Moral Dilemma

[BlueWereDatMiss]

i'll throw my two cents in because it feels like grumpy old men in here...

Guru, you do see why coming out with these accusations (i'm not saying it's not true, but until there's proof in addition to bob mann's age, it's just accusations) now, after you've got something to gain (reinstatement), could be seen as blackmail or sour grapes, right? Let me ask, if ridge were to fully reinstate you, would you continue to divulge the information you're in possession of? If so, then out with it already. If not, then it's blackmail, plain and simple.

As for the abuse of the umpire though, i don't give a damn when you cussed her out, or what the reason was. Talk to the td and explain the issue...had i been the one to make the call, i'd have suspended you too. There's absolutely no place for that in the game.

And as for ridge, i don't know him or anything about him. If what you're saying is true, he should have the option to admit his mistakes, and should face the proper repercussions. But tying all of that to your reinstatement is despicable, and you're essentially saying that your integrity is worth one year of ball, nothing more. And that's a shame.

lol, oy vey!!!!!!!

 

[Hebrew Hacker]

Hack,
Living in NJ most of my life, if a player got a 1 year ban for cussing at an umpire softball would have ended in NJ in the 70's.

You're absolutely right; there are way too many players in NJ (and the rest of the country) who think nothing of verbally abusing an umpire. That's doesn't mean that it's right, nor that it should be tolerated. Hell, softball umpires are treated like gods compared to the physical and verbal abuse umpires were subjected to in the first few decades of the National (and then American as well) League...but MLB was able to curtail the issue, and so should softball.

I'm not saying that we shouldn't hold umpires to a high standard or that they shouldn't be accountable. But there's a right way and a wrong way to go about it, and cussing at an umpire is without question the wrong way. The umpire Guru cussed at should be suspended from working that sanction if what he says is true, if not permanently barred. That doesn't change the fact that Guru was 100% in the wrong.

 

[tattooball]

I was not there but Jim tells the truth. To be banned a year for cussing at an umpire is totally wrong. He also admitted it and apologized to the director at the time.

 

[GuruSoftball]

SPA is now saying that I hit the ball to the fence and ran straight to the dugout without touching first base and that's why I was called out. That is absolutely a lie and its about what I expect from that umpire and Ridge, they are liars and I should not have been called out. To then kick me out when I was upset but not out of control. I lost control AFTER I was ejected. I am in no way condoning my actions as I am a person who hardly ever swears or uses bad language, people who know me know that is true and to lose control and use the S*** word is not my character. I gave Ridge numerous chances to avoid this and he declined. There was even an intermediator who called Ridge to avoid this. Ridge didn't think I'd do what I told him I'd do.
I knew going in that I'd be criticized by senior players who go on the record on this board. You guys are afraid to criticize Ridge because you suck up to him. I have much more support in phone calls and private emails from guys who know the truth and do not want to go public. SPA is an organization with very few ethics. The biggest ethical discretion that I know about still hasn't surfaced. The accusations I have made against Ridge are to date only softball problems, The biggest scandal is a criminal charge against Ridge and the whole organization. Most of the officers of SPA are not a part of it and have no knowledge about it but the truth may come out and then the senior softball world be rocked.

 

[floo56]

Man can you play in a different organization? Seems to serious for a game that should be an enjoyment in life! Again I ask, is there a higher entity to contact then Mr. Ridge? If so go there for your results. Glad I am all the way in the Tropics!!! Aloha, Fabe

 

[LC77]

Dangling teasers in SBF's forum about dirt on Ridge is bush league. It reads like an attempt to make Ridge swing in the breeze. I don't know him or you, but I don't like the cat and mouse game. Please either give your information or stop posting teasers about it. Facts can be checked, but innuendos aren't credible.

 

[frontagerdmaui]

Man can you play in a different organization? Seems to serious for a game that should be an enjoyment in life! Again I ask, is there a higher entity to contact then Mr. Ridge? If so go there for your results. Glad I am all the way in the Tropics!!! Aloha, Fabe

Which Island you on Brah?

 

[floo56]

Born and raised on Oahu! Wats Up? Fabe

 

[Softball101tc]

