ow that we have discussed the genealogy and development of umpire sites, let’s begin to examine their impact on the umpire. Discourse on the Internet is not just a two-way affair. Discussion and debate are not only affected by the participants; the media, as well, influence the message. That influence and how it is manifested determine the “personality” of a site.

Umpires Resource Center, McGriff’s Referee/Umpire Homepage, Eteamz, and eUmpire are, arguably, the four major interactive umpire sites today. Each has distinctive features, designs, and purposes. However, while these elements may set them apart in the minds of their marketing departments, they are not the primary contributors to the site’s personality.

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