On Sat, 23 Apr 2005 14:45:43 +0000 (UTC), mtfester@netMAPSONscape.net
brought down from the Mount tablets inscribed:

>Michael Cash <mikecash@buggerallspammers.com> wrote:
>> On Thu, 21 Apr 2005 23:21:52 +0000 (UTC), mtfester@netMAPSONscape.net
>> brought down from the Mount tablets inscribed:
>
>>>there to guide a ref through a difficult decision, rather than being
>>>something to be upheld at all costs. As an example, I overheard the
>>>following snippet in a discussion at a tournament: "Yes, everybody
>>>knows it was illegal, but he tapped, so what can you do?"
>
>> That reminds me of a story told by a major league umpire in one of the
>> books he wrote about his career after his retirement.
>
>> He was working second base at a game and on one particular play a
>> player slud into second base safely, only to be met with a loud call
>> of "SAFE!"....accompanied with the hand gesture for "OUT!"
>
>> The player jumped up and asked "What the hell is this?!"
>
>> The umpire said "Look, *you* know you're safe. *I* know you're safe.
>> 30,000 people think you're out. You're out." and sent the player to
>> the dugout.
>
>I'd say the ump was Brazilian, 'cept the ump would probably relish the
>thought of fighting 30,000 people...

Actually, it was Ron Luciano
(http://www.thedeadballera.com/Obits/Luciano.Ron.Obit.html)

He wrote about it in either "The Umpire Strikes Back" or "The Fall of
the Roman Umpire", which are the only two of his books I have read. I
found them very interesting and entertaining despite not being much of
a sports fan. He told the story in connection with an explanation of
why umpires do not and must not change their rulings.

I also like a story he told about a manager coming out to the plate
screaming and gesturing wildly to protest a call. The manager, though
shouting and appearing to argue the call, told him in essence "Look, I
know you made the right call, but this is our home stadium and the
fans think you got it wrong. They're highly pissed and if I don't at
least come out here and put on a show I'm going to have hell to pay
after the game."

So they stood there at the plate for a while and enjoyed an amiable
chat, while making it look like a fight.




--

Michael Cash

"Clowns to the left of me and jokers to the right, Mr. Cash.
Clowns and jokers."

                                Prof. Ernest T. Bass
                                Mount Pilot College