Remedios’ encounter is not an isolated case, as a growing decline in sportsmanship has dwindled the number of active younger umpires across the United States. With 69% of umpires saying sportsmanship is declining nationally, according to the 2023 National Officiating Survey (NASO), and an aging workforce that pressures the next generation to fill their role, umpires like former professional Zach Richardson said a change in societal behavior is necessary to reverse the trend
Rocha’s rise reflects a broader shift in sports media, where authenticity and human-centered storytelling are gaining ground against the analytical approach that long dominated the field. Her work shows how women are widening the emotional range of sports coverage by bringing empathy, personality and accessibility to spaces that once demanded conformity
