Referee Magazine Ad for December 2010 Issue

This year we are getting a head start on our baseball/softball advertising with this ad in December's Referee Magazine expected out in a few weeks. Feel free to click on the image below for a full size view.

This marks the first ad for Ref Mag not designed by yours truly. Cassie Stokes, marketing specialist, is currently managing those duties for us.

BLUE for Pink - Umpires Against Breast Cancer Campaign

Fewer than one in five eligible women get the lifesaving breast cancer screening and treatment they need although with mammography, it can be found early when the chances of surviving it are high.

After receiving our first shipment of pink umpire shirts last week and getting our ducks in a row with a campaign logo and with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, we have officially launched our "BLUE for Pink - Umpires Against Breast Cancer" education and fundraising campaign.

As part of this campaign, we, along with Dalco Athletic, will donate $3 for every pink referee shirt you purchase to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Our goal from the sale of these shirts and our pink umpire whistles are that we will raise $5,000 from now through 2011.
View all pink products here.

Thanks to our Facebook fans for helping in designing our logo and for coming up with our shirt's trim patterns (especially Brandon Barelmann). That process was a lot of fun.

Thanks, of course, to Dalco as well, who manufactured the shirt, and Mike Carter of Dalco who was very agreeable to the design as well as the charity initiative.

Show your support as an Umpire Against Breast Cancer, Komen for the Cure and breast cancer education, screening, and treatment programs of which 75% will go to local and 25% to national efforts. Help us spread the word with your officiating or umpiring crew or association. There is a printable and/or sendable press release here.

A special word to female umpires: help reduce your risk of having breast cancer with regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and limiting the amount of alcohol you drink. If you over 40, be sure to get a yearly mammogram.

All umpires, encourage all the important women 40 and over in your life to get yearly mammograms.

Thoughts on Pink Whistle Controversy in Washington

After officials in Washington state showed their support for the Susan G. Komen For the Cure by donning pink whistles in support of local breast cancer awareness initiatives, the Washington Officials Association (WOA and the ones who assign the games) has thrown the flag against these officials saying they used a non-sanctioned color without their permission. Story and video here.

In light of our breast cancer awareness initiatives for Komen, Warren Workman of Umpire-Empire.com sent the link to me and wanted me to comment. I commented on his site and am paraphrasing and adding a few comments below.

First of all, I applaud the referees for not only wearing the pink whistles in support of the breast cancer campaigns going on through the region that night but for also donating their game fees. To me, that was a bigger sacrifice.

All too often, referees and umpires get a reputation as "the bad guy", as it is, especially when fans see they "made a bad call" and are against their team when we all know that most of you guys are just good people who are trying to do their jobs as professionally as possible.

So when umpires and referees do something overtly positive and provide an opportunity to share the goodwill they have not only for the good of the game but for the good of those involved (players, coaches, parents. loved ones who passed away, etc) and even the greater good (breast cancer research and awareness), then this should serve as a grand opportunity to help shed some of that "bad guy" reputation by saying "Way to Go!" and perhaps making someone pause to think, "Hey, that was really nice of them...maybe they're not so bad after all".

Instead, the WOA took away this perfect opportunity to look upon them and the profession favorably to basically say the officials had simply "made a bad call" in not asking for permission or for staying uniform. This is certainly understandable of a desire to stay uniform as you don't want your officials to wear their street clothes but also very unfortunate and short-sighted. It certainly speaks of a hierarchy within the profession that often serves the profession well but at times not so well.

It seems, however, as if the WOA is seeing the error of their ways in their over-reaction to this scenario. Sure, maybe the officials should have asked first and maybe the WOA would have said, "Yea, that would be great! Go for it!" I'm sure both parties will know better next time to follow protocol on the onehand, and common sense on the other.

This, however, serves as a lesson to you as officials or leaders in your association when considering a breast cancer awareness campaign involving pink whistles, shirts or wristbands. Ask your association first to clarify and support what you are doing or want to do. Association leaders, set clear guidelines that allow bending of the rules a little for a good and worthy cause.

In that way, everyone can get on the same page to doing the right thing in being a part of something good to fight something bad.

Not Quite the Oscars. Product of the Year Suggestions for the Midwest Umpire Blog

Last year, the Midwest Umpire Blog published it's first ever umpire products of the year awards. We were very fortunate to have had more products in our selection to win awards than any other retailer. It was not quite a Lord of the Rings style Academy Awards sweep as in 2003 when it won in all 11 categories for which it was nominated, but 6 out of 9 ain't bad.

