Wanna be an Umpire? He’ll Teach You How

As a kid, my dream was always to play center field for my beloved Chicago Cubs. Only a few things stood in my way...lack of skill, lack of talent, and the inability to hit a curveball (there are a few more things on the list, but I've only got so much space here).

Sure, you could give up your dream of making a living at the old ballpark. Or, you could find your way onto the field by dressing in black and calling balls and strikes. Maybe you can't hit one out of the stadium, but you could toss someone out of the game.

I've always found it hard to believe that there are people who willingly go out there every day to take the wrath of the fans, the players, and anyone else who thinks that they "totally blew that call!"

But they do. And, lots of them learned to do it by attending the Wendelstedt Umpire School, the only independently run professional umpire school recognized by Major League Baseball.

So, if long days/nights of squatting, shouting, and keeping a plate clean appeals to you, check it out:

Here's a look at the lighter side of umpiring: