Wednesday Morning Notes

Time is really passing fast here at the series.  Our days are so packed with activities that I cannot post here as often as I thought I could.  Moreover, after my last game of the day, I spend about two hours returning text messages, emails, phone calls, and Facebook messages from all of well wishes sent by my very kind friends and family.  In fact, my phone often runs out of power while I am sitting in the stands watching another game from the stands.  When Karen and I return to the room, I'm spent and just flop into bed.  However, no need to worry.  I am keeping notes that I will eventually turn into a complete story of this incredible experience.  Thanks for your patience.  I have all kinds of stories to share with all of you.

We have some down time this morning.  The first game is not until 4:00 PM, so I hope to rest and catch up on some work.  However, I do want to share one of yesterday's highlights with you.  Uganda played  the team from the Northwest region in a consolation game.  The setting was electric!  About 7,000 fans filled Lamade stadium and the hillside to watch - and more than 90% came to cheer for Uganda. This is amazing considering that the Uganda team brought no home town fans or parents whatsoever.  All the Little League world adopted them as their very own throughout this tournament and today was no different.   I will have more to relate to you later regarding this incredible team and their story, from my perspective, but it is no secret that EVERYONE wanted them to win their first LLWS game - even some of the Northwest fans.  Prior to the game, a few of us umpires went to the "well" at field level to watch the pre-game activities and part of the game itself.  Attached is a video of both teams dancing with Dugout.  It was a great sight to see.  We later retired to the umpire locker room to watch the game on TV not so secretly cheering for Uganda.  After the last out, we then watched some of the best Little League sportsmanship ever.  Despite the Ugandan win, the Northwest team was all smiles, hugging each of their opponents and giving them their batting gloves as a token of respect and appreciation.  The Ugandan coach was hugging the Northwest coaches and players, even carrying some of the latter around on his shoulders. The party continued for about 20 minutes before the ground crew scurried them all way.  It was the perfect Little League image of sportsmanship and a model for what should be for other parts of our lives.

Wednesday's Game

I will working the left field line at 8:00 PM on an ESPN game featuring the Southeast vs. Southwest (Tennessee vs. Texas) in the LLWS.

Meeting Dr. Hale

Earlier today while sitting in the stands waiting for the Nebraska-Germany consolation game, a gentleman approached me asked if I had umpired the Panama vs. Uganda game and the West vs. Southeast game. That gentleman was no other than Dr. Creighton Hale of Little League fame. I was awestruck in that not only did he seek me out, but also by his praise and congratulations. Then he gratefully thanked me for being here to umpire. We had a very pleasant conversation during which i had us photographed together. I am very deeply humbled by this experience.

Dr. Hale and I at Lamade Stadium

Tuesday's Game

Tomorrow, I will be the third base umpire for the game between the Carribean and Mexico. The game will be televised on ESPN at 4:00 PM.

Game Assignments and Posting Thoughts

My apologies for not getting to post today's games until late last night.  Also, my apologies for not blogging about about the details of my experiences.  Please understand this is not from being lazy or not wanting to keep up with the blog.  Not only are our days completely filled, but for the rest of the tournament the assignment of umpires to games gets tricky.  Mike Legge and his crew (Frank and Doc) are doing a fantastic job of keeping us all on the straight and narrow while trying to balance out the needs of the tournament in terms of umpire assignments.   There is a key principle at work as well: you are not permitted to work a game involving a team from your region.  Starting tomorrow, that provides even more problems for Mike and colleagues because some the regions will be collapsed into each other (e.g., Midwest and Great Lakes become one region).  Therefore, any game involving a team from the above two regions will not be umpired by my good buddy Jesse Howard or myself. This situation is the same for many of my new umpire buddies.  In short, because of these complexities and the possible outcomes of the late games can affect who does umpire, Mike cannot make assignments until the end of the day.  This means that I can't get the word out to all of you until even later that night.  Hence, please keep checking the blog (or send me messages via email, text, or Facebook for updates) and don't hesitate to post responses, comments, criticisms, love, hate, .... whatever.  I'd love to hear from you no matter what medium you use.  I cannot tell you how appreciative I am of your support.

Again, this entire LLWS experience cannot be described in words.  I'm in umpire heaven.

Monday's Games

I work at 2pm at 1st base on ESPN. Then I work 2nd base at 6pm on ESPN2.

A Passing Thought

Much is made about Disney's Magic Kingdom. Well, in just a few short days (actually long, fun-filled days) here at the Little League World Series, I find it hard to believe that the Magic Kingdom is located in California or Florida. It's right here in Williamsport, Pennsylvania! As evidence, I present the following photo from one of yesterday's games.