Well, here it is guys. With much apprehension and some talking with the culprits I have decided to out the problem. The sad news to the senior softball world is that the main culprit is Ridge Hooks, owner and CEO of the Softball Players association. Ridge was the team secretary for the most successful senior team Sawtre back in the 90's and early 2000's. He helped to certify two players who were only 48 years old. He tried to get a third to also do it but that player declined to cheat. I am only going to give the softball world one of those players at this time. Bob Mann was born in Shelby county Tennessee on Oct 6, 1948. His senior softball application was submitted by Ridge Hooks and EG Thornsberry and the drivers license and birth certificate was altered to read 1948. Bob Mann was even inducted into Ridges Senior softball hall of fame in September of 1998 a full month before his 50th birthday. The reason I know this is because I worked for the State of Texas at the time as a welfare fraud investigator. I did a search on all of the players on our team and two players came up fraudulent. I took this information to Ridge and was told to shut up or be cut from the team. Sawtre was a great sponsor and I did the wrong thing and have been remorseful all these years. There are other irregularities in the Softball Players Association past that has to do with the purchase of the Association from Herb Oliver the original founder of the association. All these years I have watched his "To God be the Glory" and have wanted to throw up. I had a problem with Ridge this past weekend in Dalton GA and he has made me mad enough to finally come clean. I told him what I was about to do and he was his usual pious self. There is more and I may decide to divulge that if it really heats up. Senior Softball is important to me and I think Ridge needs a lifetime ban from the sport, instead he is making his living from a total scam. I have heard him say a number of times, "are you questioning my integrity" when someone disagrees with him. Well I am divulging his real integrity. Go to Senior Softball Hall of Fame to see Bob Mann, class of 1998. There is also another one but I am not going to out him until I have spoken with him.

Don, Yes I was thrown out of a game and cussed the woman umpire. She baited me and had made a horrible call and threw me out BEFORE I cussed her. I was wrong and ready to be disciplined. However, Ridge came at me with his pious attitude and I told him not to take any further action. Causing my team to lose in a national tourney was enough. I left the field quickly and did not have to be escorted out. I have been dealing with the cheating aspect for some time and Ridge perpetrated the cheating and has never been remorseful. The cheating was at the highest level of cheating and a lifetime ban has been invoked in the past. There was a period of time a few years ago where amnesty was offered for all who had cheated and he and the two players involved declined the offer. My actions were bad but people who live in glass houses shouldnt throw stones. His "To God be the glory" is as phony as he is. I've known him for years and he isn't what he tries to show in his actions. I know why he was thrown out of the USSSA years ago and I know stories about his character over the years. I now have a voluntary "lifetime" ban from SPA and I can live with it. I'm not going to fight it. I had a close friend call Ridge and try to get him to be reasonable. He said he would but when I threatened him he declined. I told him a lifetime ban is now reasonable because I am guilty of damaging the SPA. I hope the softball community will remember that I have tried to support his association over the years and I hope some will remember when I gave a $2,000 donation to his scholarship program. Ridge isn't what he appears to be. He is only what about what is good for Ridge. He is a dishonest born again fraud. There are a lot more things I know about Ridge and the madder I get the more there will be disclosed. Isnt the proof in the allowing cheaters to be continually in his hall of fame. If he was remorseful he could have removed those players from the published list. He was the driving force to get them to cheat in the first place. I'll bet he will try to say he didn't know about the fraudulent players but that will be another lie. There will be some who will not believe what I am posting but its the truth and have supporting evidence to protect me from any legal action. Ridges signature was on the rosters that were used.

Steve, What I did was wrong. I told the umpire she was a piece of s***. But you don't know what she had done. She was out of control and didn't want to be out there, she was late for a date. But a years suspension for getting thrown out of a game after the call she made, and I didn't swear at her until after she threw me out. She had an attitude. I told ridge what I would do if he didn't rescind it and he said he couldn't because his board had already decided. Lets talk about Ridge, the chickens have come home to roost. He deserves a lifetime ban and there's more about him that I could talk about and its going on today, not years ago. That kind of penalty to someone who had donated $2,000 to HIS scholarship fund, Does anyone remember the national meeting where I gave him the check? Want to know what her call was that got me upset. I had hit the ball one foot from going out and couldn't get to second base because of a partial tear of my Achilles tendon. She called our runner out at third base and called time. I called for a courtesy runner and she called me out for leaving first base before she acknowledged a courtesy runner. Almost every courtesy runner allowed in our games leaves first base before the umpire acknowledges the runner. It was a call in a national tournament and she threw me out as I was getting ready to pitch the next inning and she came after me at the mound, not me coming after her. I told her to leave me alone and that's when she threw me out. Then I unloaded on her. I called her a piece and then left the field of play quickly because I knew she would forfeit the game and she could leave the park. She was complaining about how late the games were before the game started She was more wrong than I was.

Bruce, The problem with that is that Ridge is the person at sshof that verifies age and he certifies eligibility. No integrity whatsoever

I see where some of you are upset with me for this post but its all true and cheaters like Ridge need to be dealt with even after this lapse a few years. Bob Mann is now 64 years old and since he was enshrined in the SS HOF class of 98 that means he was 49 years old when he was inducted. Remember also that amnesty was issued a few years earlier and Ridge declined the offer. I can also tell you about another incident. In Plano TX at Ridges tournament Bob assaulted an umpire physically and Ridge covered that up, no penalty. Bob is about 6" 5" 300 pounds, a huge man and he hit an umpire. At the time Bob was on probation for another incident and had the police been called his probation would have been revoked and he'd have been off to jail for a while. And I get a years suspension for telling an umpire she is piece of s*** after an unjust ejection.
Ridge Hooks isn't the person a lot of people think he is. There is a lot more I can post but I am going to string it out a bit. I know too much about the real Ridge.

