Umpires in the line of fire

0 Comments | USA TODAY, June, 2008 | by Paul White

LAFAYETTE, La. -- Greg Bonin gets in his car sometimes and just sits there. A native of this southern Louisiana town, he can't remember where he was planning to go. Other times, he reads a chapter in a book -- then reads it again because he can't remember any of it.

But that's better than the days the former umpire had to "crawl in bed, draw the curtains and curl up in a fetal position" or the seven months he felt like "I had an ice pick stuck above my eye."

A series of concussions suffered working behind home plate ended his 18-year career in 2001. Five current major league umps aren't working because of injuries caused by blows to the head. They wonder how much of Bonin's experience is their future and worry more than Bonin ever had to about making ends meet...