Second View, 2009...

Ok.. So it hasn't been long since my introductory entry, tonight I was umpiring in Columbia, MO at Adkins Park with Big K, a fellow umpire. Big K had just called a runner who was tagged out at third base OUT appropriately and began to get razzed by the opposing team. Suddenly, I watched Big K book it across the field where one of the coaches for the opposing teams was out of the dug out and yelling; trying to get under his skin.. Within seconds, Big K and the coach were nose to nose in a very intense discussion. I was standing behind the plate and began to walk over to the confrontation to break it up.. I took three steps and I see Big K get bumped by the coach.. Big K immediately threw the coach out.. I did the same as the coach tried to come at me with a defense of "He pointed his finger at me, and NO ONE points their finger at me!" I was a little shocked and couldn't believe what this coach was trying to tell me, I quickly tried to shew him but he kept resisting.. Finally I told him that this was a recreation league and there was no place for his behavior and he left the field....

We continued the inning and after the third out I asked Big K to come and talk to me about the incident.. He explained, the coach began telling him how he couldn't believe how he could make such an awful call and that he had a vision problem and all sorts of personal attacks. We then took a glance behind us and saw the coach was sitting in the front row of the stands!

Is this guy SERIOUS? When you are thrown out of a game, you are supposed to leave the field AND complex to get AWAY from the team and fans to avoid further conflict..Big K went over to confront the coach and tell him he needed to leave to the parking lot and he began to argue AGAIN!

I stepped in this time and explained to the coach over and over that the rules state he MUST leave the premises as far away as the parking lot (300 yds. away) and is not allowed contact with the team..

I just don't understand these fanatical coaches and parents sometimes.. Throughout the game EVERY TIME Big K made a call, he heard it from the crowd whether the call was 100 percent correct or not.. You would think the rec league these kids play in is Major League Baseball...

I have got news for this coach and the parents who criticizes umpires like myself and Big K, WE DONT DO THIS FOR THE MONEY! We do this so YOUR children have a place to play ball like we did when we were their age.. We arent biased or impartial. We make calls the way we see them so please just lay off and rather than complain, lend some positive support and maybe even thank an umpire sometime. We make mistakes, but most of the time, the calls we make are correct!

Do you have a similar experience with a coach or umpire? Have you witnessed something like what I just described or worse? I invite you to tell me about it in a comment on this blog.. Look forward to you responses...

Hello World...

First view, 2009...

Whats going on? This is Steve Sliker and I am a multimedia journalist and sports fanatic. I am currently living in Columbia MO but soon to be the Phoenix, AZ area. This blog is about my favorite sport, baseball. I will talk about my time as an umpire and as a baseball journalist. I want to give you views and thoughts that I have about the GREATEST GAME on EARTH... I hope you enjoy my writing and ramblings. I look forward to your comments...