790 MudSlinging

I never bring my personal matters into my blog b/c no one cares, it's boring, and quite frankly it's no where near as much fun as talking softball. But today I want to change that and brag about myself. Well brag is a poor choice of words, rather I would like to DEFEND myself from lies. You see I have been firedas softball umpire by Yorville Sports. OK that's cool. I've been fired and laid off before in corporate America by poor millionaires and it will most likely happen again in the food chain business world. I can handle that.

But what I can't handle is being fired over a flat out LIE!!! I am not disgraced Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich

I am a man of honor.

Before I go further let's go over the following events :

On March 18th I sent out the following email message to the head of Yorkville officials :

"I hope all is well with you and your family. I am interested in umpiring again in 2010 for Yorkville. Is there an officials meeting scheduled? If so, please advise."

On April 4th (over 2 weeks later) I received the following reply:

"Hi Ricardo, Unfortunately, I can not bring you back this season. There seem to be some money issues you (or your team) has had with the league and possibly another team you may have recommended. I would have to get clearance from the league first. Your umpiring is not an issue. "

On April 7th I replied as follows:

"I have always done my very best and taken the utmost pride in umpiring for the league. I have always prided myself on providing maximum professionalism and effort during games. Moreover, I have maintained a strong working relationship with xxxxx, xxxxx, and yourself throughout the years. Numerous players and teams have acknowledged my excellent work and I truly enjoy umpiring. As a professional courtesy and reward for my service, I would greatly appreciate being retained as an umpire in 2010. I am very confused by your email that read "There seem to be some money issues you (or your team) has had with the league and possibly another team you may have recommended." as I have never made a financial commitment with this league. In addition, I have never been notified regarding a possible financial issue and been given an opportunity to address/clarify any issue. I would greatly respect your leadership and would appreciate your assistance in this matter.

Again Thank you

Best Regards

To this date I have NOT received a response. In addition, I also called the head of the officials unions about 2/3 times and my phone calls were NEVER returned. At this point, I do not want any of my emails or phone calls returned. All I want is everyone to Know the Truth.

For the record, I pride myself on keeping all my financial obligations as evidenced by my 790 credit score!!!!!! In these very difficult economic times, my financial history is excellent. They say America loves to sling mud

so it's time to get to some 790 slinging!!!!!!!!!!Yorkville, I mean Yorkoff, is lying. It's what they do - Lie, Deny, Ignore - that is their standard Modus Operandi

A Tiger don't change his stripes

This is all in typical Yorkoff fashion as they don't give a fuck, lie, and act completely unprofessionally by not directly addressing issues. This is not just an umpire thing, they do this to their Customers all the time.

But like Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction

I WILL NOT BE IGNORED!!!!!!!!

It's obvious someone over there has read my blog and is unhappy
http://softballinsider.blogspot.com/2007/10/yorkoff.html. Quite frankly, if they would have told me that I was being terminated for my blogs I would have understood. But to state that I owe them money and not provide me with any legal evidence is preposterous and insults my intelligence. Like Al Pacino

told his brother-in-law in the original Godfather movie before he had him wacked "I get angry when you insult my intelligence".

I am Angry!!!!

This is so fucked up and not true. To imply that I am being dismissed b/c a deadbeat team that I referred to their league didn't pay is also pathetic. Why would I recommend anyone to their league? It sucks. Everyone knows the only reason people play in it is b/c they have a monopoly on the fields. It is common knowledge that it is the most uncompetitive, overpriced, and worse league in the city.

To defend myself I would like to clearly state the following facts:

(1) I umpired in Yorkville in 2008 and 2009.
(2) Several teams and players to my face have called me "the best umpire in the league". I know that not saying much considering that most umps in this league don't care and are lucky if they can find their way home at night. But at least I cared about the game and the players knew that.
(3) After a game was over, players would requested me to work all their games b/c the other umpires they worked with were terrible.
(4) On multiple occasions, players called me professional.
(5) I was commended for my hustle and thorough attention to detail
(6) I went over all pitching rules before the game and set the bases at the proper distances. Something revolutionary for Yorkoff
(7) I helped the league get games in under terrible field conditions, poor weather, missing equipment, poor lighting, dangerous bystanders, and no permit scenarios. My thanks for that was being lied to and dismissed.
(8) If I was late or had any on field issues I would always immediately contact the game day head umpire for guidance. Professional
(9) When other umpires would miss assignments, I was called on numerous occasions to emergency fill in.
(10) A team who once protested a rule interpretation of mine in their protest called me "a highly skilled umpired from a more advanced league" their protest was not allowed and I was commended by the head official
(11) Teams were happy to see me when I showed up. I mean who is happy to see an umpire? Simple: They Respected me
(12) I have never signed any document promising to bring a team to Yorkville nor do I legally owe them a penny.
(13) I played on a team that folded in Yorkville in 2008 (two years ago) called the Loafers. The Loafers played in Yorkville for several seasons. I was not the manager, owner, or sponsor of that team and NEVER entered into a financial contract with the league. I umpired in the league for 2 years after the Loafers folded.
(14) In fall of 2009, I asked the head umpire of the league if I could bring a team to their fall league and he said "the league was full and to get on the waiting list" on their website. When I signed on to their website, I received an email signed by the same head umpire asking me to pay the entire league fee. When I called the head umpire back asking him why I am being asked to make a payment even though the league is full he said "he didn't know anything", even though his name was on the email requesting the payment. I never brought the team to the league and was never notified by anyone of any financial obligation.

Bottom Line : They are LIARS and have NO HONOR!!!!!!!

I would be remiss if I didn't thank thank fellow umpire Locho and all the Yorkoff players. Locho helped me get this position while I was laid off and I always did my very best for the him and the players.

Finally, as I mentioned above I would never recommend a team this ripoff organization, but I would like to say a few words to the current Yorkoff players. If your job pays for this league, then I have no problem with you playing in it. I mean it's free and what do you care? But if you put even one cent of your personal money into this pathetic organization you are doing yourself and the world a great disservice. The softball gods will not approve
and you should be ashamed of yourself. Take that money and do something worthwhile with it. Spend it on your family, a Charity, anything else. Do yourself and everyone else a favor and find a better way to spend your money b/c the people you are dealing with are truly foul in a non softball sense. Hitting them in the pocket is the only way they will learn.