Give hockey officials credit too. They skate miles for 60 minutes or more per game, still break up the most fights, and, though home plate umps can get hit by balls (there too), pucks are just as fast and rock hard!
It’s not as taxing physically, but baseball umps have to call balls and strikes on almost every play. And calling fouls in soccer is easier because of all the showy flopping. :-)
Baseball umpires are as unique as baseball itself. Yes I would prefer a computerized standard strike zone, but I do enjoy the personalities of the umpires. I really like the one – think he is one of the older guys – who calls strikes by hollering “don-key.”
Give credit to the baseball umps for being out there just about every day of the season. Football refs only work a game once a week, and basketball and hockey officials work every few days. (But if there were a poll, I’d give hardest working officials to hockey.)
Don’t underestimate what it takes to become a Major League Baseball umpire. First, the individual must enter one of two accredited umpiring schools (yes, that’s a real thing). If they graduate, they may or may not be offered a minor-league position; only about 10% of students will become an umpire in the pros. Then they have to remain in the minor leagues for several years before there is any chance of becoming an MLB umpire. To my knowledge, no other sport’s officials have anywhere near that level of training.
And while it may seem like they’re bad at calling balls and strikes, that’s only because we have the benefit of replay. They have a single chance to look at a pitch traveling 90MPH, which is in the air for less than half a second, crossing the plane of the plate for about 0.01 second. They get one look at that, from one angle, and have to immediately decide whether it’s high or low, in or out. It’s a virtually impossible task for a human, and they are far better at it than most people are willing to give them credit for.
Getting off my soapbox now. We now return you to your regularly-scheduled comics.
Strangely, no one has mentioned basketball officials. The court is not as big as a soccer pitch but those folks put a lot of miles on their sneakers during one game and it is pretty much non-stop. Where do they fit into the continuum of sports officiating exertion?
I ref soccer at the HS level… it’s only running for 45 minutes (or so) when at the center ref position, because then you get a break at the half. AR’s run much less. But yes, in the course of each half I end up running about 3-5 miles depending on the game.
The officials should never be part of the game, or the story of the game, by the very nature of their jobs the baseball umpires are best at staying out of a games outcome2. Heres to all officials everywhere, for without them there are no games.
Hilariously (or not, I suppose) one of the “top” referees in the Premier League (the top English soccer league, and arguably the best in the world) is a guy by the name of Jonathan Moss, who’s constantly getting grief about being overweight. Premier League refs need to pass a fairly strenuous fitness test to keep their certification, and the stories around Moss is that he does pass but BARELY. (He’s a horrendous referee, in fairness, and its clear watching games that a lot of the time he’s not able to keep up with play)
wallylm over 3 years ago
Give hockey officials credit too. They skate miles for 60 minutes or more per game, still break up the most fights, and, though home plate umps can get hit by balls (there too), pucks are just as fast and rock hard!
gary over 3 years ago
One group that won’t make it in the conversation – T-Ball umpires. No way that all those games can end in ties!
Tom_Tildrum over 3 years ago
It’s not as taxing physically, but baseball umps have to call balls and strikes on almost every play. And calling fouls in soccer is easier because of all the showy flopping. :-)
jbmlaw01 over 3 years ago
Baseball umpires are as unique as baseball itself. Yes I would prefer a computerized standard strike zone, but I do enjoy the personalities of the umpires. I really like the one – think he is one of the older guys – who calls strikes by hollering “don-key.”
ksu71 over 3 years ago
Jim Brown is 85 today.
https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2021/02/its-jim-browns-85th-birthday-today-32-interesting-facts-from-the-running-backs-legendary-career.html
Ellis97 over 3 years ago
You can try sacrificing a goat?
biz.gocomics over 3 years ago
Give credit to the baseball umps for being out there just about every day of the season. Football refs only work a game once a week, and basketball and hockey officials work every few days. (But if there were a poll, I’d give hardest working officials to hockey.)
amaneaux over 3 years ago
Don’t underestimate what it takes to become a Major League Baseball umpire. First, the individual must enter one of two accredited umpiring schools (yes, that’s a real thing). If they graduate, they may or may not be offered a minor-league position; only about 10% of students will become an umpire in the pros. Then they have to remain in the minor leagues for several years before there is any chance of becoming an MLB umpire. To my knowledge, no other sport’s officials have anywhere near that level of training.
And while it may seem like they’re bad at calling balls and strikes, that’s only because we have the benefit of replay. They have a single chance to look at a pitch traveling 90MPH, which is in the air for less than half a second, crossing the plane of the plate for about 0.01 second. They get one look at that, from one angle, and have to immediately decide whether it’s high or low, in or out. It’s a virtually impossible task for a human, and they are far better at it than most people are willing to give them credit for.
Getting off my soapbox now. We now return you to your regularly-scheduled comics.
TexTech over 3 years ago
Strangely, no one has mentioned basketball officials. The court is not as big as a soccer pitch but those folks put a lot of miles on their sneakers during one game and it is pretty much non-stop. Where do they fit into the continuum of sports officiating exertion?
Plods with ...™ over 3 years ago
Okay. I’ll give it to futball, but technically, it’s 45 – 15 halftime – 45
DarkHorseSki over 3 years ago
I ref soccer at the HS level… it’s only running for 45 minutes (or so) when at the center ref position, because then you get a break at the half. AR’s run much less. But yes, in the course of each half I end up running about 3-5 miles depending on the game.
RobinHood over 3 years ago
The officials should never be part of the game, or the story of the game, by the very nature of their jobs the baseball umpires are best at staying out of a games outcome2. Heres to all officials everywhere, for without them there are no games.
Buckeye67 over 3 years ago
The real unsung sport officials are Cricket Umpires. The relentless boredom they must endure has to be almost unbearable.
Ubermick over 3 years ago
Hilariously (or not, I suppose) one of the “top” referees in the Premier League (the top English soccer league, and arguably the best in the world) is a guy by the name of Jonathan Moss, who’s constantly getting grief about being overweight. Premier League refs need to pass a fairly strenuous fitness test to keep their certification, and the stories around Moss is that he does pass but BARELY. (He’s a horrendous referee, in fairness, and its clear watching games that a lot of the time he’s not able to keep up with play)
http://www.talkingbaws.com/2019/03/furious-man-utd-fans-claim-referee-john-moss-isnt-fit-enough-to-officiate/
William Bludworth Premium Member over 3 years ago
Soccer needs referees? Watching soccer is like watching a disorganized 800 meter dash to nowhere.