Here were I live former ML umpire Dave Pallone is coming to speak on thursday at the local college. his topic will be gays in sports. has anyone heard him speak before and what questions might I be prepared to ask?

I read most of his autobiography "Behind the Mask," you might want to see if you can get your hands on a copy or look for web interviews. Ask about the affair he had with an unnamed infielder, and if it isn't possible that he was "hounded" out of MLB partly because he was hired as a scab.

Bill: thanks for bringing up "Behind the Mask", which is an excellent read. I recommend it to anyone.

[quote]Originally posted by Bill W:
Ask about the affair he had with an unnamed infielder, and if it isn't possible that he was "hounded" out of MLB partly because he was hired as a scab.

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Whew! those are really in-your-face questions, Bill W.-- not that I believe in throwing softballs .. but ...

Pallone is going to show you a video with Pete Rose, dazzle you with his easy going nature and field some pretty tough questions from the audience. When I saw him, he was going to speak to the Lakers a couple of days afterwards. I would ask him which sport is least tolerant, does he regret not fighting back harder and is Barry Bonds the greatest player ever?

Z

Wish I could be there for Pallone's talk. I really enjoyed 'Behind the Mask'. He was a gutsy, no-nonsense umpire (as I guess most are...I'm sure Ump25 will concur!) I recall Pallone named several players, umpires and other MLB officials as being particularly homophobic. Among players, Dave Concepcion comes to mind as one that Pallone especially disliked. I also remember he mentioned a brief affair he had with a popular, un-named actor, but I doubt if he will answer any questions about the guy (nor should he; I have an idea of who the actor might have been, but it's probably not appropriate to speculate here).

Shore, let us know what you thought of Pallone's talk. It will be interesting to hear if he thinks pro sports are any more accepting of gays today than they were in the 70s and 80s when he was umpiring.

[quote]Originally posted by Marc:
I also remember he mentioned a brief affair he had with a popular, un-named actor, but I doubt if he will answer any questions about the guy (nor should he; I have an idea of who the actor might have been, but it's probably not appropriate to speculate here).

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I read the book too - it seemed to me the actor's character & bio description fit Richard Gere BUT I'm not saying it was him. Wouldn't be appropriate.


[ November 20, 2002: Message edited by: copman ]

Given the descriptions from Ump25, a good question to ask Pallone is if agrees that it's so difficult for a MLB umpire to have a private life in such a way as to have a steady boyfriend/partner.

Umm, not that you question Ump's judgement, though, right?

I don't think it's a matter of questioning Ump25's judgement as it is getting another man's perspective. Ump25 and Mr. Pallone both represent a very rare resource for gay men, why not tap into them both?

Exactly, because their experiences may have differed. I remember Dave Pallone's book talked about losing his homo-virginity (Boing! So THAT's what sex is about!), but I don't recall if it was prior to or during his career.

[ November 19, 2002: Message edited by: redsoxbreath ]

Copman: I will neither confirm nor deny that your thoughts about the identity of the mystery actor are the same as mine, however I will concede that the man was, IMHO, both an officer and a gentleman.

okay, I'm not sure I'll ask about Mr Gere in his life, but the idea is interesting. I thought also a good question would be what he thought the greatest moment in baseball was--surely not Ripken's career longetivity. And I'll be happy to post some of his lecture--I'll have to take notes I guess, just like in school with all the other jocks in attendance.

I read Pallone's book just as I and it were coming out and it helped me understand that sports and gay could actually be compatible.

BTW, I have always guessed that Pallone's affair was with former Met/Padre Kevin McReynolds.

[quote]Originally posted by geogrman:
I have always guessed that Pallone's affair was with ... Kevin McReynolds.

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My recollection is that Pallone specified his affair was with a boyish middle infielder, hence not McReynolds.

I had the pleasure of meeting Dave Pallone in 1998 when he spoke at my college.
As an umpire myself (at the local level), it was quite an honor to meet him. (I was also watching the Pete Rose game when it happened since it was against the Mets).
He took me to dinner and we had a nice long talk about baseball and umpiring. He was a great guy and even autographed his book for me.
If you have the chance to hear him speak, it's well worth it.

Josh

anymore suggestions for the former ML umpire Pallone?

Posted by Shore on Nov 19:

...former ML umpire Dave Pallone is coming to speak on Thursday at the local college...

So how did it go? I'm assuming you meant Thurs, Nov 21.

Sorry for being so tardy in giving details of Dave Pallone's talk here at the local college. First I was really surprised (why?) that the audience was largely female jock types, and the older male college staff. There was one group of male jocks there and I learned that all athletes were strongly encouraged to attend. Maybe just over 150 in attendence at a school of 1200. Anyway, he showed the Pete Rose incident and gave some interesting words on living in the closet and how to live your dream, his dream having been baseball. But I thought a lot of the talk was a little undirected, too much tell, not enough show exactly. Stuff like, "Because I am here, someone in the audience will find acceptance for his life." And, "I have stopped a suicide and becaue I am telling my story, I will make a difference and stop another one." He even said that it sounded a little egotistical. For me it was just misdirected information. I think he needed more story, and probably had more story at one time, but left me wondering where the story was.
He opened the discussion up to questions and I admit to being a little National Enquirer-ish and asking him to name his former partners, which he declined of course and said that actually people had stopped asking that question. But I think given that he was speaking to a generation younger than him, he needed to appeal to them on that level as well. Hook them with a Hollywood line.
He made an interesting point about gays in baseball, similiar to the notion that if you are a major league hitter, a winning manager or whatever and also gay, the teams don't care so much if you produce the goods. He said he could form an entire team with manager (and owner?) from gay players. It wasn't such an issue.
So to conclude, there was interest in hearing him speak, but for me there could have been more context. Thanks for asking.

I've met Dave Pallone and thought him to be pleasant and articulate, but I remember when he came to give a reading in Boston (at the old Glad Day Bookstore on Boylston), perhaps it was back in 1990-91 or so, and there were a few people who were VERY angry at him because he was a "scab" during the 1979 strike (Outsports, I must say, does mention this in its blurb on his book). It's interesting and probably good that this aspect of his career has dimmed, and that he's mostly known now for his years of service and his courage to come out and stay out.

Well, geogrman always thought it was A kevin from the Mets but Kevin Elster and not McReynolds.
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[ December 17, 2002: Message edited by: maxblank ]