They say that baseball is a boy’s game. This past weekend, it sure wasn’t. It was the game of hateful, mean-spirited adults. I umpired a game in a tournament in Sheridan, Arkansas this past Friday evening. One of the teams contained players that I had umpired when they were young. I recognized some of them and their parents, as well as the coach, an old acquaintance. The amazing thing about being an umpire is that friendship with people that you only know through the sport is extremely temperamental, as I found out this weekend. The team with the players I knew lost 4-2. During the game, I received some of the rudest and most character defaming comments I’ve heard in my entire life. In fact, as I continued to ignore them, some of the fans made comments impugning my intelligence, integrity, fairness, and ability to do my job. I find it amazing that, somehow (tradition is partially responsible), it is socially acceptable to do to sports officials what a person could not do in any other life situation. The foundation of “good” baseball these days is ambition, regardless of character. That was more evident this past week than ever before. For me, umpiring is a ministry - an opportunity to have a positive impact in the lives of these teenage guys. However, this is one of the only days I can recall out of my entire career that fans and a coach really made it so personal. Beyond the fans’ obvious immense measure of ignorant bias and being yelled at and dressed down by the coach like a child who robbed the cookie jar, I think the most disturbing fact about that evening is that those teenagers have walked away truly believing that their loss was not their responsibility. It was someone’s else fault. Some cheater. Some bad umpire. Anyone but themselves.
I did the best thing that an umpire can do in this situation…and the hardest thing. I walked away.
All in all, it makes me truly understand two realities concerning the human nature. 1.) We desperately need God. 2.) There is indeed a devil.
SRay
July 24th, 2008 at 5:13 am
Stephen,
You and I have never met, yet I have followed your auditions at the Met, and from time to time have read your posts.
I graduated from Ouachita in 1979. My dad graduated from there. One of my twin sons finished his freshman year there in May. He plays baseball for Ouachita.
You talent is phenomenal! Your witness for our Lord even more so. And it was a God thing that I went to your site today.
Our son Michael is playing his last year of Legion baseball this summer. Today we start our District tournament in Pine Bluff. I must say there have been some times that I have loudly disagreed with an ump. BUT all Michael’s coaches as well his parents have tried to teach him respect for all umpires and all coaches and all people.
Today, as we begin District play, I will think about my responsibility to be a respectful parent and fan in a different light than ever before, thanks to me reading your post.
May God continue to use you as you are His presence to all that you meet.
Blessings,
Vicki