You stay classy Benton Harbor.
Sadly this kinda stuff happens far too often. The old ref probably making 50 bucks a game to get pelted with water bottles.
The shit I’ve seen hockey refs have to deal with from fans and parents is crazy. Often it’s the parents of the kids that are the worst offenders.
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Make shock collars mandatory with your ticket purchase upon entry. If a fan gets that out of control with a ref then somebody hits the button and everybody gets the zap. Then you let the crowd deal with the a******
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I umpired High School and Traveling 14-16 yr old baseball games for several years. 9 out 10 times my issues were always parents, not coaches or players.
Most times because had no clue what the rules were.
Only had 2 times where it almost got physical, one time 2 parents followed me out to my car after a game. The other time I ejected a parent who was camped out behind home plate, I gave him 2 warnings before ejecting him right after the end of an inning. I walked out to the pitchers mound to change balls and turned around to find him walking towards me, the guy was pushing over 300 lbs. My first reaction, I lowered my mask, no way was I taking a punch from this guy…LOL
Coach intervened luckily and told him to leave.
Oh and back then depending on the league, we got $35-$55 a game
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First job I ever had was a little league baseball umpire. I was like 15 years old umpiring 8 years old and I still got verbally attacked almost every game. The kids were 8 ■■■■■■■years old, settle the heck down. It was embarrassing. Especially for the poor kids seeing their parents pull that stuff. Great role models…
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Maybe he should’ve called a better game 
the flop was great too lol but yeah, pelting an old man with a basketball isn’t cool
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I’ve heard you have quite the dance moves…
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I did have to dance a lot. Cause 8 year old catchers don’t catch well. I was eating baseballs half the game. Thought it was gonna be an easy gig to make a few bucks. Would have been better off mowing lawns.
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I’ve heard Benton Harbor is worse than Flint for crime now…maybe that’s why they had the game at a neutral field.
I started umpiring 8-10 yr old travelling and 11-13 traveling.
The travelling teams at 8-10 were a challenge and the parents were actually worse at that age because everyone thought there kid was a superstar in the making.
Moving up to high school ball and 14-16 travelling games was easier as an Ump, pitchers are way more consistent as you would expect.
Parents were still a problem, but I got to know who the trouble makers were after doing a few of each teams games
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I mean, it’s Benton Harbor. Have you been? 
.
It’s a perennial “worst cities in the US” list topper.
Some points on this topic:
1- Soon no one will be willing to Ump HS games. My wife is a HS softball coach and they have been told for years now to be nice and police the parents because it is getting thin.
2- I only ever get pissed if the Ump does not know the rules. But the balls and strikes and the judgement calls at bases never bother me.
3- I have watched plays from many angles and honestly the angle can make a massive difference. I have watched plays where depending on the angle the runner was clearly out and clearly safe on the same play. So remember that in the future. Same with football penalties to be honest.
Umpires are treated so poorly now that I am shocked anyone is still willing to do the job. I am not quite sure how or why. Maybe it is a society thing and respect for authority. But people seem to not understand that the lesson is learning to work as a team and learning to compete. But the winning and losing is not that important at the younger levels.
Anyway, yes the under 10 age groups are absolutely the worst groups. Due mostly to complete lack of knowledge of the rules and also the idea that their little monster is the next Tiger Woods. It is painful. I just have to say this…softball and baseball are 2 very different sports…with different rules…and way different strategy…
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They thought he was the recycle bin
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True. I’ve played a lot if bth, and only one can you play reasonably well while drinking.