Court’s Lesson in Sportsmanship

I was disappointed to read that Robert Foster, convicted of assaulting an umpire, will not admit his serious error and take full responsibility for his action. The judge required him to write a 1,000-word essay on sportsmanship. Instead, he lays the blame for his crime on the umpire’s attitude and wrongfully advises us never to question an umpire’s call.

Should an umpire’s call be questioned? Yes, but not his genealogy. The umpire is usually correct, but not always. The routine calls are elementary, and most of the close ones are obvious--then there’s the difficult calls.

What are the rules for spectators? The manager of the team is responsible for the conduct of his fans, and if he can’t or won’t keep them under control the umpire can call a forfeit. Fans should root for their team and let the players, coaches and manager handle things on the field. Fans should give the umpire grief at the time they believe he deserves it, but not carry on with it the rest of the game.

In the game of baseball, sportsmanship ranks up there in importance with winning and playing the game well. Play hard and cheer your team. Argue the calls and boo the ump. But if you can’t be a gentleman and maintain self-control, then you don’t belong on the playing field, in the dugout, in the stands--or on the streets.

TOM PRATTE

Huntington Beach

Pratte is an umpire.