"You're...OUTTA' Here!" Outages, Outrages. 

More great moments in Sports Psychology, through the years, tears, jeers, cheers

Yet Again: Youd think they'd learn from past mistakes, behavior, having been "tossed" on many occasions by multiple umps (refs, "zebras" in other settings). For protesting balls and strikes, a close call at first base (if you made it that far), or even after an "instant replay". A player, coach, manager, getting thrown out of the game, for casting too much blame, calling bad names, otherwise demonstrations of inappropriate "unsportsmanlike" conduct. Another example of "Time Out" (see Feb. 16th for tutorial), one imposed by someone in authority, but this for the duration of the game, not welcome to return until the next day, perhaps not even then...taken out of prime time, MIA, out of the "line-up" for the time being... 

Universally Recognized, Heartfelt: As in dejections, rejections, following ejections (likely to include "defections" in near future, after watching ROC skaters) -- situations where we ourselves, either through our own behavior or being misinterpreted, end up "on the outs".  And, like when calling for a "Time Out", signaling that you are being "tossed" as in a game of baseball, for instance (GREAT, highly entertaining out-takes over the years from some highly animated, colorful managers, who timely employ "colorful" language) -- it's almost as if they had rehearsed, they're so good, the gesture from the one tossing to the "tossed" (perhaps even after tousling the hair, rearranging the part on the party of the first part) is part of the drama of the game. Ranging from simply pointing to the dugout whence they emerged, to a full-on, full body, gesture resembling something you might have witnessed in the Olympic figure skating, which has on occasion, resulted in rotator cuff surgery...on the ump! Then there's the one, who once "tossed" may make some even more emphatic hand gestures, or even kick sand on the ump, on their shoes, at least...both of which take a stand in the sand, don't yield ground, stand around...all this fuss about a plate, at home...

INnings and OUTings, Men in black (and blue): The ones that may show you to first base, point you in the right direction, assuming you have just earned a "base on balls", the same ones that call you "Out!" even as you approach the next base, and the "men in black" (at least their shoes, at least before you kick sand on them), who may end up pointing you to the exit, as in "You're so...OUTTA' here!" The ultimate 'Outing', which puts an abrupt end to any particular Inning. Could happen to any of us, if we don't "watch it buddy!" The ominous view of a few of these dudes in their dark duds waiting by your desk, after the rumor mill, after you've spent too much time around the water cooler. When we question the calls, the balls, strikes too frequently, too loudly, too curtly ("You blind ump?!"). Gotta' show some respect, at least finesse ("Might I clean your glasses for you, sir?"). This, wherever, whenever you find yourself at the mercy of one in authority meting out the rules, in ways you just know are either "way out of the strike zone!" or inconsistently applied (sportscaster: "at least they're being consistent, if not accurate, according to the rule book, based on our AI friend sitting in the booth with us, "ePitch"). 

Trending, On and Off the Field: What we used to call "argue ball" on the sandlot or in backyard basketball, eventually graduated into more sophisticated arguments between grown-up ballplayers, athletes and whatever the officials are called in that particular venue...such as on the court  -- where John McEnroe made a brand out of questioning not only the eyesight of the "line umpire", but found no "Love" lost with the one who was heretofore relaxing in a chair, courtside  ("chair umpire"), testing their patience after questioning if they were "smarter than a fifth grader?!" Or even in the court, where questioning the one sitting in the chair, the line "judge" too frequently, vehemently could find you being escorted "Outta' here!" as in "You're way out of line counselor!" as in, "I find you in contempt!" Accompanied by some dressed in black and blue, after you had been warned, "One more time and I'll throw the book at you" To which the lawyer, in John Mac style, almost as if prepped, rehearsed, replied "Oh yeah, you couldn't even hit me with your aim; you need glasses judge!" This type of calling balls, strikes, applying the rules by officials on the one hand, and bringing their judgments into question has always been part of the game, on and off the field of play...

Fan Favorites, (Out)Raging Against: Whoever is or did make that call that cost you the game ("Mom, it wasn't for the refs today...my teacher doesn't like me, that's why I failed that test, not because I didn't study like you told me; it wouldn't have mattered...the judges had their favorites and had decided the gold even before I got on the ice...". Rest assured fans, that as tech continues to sneak into the game without a ticket, it can't ever usurp the role that "bad calls" have always have and always will be part of the game (and geopolitics as in "The Games"). After all, isn't it part of why we tune in -- the sideline, "sidebar" drama within the drama? ("You gotta' go online and see the way our manager dissed the ump, how he tipped his hat when he got tossed, how he tried to rally the team...better than any of those other bums on the field of play that bring dishonor to our home-town; they stink up the place more than the officials!") Even if such tech as "ePitch" becomes part of the ump's arsenal, we the fans in the stands, the paying public, can still deconstruct the ones deconstructing the pitches, even as "Dave" deconstructed, shut down "HAL" in "2001: A Space Odyssey", a reminder of how things have always been and likely will be well into the future. Where WE make the final calls...Fandom!