March 27, 2005                                                                                      

I have accepted Scott Stilwell’s offer to write a regular column for the HTUA website. However, I would like to make some things perfectly clear; I am not a writer and what I write is my opinion only. Anyone is free to respond with any comments they may feel are appropriate.

 My first column should allow you to know a little more about myself. I am in my mid-forties and have been married for 22 years as of yesterday. I have three children, two daughters and a son. My oldest daughter graduates from Carroll College on Mother’s Day, my son and youngest daughter are still in school.

 I have been involved with umpiring since I was 13 years old. I started in California were I was raised. I moved to Wisconsin in 1997 and have continued umpiring for many different organizations.

 I work for a pharmaceutical company in Waunakee and I reside in East Madison.

 My family is my first love and umpiring comes next. There are many reasons why someone umpires and they differ from one umpire to the next. Why do I umpire?

I could not hit a curve ball on a consistent basis. Seriously, I umpire because I love baseball and it allows me to be a part of the game. As an umpire I am challenged both mentally (rule knowledge and applications) and physically (proper mechanics and rotations). Being part of a contest between two teams competing, with the responsibility to adjudicate fairness and having to do this while being in the cross hairs of criticism I find quite fulfilling.

 I will end each column with a thought that hopefully will bring forth responses that will stimulate the desire to improve, that I believe each of us have. So I ask each of you, “What are you going to do to improve this season”?

 Dave Thom