The Sashman Speaks

sooo the latest update on my knee for those who are curious. I had the MRI and the results were that I have a small tear in my patella tendon, and a small stress fracture in my Tibula.  Both are not big enough to require surgery and the next step is PT which I started yesterday and will be continuing throughout the month of March.  The hopes of strengthening, and building up my knee in order to be on the fields by the first week of April.  Other then that I am pretty relieved to have been upgraded from the massive-assive brace with hinges and straps and to a knee stabilizing brace which allows me more weight bearing activities.  Still not fully able to put 100% weight on my knee but, with the stretches I was given I am very optimistic that by the time I am back on a field my knee/leg will be stronger then it has been.

Sooo had my MRI today and now just have to wait a week to get the results back.  if for those who don't know already, according to my X-ray I have a small tear in my meniscus as well as a small tear in my patella tendon which supports the knee cap which on the xray is actually above where it should be.  My thinking right now is that depending on how severe the tear in both my meniscus and tendon are is to get surgery to clean/repair my knee.  As much as I would like to get the quick fix with rehab and strengthening my knee which would allow me to  get back on the field as soon as I can, I need to think of the long term effects of not getting surgery and going out onto the field and potentially injuring my knee further.  I don't want to be out on a field and be worried about whether or not this game would be the one that my knee is injured further, I want to be able to focus on the game at hand and that is why I am seriously considering getting the surgery. ...

Soo I am officially back home in VT and am still in amazement at the accomplishment of not only going to Umpire School, but just how much I have learned and grown as a person, and as an Umpire.  I am sooo honored to have gotten the chance to not only work with some of the best umpires in the Majors, but also some of the best Minor League guys, and with some of the best young amateur umpires from not just around the country but the world.  I am very excited for all the guys who made the "next level" at PBUC which is one step closer to the minor leagues for them.  I am hopeful for the Pro's to have a great season, and as for me I am just excited to take what I learned at the school, over the 5 weeks, and be able to apply it on the fields.

Well tonight concludes my 5 week journey here at Umpire School. I will be an official member of the graduating class of 2013. This has been a dream of mine to come here for the past 3 years and I am soo honored and proud to say that I have achieved my goal of coming, and more so successfully completing and graduating.   There have been soo many moments and I can't pick just one. I can't begin to thank everyone who has stood by myside, and encouraged, supported, listened, and just have been there for me over the past 11 years.  I can't wait to see everyone once I get back home from Florida, and to tell them about my experience here.