Phony altered ID's is a gross violation of senior rules, its the worst.
Back in approx 2007, I may be a year off, the SPA World tourney was held in McKinney TX. A double A team from Michigan was in the finals against a Chicago team. The Chicago team protested a player on the Michigan team because he was seen playing on a Major Plus team earlier in the year in Chicago. Ridge Hooks disallowed the protest because the Chicago team couldnt prove the accusation and were denid access to rosters. The Chicago team refused to play the final because they knew they were right and Ridge awarded the Michigan team the title. I was there and had knowledge that the Michigan team actually had 3 major plus players on the team. I brought this to Ridges attention and all he had to say was "let sleeping dogs lie." Ridge knew of the illegal players and refused to do anything about it.
I knew going in to this that I would be criticized as the messenger, but thats all I am. The integrity of Senior Softball is being uncovered and Mr Hooks is the problem.
I appreciate the private phone calls and emails that I have recieved and acknowledge that others who know what I am saying is true do not want to be on the record because of reprisals and not being able to be a part of the SS HOF. I am putting this ALL on my shoulders and do not want others to also feel the heat.
I have more that I know about. I have known Ridge for almost 20 years and have watched his pious attitute. I am sick of it.

Yes, altering an ID is worse than altering bats. Remember there was an amnesty offered and Ridge and the two guys on our team declined the amnesty and continued on. Amnesty on altering bats was offered and I accepted and have never altered a bat since. I publicly went on the USSSA site and announced taht bat doctoring was a thing of the past. Did you ?

SPA is now saying that I hit the ball to the fence and ran straight to the dugout without touching first base and that's why I was called out. That is absolutely a lie and its about what I expect from that umpire and Ridge, they are liars and I should not have been called out. To then kick me out when I was upset but not out of control. I lost control AFTER I was ejected. I am in no way condoning my actions as I am a person who hardly ever swears or uses bad language, people who know me know that is true and to lose control and use the S*** word is not my character. I gave Ridge numerous chances to avoid this and he declined. There was even an intermediator who called Ridge to avoid this. Ridge didn't think I'd do what I told him I'd do.
I knew going in that I'd be criticized by senior players who go on the record on this board. You guys are afraid to criticize Ridge because you suck up to him. I have much more support in phone calls and private emails from guys who know the truth and do not want to go public. SPA is an organization with very few ethics. The biggest ethical discretion that I know about still hasn't surfaced. The accusations I have made against Ridge are to date only softball problems, The biggest scandal is a criminal charge against Ridge and the whole organization. Most of the officers of SPA are not a part of it and have no knowledge about it but the truth may come out and then the senior softball world be rocked.

You sir are nothing more than a douchebag.

 

[GuruSoftball]

Swissqb5, you just called me a name worse than the transgression I committed. I guess you need to be banned too.
Isnt is also interesting to see the negative comments seem to come from friends of Evil Sports.

 

[Softball101tc]

Calling a WOMAN a piece of ****...is DEFINITELY worse than calling you a douchebag...ijs

 

[dr0p]

This message has been deleted by swissqb5.

 

[dblemup]

This message has been deleted by swissqb5.

dble is loling....

 

[BIGPAPA33]

What if someone got seriously hurt by this guy and you knew it. Any kind of scenario which involved this person is not a good thing. Do the right thing and see an official about it.

Don't think being two years younger somehow makes this guy some kind of dangerous weapon.

 

[BIGPAPA33]

Calling a WOMAN a piece of ****...is DEFINITELY worse than calling you a douchebag...ijs

Some women are POS.

 

[Softball101tc]

This message has been deleted by swissqb5.

That's called restraint, my dude. Something Guru didn't use before posting his whiney drivel.

dble is loling....

You have a big ego.

 

[Brewzer]

blah blah blah...the only thing that is a POS around here is this thread

 

[STLCoach]

It is totally wrong....Heck, Jim I have known you for a long time and known you to be a man of honor. If you know it is happening and dont at least talk to him then you are wrong too.
Worst part is that altering a birth certificate is a crime.

I thought once I got to seniors the cheating crap was over.

This thread is all like.. "wow"

 

[STLCoach]

That's called restraint, my dude. Something Guru didn't use before posting his whiney drivel.

So What.. He can post what he wants. It's a public forum Lenny.

 

[dblemup]

So What.. He can post what he wants. It's a public forum Lenny.

and he should expect to get opinions of others....

 

[dj714]

lol... you have to show a birth certificate to play in senior ball?

 

[dblemup]

lol... you have to show a birth certificate to play in senior ball?

Drivers License or AARP card...

 

[louconn]

wow, you old people cry as much as the young people in softball.

 

[freak98guy]

I'd report him. Why? Cuz, **** that guy, that's why.

 

[rhound50]

I'm a couple years from playing 40+ ball, I thought moving up in age group would mean less whining. This **** makes 20 somethings talking **** about hitting middle seem far less whiny then it did an hour ago.