How does one become a zebra as a profession?

[Brock Landers]

MLB umpire, NFL or NBA Ref, College Football Ref.

These are dream jobs as i see it, how does one get into them though??

Is this more about who you know than what you know?

[Brock Landers]

Or equally as good, a cameraman, like for ESPN college football or basketball, MLB, NBA or MLB games.

[Ace_of_Spades]

I want to be a manager of a football team.

[flyingillini]

Brock you are stuck in a rut and have no way out. You have a family, a wife, work at a software company and stuck in middle America White Trash. It's a little late for you buddy. I wish you nothing but the best guey! Orale Brock Landerster guey!

[Brock Landers]

Brock you are stuck in a rut and have no way out. You have a family, a wife, work at a software company and stuck in middle America White Trash. It's a little late for you buddy. I wish you nothing but the best guey! Orale Brock Landerster guey!

i expected a little better from you guy

[Chi_archie]

I know for baseball umps they have a school for it..... but I think you have to pay your dues with HS, small college games, ect on up for most sports.... and in baseball a long time in the minors.

NFL ref is an interesting thing, because basically you have to have a full time job as well

[THE PROFIT]

journalism or communication degree. Start working as a cameraman at a small local station. if you do good work you apply at ABC, they hire you, you're the cameraman at ESPN now

[Brock Landers]

I know for baseball umps they have a school for it..... but I think you have to pay your dues with HS, small college games, ect on up for most sports.... and in baseball a long time in the minors.

NFL ref is an interesting thing, because basically you have to have a full time job as well

Anyone know someone who has done this, investigated the process, involved in it currently?

MLB ump turnover seems VERY low, like they know they got the best job there is and get paid like kings to do it on top of it.

[THE PROFIT]

are you wantin' to become a ref so you can fix rubberband games?

[Brock Landers]

are you wantin' to become a ref so you can fix rubberband games?

not at all, this would be a hell of a lot of fun to get paid to be involved in the games. Just seems next to impossible to get into the NFL rookie.

[Chi_archie]

My father worked with the brother of Bill Hohn MLB ump when I was in elementary school or jr high
the brother gave Hohn a list of player's I wanted to get autographs of.

its funny to look back and see the guys I picked.... I got Barry Bonds, Darryl Strawberry, Will Clark, Kevin Mitchell, dwight gooden, orel hershiser, chris sabo, ozzie smith... and a few others I can't think of right now... they are all personalized to me.... kinda neat but most aren't worth anything now

[Chi_archie]

alot of nfl refs are former players themselves, at least at the collegiate level

[THE PROFIT]

They're worth something, Chi. I wouldn't sell them anyway, they'll be worth alot more to your children monetary or not

[Brock Landers]

My father worked with the brother of Bill Hohn MLB ump when I was in elementary school or jr high the brother gave Hohn a list of player's I wanted to get autographs of. its funny to look back and see the guys I picked.... I got Barry Bonds, Darryl Strawberry, Will Clark, Kevin Mitchell, dwight gooden, orel hershiser, chris sabo, ozzie smith... and a few others I can't think of right now... they are all personalized to me.... kinda neat but most aren't worth anything now

Sabo LOL i remember Spud McKenzie when he played briefly for the white sox

[Trojan]

Take a pizza to Wrigley Field. Tell them its for the umps. Give the umps the free pie and ask them for a reference.

[Brock Landers]

http://www.umpireschool.com/

Tuition

Each student should bring enough money with him to cover his cost and other miscellaneous expenses, such as laundry and cleaning while he is at school. Costs are as follows:

• Tuition for 5 weeks, Room Rent, Taxes and Insurance, Course Materials, T-Shirts, Rulebooks, and Cap
  
  • $2950.00
  
  

Total cost of umpire course is $2950.00. Students should pay the $150.00 deposit when making application to the school. Students may then choose to pay the remaining balance of $2800.00 through a cashiers check payable to "Harry Wendelstedt", or by Master Card, ****, Discover Card, and American Express, which covers your balance due for tuition, room rent, tax and insurance. This amount must be paid on, or by, registration day, January 2, 2010. No personal checks on registration day. Some students prefer to pay entire $2950.00 when applying; this is permissible. All students will be covered by limited accident and life insurance. Due to new government regulations our school is not able to accept veterans under the G. I. Bill. Student loans and scholarships are not available from the school. However, a new scholarship program designed specifically for our military service people is available for the 2011 term, and beyond. To inquire, CLICK HERE.

Students should convert their cash into Travelers Checks or Money Orders. These furnish excellent security for your money and can be converted to cash anywhere. The hotel has a free safe for storage of student valuables. We will not cash personal checks.

Room Options

Students may choose single room occupancy for an additional cost, or off-campus tuition in order to save some money on their total costs. However, students who stay off-campus will be required to find their own lodging, and will still be required to attend all morning classroom sessions located in the hotel conference center.