For a refresher our 2009 winners were:

• Best Mask: Champro Magnessium Umpire Mask
• Best Helmet: Wilson Shock FX Titanium
• Best Shirt: Ultimate Umpire Shirt
• Best Accessory: Ultimate Umpire Ball Bag
• Best Shoes: Reebok Field Magistrate Plate Shoes
• Best Chest Protector: Wilson Platinum

This year, the Midwest Blog is soliciting suggestions and opinions regarding 2010 selections from the umpire community. Support us by suggesting products you find at ump-attire.com (or elsewhere...we don't have to win every category).

Post your answers here or by email to feedback@ump-attire.com, and we will pass them along. Or you can post at Umpire-Empire.com.

The categories are what you see below plus shoes, pants, shin guards and training aid. Personally, I'd love to see these products walk the red carpet and win for 2010. Allow me to make my case. The nominees are.

• Best Hockey Style Helmet
  The new very protective All-Star System 7 MVP4000-SL umpire helmet we now have with its vinyl nitrile padding and polycarbonate shell (steel cage is only 3 ounces less than much more expensive titanium).
  
  It's all the buzz with customers who have highly encouraged us to carry them. How could we resist?
  
  The Shock FX is deserving as well, but, hey, it would be nice for us, as an outspoken leader in offering the best umpire protection, to say we have in our selection back-to-back winners in this category.
  
  If anything else wins than either of those, it will be as much a surprise as Mickey O'Rourke not winning for best actor for his role in The Wrestler. Sean Penn in Milk?! What a rip-off that was! Sorry Sean, but you were great in Mystic River.
  
  
• Best Umpire Mask
  Our special order Wilson Titanium with all-black padding.
  
  See, when Wilson came out with the titanium mask, they originally made it in two-tone only and in a low profile. I have spoken before that the best choice was a standard profile with all-black padding for a more protective mask with a sleeker black/silver look.
  
  We were one of only a few of the major retailers to make this a reality in 2010, and it was our most popular titanium gaining a People's Choice Award in my book. So the winner ought to be the mask you wanted in the first place, right? Who is with me?
  
  
• Best Umpire Chest Protector
  The Wilson Gold. If the platinum won it last year, then the Gold ought to get its due before more hard shells come on the market in years to come once Joe West's patent runs out or manufacturers figure out a workaround.
  
  It's like Martin Scorsese who made all those great films over 20 years and was nominated 5 times for Best Picture until finally winning for The Departed in 2006. Ok, maybe it's not quite like that but I'm trying to keep the Academy Award analogy going here. Work with me please.
  
  
• Best Umpire Shirt
  Well, it would be nice for our Ultimate to win 2 years in a row. But if it doesn't, I have two other possibilities. One is the new Majestic umpire shirt or our designed pink umpire shirt from Dalco.
  
  Yes, I know both were just made available but movies that came out just before the Academy Awards ceremony win Oscars, too.
  
  The Majestic shirt is such an innovation in fabric and trim and well received at the MLB level. Plus, they've been popular the second we started pre-selling them.
  
  But the most popular umpire shirt going right now is our newly designed pink shirt for breast cancer awareness. With its trim pattern being designed by an umpire with a poll taken at Umpire-Empire.com and our Facebook fan page plus a donation of $3 to Komen for the Cure, this shirt is a real winner even if it doesn't win Best Umpire Shirt of the Year honors.
  
  
• Umpire Accessory
  There is a good chance the Ultimate Ball Bag will win again. From new products, it could be the Shock Doctor Titan Cup. If I told you how many of those we sold last year, you would be shocked.
  
  But the one I would love to see win is the Shock Doctor Gravity 2 Mouthguard. Although it's not a top selling accessory, it has been critically acclaimed so to speak.
  

  Derrick Dion commented that after a direct hit "I was not phased continuing like nothing happened."
  
  Louis Santoni "found the mouth guard to be comfortable...and noticed it had a very minimum effect on my ability to talk and make calls"
  
  Stephen O' Neal raves the Shock Doctor mouthguard "does not cause me to generate excess spit in my mouth" (among other good things but thought that line sounded funny pulled completely out of context...thanks Stephen).

  Most others are saying with a little getting used to it really has saved them from some potential concussions. No true accessory out there beyond a throat guard can say that it can keep an umpire safer (and in such an important part of the body) than this mouthguard accessory can.
  
  Call it the sentimental choice, like Sandra Bullock winning Best Actress for The Blind Side. Plus, the extra attention it receives might go farther in making a difference in the safety of umpires.

