For aspiring major league umpires, the road is long and hard - ESPN

A sportswriter finds out that life behind the mask is not as easy as it looks from the press box or the stands.


For aspiring major league umpires, the road is long and hard - ESPN:
"DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- I admit it. I've abused umpires.

I've maniacally yelled at umpires as if I was an angry combination of Lou Piniella, Bobby Cox and Earl Weaver ('Are you kidding me!?!?! I was SAFE!!!! I swear to God I'm going to take that &*#%@ base and shove it down your %^#*@ throat!!!'). I've screamed at them from the upper deck, certain I had a better read on the play than they did ('He tagged him on the back of the calf!!!!'). I've ripped them in newsprint and in cyberspace, ridiculing their skills, their sight, their ego and, of course, their high body-fat percentage."