• Additional Single Room Cost -- +$770.00
• Living Off-Campus Savings -- -$630.00

Meals

• Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Plan -- +$700.00
  
  • Breakfast and Dinner Meals - 7 days a week
  
  
• Lunch Only Plan -- +$250.00
  
  • Lunch Meal Plan - Catered Monday - Saturday
    The same catered lunches will be available to those students that do not elect to purchase the lunch program, but will be sold at the full lunch menu price.
  
  

All meals are prepaid. Any students who depart the school for any reason, at any time, will not be provided a refund of their meal plan(s). All prices subject to change upon vendors cost.

[SamsNCharge99]

I would love to be a ref, I would be a Tim Daughany in a second

[yellowman]

My brother in law refs basketball games on the D1 level...he started while in college and just kept at it. He's made tons of friends and gets on crews left and right. He did play college football and is an athletic guy...seems like about anything else, its who you know...

[Extra Innings]

I know for baseball umps they have a school for it..... but I think you have to pay your dues with HS, small college games, ect on up for most sports.... and in baseball a long time in the minors.

NFL ref is an interesting thing, because basically you have to have a full time job as well

Bingo...Oral B

[Herky]

Have a friend that went through Jim Evans training school

http://www.umpireacademy.com/

[Brock Landers]

Have a friend that went through Jim Evans training school http://www.umpireacademy.com/

how did it work out for him?

[TobiasFunke]

I know for baseball umps they have a school for it..... but I think you have to pay your dues with HS, small college games, ect on up for most sports.... and in baseball a long time in the minors.

NFL ref is an interesting thing, because basically you have to have a full time job as well

Why do you say that Arch? I'd imagine these guys make at least six figures? I could be wrong though...I know Hochuili is an attorney but I just thought he was a rare exception...

Anyone know how much these guys make?

[The Prick]

Take a pizza to Wrigley Field. Tell them its for the umps. Give the umps the free pie and ask them for a reference.

Oh shit this trojan kid is the real deal. POTM gold or its a farce.

[Herky]

how did it work out for him?

He is out of the game now. His highest level was D1 baseball.

[Herky]

Why do you say that Arch? I'd imagine these guys make at least six figures? I could be wrong though...I know Hochuili is an attorney but I just thought he was a rare exception...

Anyone know how much these guys make?

The NFL referee salary (National Football League) ranges from USD 25,000 to USD 70,000 per season i.e. a season with 16 games with one-week intervals. The NFL official’s average annual income of USD 27, 000 is lowest when compared to the NBA officials earn about USD 128,000 per annum, the NHL officials earn USD139, 000 per annum and the major-league baseball officials earn about USD 141, 000 per annum. On the other hand, NFL officials are not full-time employees and work lesser as against the other sports.
and from another source:
A knowledgeable (and hopefully trustworthy) acquaintance states that NFL referees currently earn between $42,295 and $120,998 per season. That might not sound like much, but remember, the NFL season is only 16 games. How do those figures compare with the salaries of refs in other sports? According to AskMen.com, Major League baseball umpires earn anywhere from $100,000 to $280,000 per season, plus they get a generous expense account. NHL officials make even more -- from $115,000 to $220,000 per season, based on experience. Probably because they have to know how to skate backwards and stay out of the way of swinging hockey sticks.

[TobiasFunke]

The NFL referee salary (National Football League) ranges from USD 25,000 to USD 70,000 per season i.e. a season with 16 games with one-week intervals. The NFL official’s average annual income of USD 27, 000 is lowest when compared to the NBA officials earn about USD 128,000 per annum, the NHL officials earn USD139, 000 per annum and the major-league baseball officials earn about USD 141, 000 per annum. On the other hand, NFL officials are not full-time employees and work lesser as against the other sports.
and from another source:
A knowledgeable (and hopefully trustworthy) acquaintance states that NFL referees currently earn between $42,295 and $120,998 per season. That might not sound like much, but remember, the NFL season is only 16 games. How do those figures compare with the salaries of refs in other sports? According to AskMen.com, Major League baseball umpires earn anywhere from $100,000 to $280,000 per season, plus they get a generous expense account. NHL officials make even more -- from $115,000 to $220,000 per season, based on experience. Probably because they have to know how to skate backwards and stay out of the way of swinging hockey sticks.

Wow...thought it was a bit higher than that...still great money though

[stealthyburrito]

most nfl refs have other careers, a lot seem to be lawyers. unless you're ed hochuli, then you're making exercise vids about pumping those guns.

[Brock Landers]

this needs to be investigated, MLB umpires have it made in the shade

[big0mar]

Probably the first step you should take if you want to be a profession ref is canceling your account on this site

[JUST A MAN]

Very little spots available. So when the decsions take place for new umps, the politics come into play. My brother is a great athlete who completed the umpire course in Florida. Some big names were also there. "Sons of MLB umpires" usually get bumped in. You have to go to major independant league to start.

Too much time and floating around. Politics running it.

[Karayilan9]

As with anything you must know someone that knows someone.

[warriorfan707]

You gotta be a whistleblower at heart

[warriorfan707]

Probably the first step you should take if you want to be a profession ref is canceling your account on this site

hahaha yea they do some extensive background checks