Greetings and salutations true, blue believers,
SPOILER ALERT! In the 1987 Brian DePalma directed film, The Untouchables, Sean Connery in an Oscar winning role portrays Chicago police officer James Malone. In a riveting, explosive scene Malone is viciously murdered in his home. His boss, Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner) arrives on the scene too late to save Malone but bears witness to Malone’s final words, “What…are you…prepared…to DO?” harkening back to an earlier scene.
Meanwhile, here in the present day, MLB umpire Phil Cuzzi retired earlier this month after working 3,288 MLB games. MLB umpires, their life stories, and their journeys to get to the highest level of the game are so incredibly interesting; every one of their stories could be a film. I won’t issue a spoiler alert on Cuzzi’s story because you’re going to read all about it, click here.
In my imagination, I picture Cuzzi in the late 80’s in some one-star hotel after an extra inning night game. While eating bad takeout food, he turns on the 19-inch TV and they’re running The Untouchables on the late, late show. The picture’s fuzzy and he’s playing with the antenna because one-star hotels didn’t have Cable TV back then. He sees Malone die and maybe he remembers those words and maybe he thinks to himself…what am I prepared to do? Brothers, if you want to be a better umpire, if you want to be a better person…I highly recommend asking yourself that same question. And if you like good films, do see The Untouchables.
Also of note in the umpire world, Bruce Neal Froemming, former MLB umpire from 1971 – 2007 passed away in his home town of Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the age of 86. His career began in 1958, as he became the youngest umpire in professional baseball at that time at the age of 18. Bruce worked 5,163 regular season games, 5 World Series, 11 League Championship Series, 9 Division Series, and 3 All-Star Games. Known for his extremely loud and enthusiastic strike call (I know I feel seen…), LA Times sports editor Bill Dwyre called Froemming “…one of the game’s true characters and legends.” When once asked about his eyesight, Bruce said, “The sun is 93 million miles away and I can see that.”
As is our want and style here at >em>The Blue Crew News, we have association president Dave Maher ready from the top with another one of his signature monthly addresses. Dave’s going to give you a view of the association that maybe you’re not had before…from a unique position, through a wide angle lens. Check in with Dave here.
Next we are pleased to announce a special insert from Blue Crew News’ editor emeritus, Norm Gordon. Norm and Tim Strutzel got Blue Crew News off the ground several years ago and all of us on staff are here trying to maintain the standards they established. Despite living up in Pennsylvania now and pulling on the gear to take the field on any goat track masquerading as a ballpark he can find, Norm continues to perform a very vital function for NVBUA. He’s going to tell you all about it here.
The Virginia and Maryland state umpire exams may have closed but the association rules group is continuing to provide all of us with opportunities for rules study with weekly fun and interactive quizzes. (Maybe we should consider prizes in the future? Or is the prize the acquired knowledge?) Josh Cooper’s greatest hits quiz summary can be found here.
Anthony Mayer has put together another informative mechanics feature. This month Anthony is going to talk with us about the working area. What is the working area? How can we move within the working area to best get our angle and distance on plays from the middle of the diamond? These questions and more are discussed here.
This month’s Gary Reals Profile illustrates what I can only describe as a legendary figure in the association. Jerry Park has been in this association longer than some of our members have been alive. For our newer umpires, if you want a smile or a laugh, ask your partner after the game, “What was it like working with Jerry Park?” and then buckle up because anyone who has ever worked with Jerry is going to have at least one and if not many great stories. Jerry, thank you for your decades of service. We will all cherish our memories of working games and post-gaming with you, brother. Read Gary’s profile on Jerry here.
Finally this month, Collin Agee uses his unique membership in a prestigious club to report on a recent online presentation he attended given by award-winning newspaper columnist, sportswriter and author Terry Pluto. Check in with Collin here.
In closing, thank you for continuing to support and read The Blue Crew News. Our inbox is always open. Please write to us anytime…[email protected].
Excelsior,
~Robert Fobian
Editor, Blue Crew News
-Yogi Berra