Tell us your picks.

New Customers' Choice Products for Football

We have truly hit a home run with our many new products over the last several years for football as many of them are not only being well-received with customers but have quickly become best sellers in their categories. For that, we are adding 5 items with our customers' choice list for football.

The criteria is basically high sales within a category, low return rates and positive feedback.

1. Smitty NFL Style Foul Weather Black Football Pants
   We knew these were going to be hot, but now, with feedback, we know they are also very well-liked.
   
   Todd Skaggs shared "The pants fit well and felt even better...they provide a nice, clean look and are a great addition to our current uniform. The cut and fit provide room for athletic movement...the water resistant material is beneficial during cold rainy environments and the black color might save a few pairs of knickers from being retired as “mudders” due to irremovable stains that we all know and love."
   
   
2. Short Sleeve Dri-Gear Referee Shirt
   With being able to drop the price of this high-quality wicking shirt, we believe this is definitely the best value in a football referee shirt on the market. Our leading competitor's price on a performance fabric shirt is currently $8 more.
   
   
3. 3N2 Officials Field Shoes
   You would think with New Balance, Reebok and 3n2 as our field shoe brands, the 3n2 would be the lowest seller. Not the case as it is right there with New Balance.
   
   Clint Latimer summed it up simply when he wrote "The shoe is a very good product. They are comfortable to wear for hours on both natural and plastic turf fields. The pricing is reasonable...The shoe is easy to keep clean..."
   
   
4. All-Weather Write-in-the-Rain Information Cards
   The pack of 25 waterproof cards have been very popular.
   
   Michael Koone said "The card is the best! I sweat a lot during the early hot games of the season and I do not use a card holder. However, just as promised, this card has held up great and has not turned to mush. I've been able to write on it with a pencil no matter how wet it gets! The information layout on front is excellent and I especially like the alphabetical foul listing on back with spaces for each quarter. I haven't been able to locate a card with this feature for years! I will be reordering another pad of these cards."
   
   
5. Smitty ComfortTech Shorts
   When you can take your old shorts, change the fabric to a more comfortable, breathable wicking fabric at the same price, then you make it a no-brainer for customers.

View all Customers' Choice products for football here and buy with confidence.

New Kid's Long Sleeve Referee Shirt

We continue to have fun with kid's referee apparel. This year we have added a long sleeve version of our popular kid's football shirt. Kids gotta stay warm while trick-or-treating, right?

In the photo, that is my son Ben, now 8 (wearing a size medium) and daughter Lydia, age 11 (wearing a size large).

View all of our kids referee apparel products including other shirts, cap and socks.

Pink Whistle Campaign a Success with $2,000 Donation

We did it! We set out to raise $2,000 before year's end in our "Blow the Whistle on Breast Cancer" campaign and with your help we made it happen. If you purchased a pink whistle (or spread the word and someone else did), we added $2 to the amount for the Louisville Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the cure.

After staring in January, we hit 1,000 of them sold this past Thursday! I am very excited it you can't tell. No oversized check or ceremonies or anything like that. We just mailed them a check, and it should be in hand doing some good very soon.

So I wanted to personally thank all of you whether you bought one or you just said "hey, I like what you guys are doing with that".

Let's Raise $5,000
So what do we do now? Keep it going? See how much we can raise for 2011? I think so. I think we can raise $5,000 if we start now as we will have all of basketball season vs. half way through this past year.

What do you think? Can you help continue our fundraising efforts for breast cancer education, screening, and treatment programs? We can not do it without your help.

Buy a pink whistle here (pink lanyards, now available, too) and/or share this article with a friend or group by email, Facebook, Twitter or whatever. Let's raise $5,000 by December 31st, 2011!

More Info on Breast Cancer
I am re-printing our breast cancer info and to dos below that we shared when we launched the campaign.

Some Quick Facts

• Fewer than one in five eligible women get the lifesaving breast cancer screening and treatment they need.
• Breast cancer is the second-most common cancer among women in the United States.
• With mammography, it can be found early when the chances of surviving it are high.

For Women to Do

• If you are 40 or older, be sure to get a yearly mammogram.
• Help reduce your risk of having breast cancer with regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and limiting the amount of alcohol you drink.

For Men to Do

• Encourage all the important women 40 and over in your life to get yearly mammograms.
• Send a link of this article to the women you care about and make a big difference off the court or field.

More Links and Information
Sign Yourself or Others Up for Yearly Mammogram Reminders
Susan G. Komen Foundation
National Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation
Women's Basketball Coaches' Association Pink Zone