Hey Ump, Be The Adult !

We all are very aware of the fact that most professional athletes act like spoiled children. They have either bought or been given everything they want. The attitude of entitlement that this creates in the person often shows up on the playing field or court when the player complains about an official's or ump's call during a game. We all know that players will act like children. We expect it.

However, we don't expect the umpires or officials to act like children. More and more every year, we see umps or officials act like children just as the players do. Being the ump or official in sports is much like being the parent to kids. You must maintain control of your emotions when the child throws temper tantrums. As the umpire or official, you must remain professional and control your emotions. Too many umpires or officials are antagonizing players and trying to be part of the show.

We see umpires or officials going after players or coaches. They yell, scream, and spit on players and coaches with the same lack of professionalism that the players and coaches show. Hey umps and officials, just stand your ground, be professional, and when a coach or player yells, screams, and spits let their actions speak for themselves. Real fans will not condone the child like antics of players and coaches. When players and coaches cross the line, throw them out of the game and be done with it. Instead so many officials and umps want to show up the coach or player and continue to go after them. They seem to want to make the statement that "we are people too and we will not be treated that way". Sorry, receiving that verbal abuse is part of the job that you get paid to do just like the clerk at the store has to put up with complaints from the customer. Except the clerk gets paid a lot less money than the ump or official. Ump or official, if you can't handle that verbal abuse, then get out of the profession.

Hey ump or officials, be the grown up and quit sinking to the level of the spoiled athletes and coaches. Be calm, be invisible for the most part, and most of all just be professional whether the players and coaches are or not.