Protect umpires
“Crying fowl,” the article on Sunday, Feb. 9, by John Burnett, was very poignant.
As a softball and baseball umpire of over 20 years from youth league to high school, college and semi-pro leagues, this article hits home to the No. 1 reason it is difficult to recruit and retain umpires.
The most common question is, “Why should I have to deal with or be confronted by irate coaches, parents or fans because of the judgment call that I made?”
As young adults and parents of youth players, we sometimes have to step up to call a game as best as we can, based on what we remember the rules to be, because there are not enough umpires to call a particular game. As such, most of us have not had the training to correctly call a game or the counseling to effectively deal with confrontation to diffuse the heat from the coach, parent, fan or player.
Let’s face it, even trained umpires make mistakes or get caught up in the heated exchange. We are all human and make mistakes. Be flexible and understanding. Look at Major League Baseball.
PCA, or Positive Coaching Alliance, was one way, in recent years, to better educate the coaches, parents and players on how to conduct themselves during an athletic event or game. But, it seems, this may not be enough.
Your support of Senate Bill 2549 and Senate Bill 2612 would put enforcement and penalties in place on those adults who have not figured out how to best conduct themselves as examples to their kids or youth athletes.
Robert M Yamada II
Hilo
Tower concerns
On Feb. 5, my neighbor informed me that an AT&T 5G tower is being built in our back yard, behind Kamehameha Schools Hawaii.
The public hearing was on Feb. 6, but I couldn’t make it. The tower is being built at 17-3755 North Road (permit number USE–19-000081).
Research shows there are radiation levels if you live a quarter-mile from the tower.
A zoning specialist notified the public on Jan. 17 in the classifieds section of the newspaper. Really!
Just wondering if me and my ohana are safe living here. Are we?
Crawford Gonsalves
Kurtistown (Iwasaki Camp)