Randy Smith
The high school baseball and softball season begins for real this week in Tennessee and for the first time in more than twenty years, someone other than Terry Cordell will assign games for area TSSAA umpires. Cordell passed away suddenly last July after suffering a heart attack. His death saddened so many of the “Men in Blue” who all wanted to do something to honor his memory. When you see an umpire in a middle school, or a high school baseball, or softball game this spring, look on the jacket or shirt. It’s a small pin, shaped as a red and blue ribbon with the words, “In memory of Terry Cordell” engraved. At the bottom of each part of the ribbon, is a white baseball on one side and a yellow softball on the other. Plain, simple and to the point; just like Terry Cordell was.
I knew Terry for many years before I started working as a local TSSAA umpire in 2010. He was always friendly and cordial, but I never really knew him until I worked for him. As far as leading the men in blue shirts, there was nobody better. He could give you praise and encouragement or chew you a new one if you messed up. That was up to you. He was always fair and honest, and his schedules were always correct. If there was a problem, it was a coach’s fault or an umpires’ problem, not his.
Ralph Chambers is the man chosen to take Terry’s place as the local TSSAA assigner. Soon after he agreed to take the job, Ralph said, “I can’t be Terry Cordell. Nobody can. So, I’m just going to be Ralph and do the best job I can.” So far, Ralph’s leadership has been superb. Following Terry Cordell’s death last summer, while everyone was speculating about who the new assigner would be, I felt there was only one person for the job, and that was Ralph Chambers. I was right.
Some coaches have told me in private that Ralph is always upbeat, but he gets upset easily. My advice always is to, “Cut him some slack. This is a tough job and his feet are barely wet.” The weekly meetings and training of all area umpires started in early January, and so far there have been few mishaps and mistakes, all the way through pre-season scrimmage games.
In early March each spring, the umpires all get together at Wally’s in East Ridge for their annual pre-season banquet. This event, started by Terry Cordell, officially kicks off the baseball and softball seasons. There are always funny stories, a great meal, door prizes and plenty of good fellowship. Awards are handed out for years of service, and all new umpires are introduced. Every year, at the end of the banquet, before the meeting was adjourned, Terry would always say, “Guys, call each game like it was the seventh game of the World Series. It’s that important to these kids.”
So, when you see a TSSAA umpire this spring, look for that pin honoring the late Terry Cordell on his or her lapel. And know this; for Terry, Ralph Chambers and all the “Men in Blue”, it’s all about the kids.
Contact Randy Smith at rsmithsports@comcast.net
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Randy Smith has been covering sports in Tennessee for the last 42 years. After leaving WRCB-TV in 2009, he has continued his broadcasting career as a free-lance play-by-play announcer, author and is also a media concepts teacher at Red Bank High School in Chattanooga. He is currently teaching an "Intro To Sportscasting" class at Red Bank, the only class of its type in Tennessee. Randy Smith's career has included a 17-year stint as scoreboard host and pre-game talk show host on the widely regarded "Vol Network". He has also done play by play of more than 500 college football, basketball, baseball and softball games on ESPN, ESPN2, Fox Sports, CSS and Tennessee Pay Per View telecasts. He was selected as "Tennessee's Best Sports Talk Show Host" in 1998 by the Associated Press. He has won other major awards including, "Best Sports Story" in Tennessee and his "Friday Night Football" shows on WRCB-TV twice won "Best Sports Talk Show In Tennessee" awards. He has also been the host of "Inside Lee University Basketball" on CSS for the past 10 years. Randy and his wife, Shelia, reside in Hixson. They have two married children (Christi and Chris Perry Davey and Alison Smith). They also have one grandchild (Coleman).