In ten years time we have never directly approached a single contract of his. Many of his have approached us. I steadfastly refused to talk bad about his company. When asked I simply would say we had a difference of opinion so we no longer work together.