e’ve come to the close of this column series on umpire camps, so there’s danger of being overtly philosophical as I tap my keyboard tonight. Bear with me. I think there’s a message in here somewhere.

When I first outlined the columns this one was to be titled: “The Instructors’ View — ‘Why’d this guy spend the money if he doesn’t want to learn?’” My master plan had me waxing poetic about the people who pay to attend a camp or clinic, then stubbornly refuse to even consider the ideas presented by the instructor staff. Those students argue every point every hour, then complain that the concepts taught conflict with what they’ve already learned. Imagine going to a class and learning something new!

But along the way my editor, Carl Childress, read the first column and an analogy drawn from the movie Casablanca. He enjoyed the story and the way the movie complimented the column’s message.

Continued...