Three umpires have reported instances in which they say their neighbors have been asked by investigators about any knowledge of drug use, spousal abuse and membership in the Ku Klux Klan, according to Lamell McMorris, spokesman for the World Umpires Association, the umpires’ union.
“They have asked a series of very questionable, strange and poorly executed questions,” McMorris said. “Some of them are downright horrible and have created an environment in which neighbors are led to think (the umpires’) employers suspect them of spousal abuse, drug use and hate crimes. That’s unfortunate.”
MLB umpires Greg Gibson and Sam Holbrook, who reside in Kentucky, and Ron Kulpa, a Missouri resident, told McMorris of the interviews.
For the entire article go to usatoday.com
Just when you think Major League Baseball can’t have another controversial issue, here is one over umpires and background checks. Not only are the umps forced to endure epithets and the occasional raspberry, but now the men in blue are feeling the intrusion of too many employment screening questions about their behavior and associations.
Corra can see both sides of the issue. At least Corra can see it to some extent. On one hand Baseball can’t afford another scandal, so it is good to know if the men in blue are doing drugs or showing their naked parts on MySpace or one of the Social Networks. Now there’s a though. Ummh.
But on the other hand, with MLB being the most multi-ethnic sports organization in the world, Corra would say it is unlikely any umpire would be secretly wearing the linens of the Ku Klux Klan. The thing is, once you put the idea into a neighbor’s head, chances are they will wonder if it is true or not. If it weren’t suspicious, the less discerning neighbor might think, then why would they be asking?
Well there are background checks, and then there are background checks. We will leave it to MLB and the Umpire’s Union what is appropriate for background research and what is not. Meanwhile, through somewhat jaundiced eyes, Corra will continue to see the darker humorous aspects to the story. Although, it’s hard to envision the umpires of our National Pastime crack smoking, spouse beating, card carrying bigots. But then, I guess…you never know.
Check them out before you hire.
