It's been far from a rock star's life this summer, but Rick Brennan does have some things in common with one: bouncing from city to city, living in hotel rooms and working in front of big crowds.

But they aren't screaming for him. Mostly at him.

Brennan, a 2004 Morton grad, is spending his summer as an umpire in the Northwoods League, a summer baseball organization composed of top college players from all across the country. When it's all done, Brennan will have worked 68 games this summer.

"It's definitely been a long summer, but hopefully it pays off," Brennan said.

Working a two-man crew all summer, Brennan and his partner have traveled throughout the Northwoods League, a 14-team league that includes six teams in Minnesota, five in Wisconsin, one each in Michigan and Iowa, and even one in Canada (Ontario).

Brennan isn't getting rich by any means, making $3,200 for the entire summer, but all his meals and travel expenses are taken care of. Plus, he's hoping to hit a big payday down the road -- getting a job as a major league umpire.

So far Brennan has done everything right. Thanks to his dad, Glenn, a fellow local umpire, Rick got the itch early. After playing at Morton and then for a couple of years at Franklin College, he decided he wanted to stay around the game and got in touch with the right people.

Ryan Bothwell, who is in charge of the Hammond Umpires Association, got Rick going in the right direction. After graduating from Franklin College this past December, he headed to The Wendelstedt Umpire School in Daytona Beach, Fla., for top-notch training.

"I really enjoy it and I feel I'm pretty good at it," Brennan said. "I felt I went as far as I could back home, and figured I'd give it a shot and see what happens."

Brennan has a history degree from Franklin "to fall back on," but isn't even thinking about changing gears at this point. He plans to come back home after the season, be a substitute teacher, then head back to umpire school again, with hopes of getting into rookie ball next summer.

"You have to pay your dues and put in your time -- and get lucky," Brennan said. "If you get in at the right time, and I think I have, guys will be retiring. Maybe six to 10 years down the road ... you never know what can happen."

Brennan is already a quasi celebrity with his buddies, especially after being in a YouTube clip where the coach of the Green Bay Bullfrogs throws his hat and kicks dirt arguing a called ball by Brennan.

"He got fired two days later," Brennan said. "I don't know if that had anything to do with it, but I've had my fair share of arguments. I've been involved with probably 10 ejections this summer."

Brennan admits you need thick skin for the job, but it still has its moments.

"You can't tune (coaches and fans) out completely. We're still human," Brennan said. "It's one of the things you don't enjoy about the job, but it comes with the territory."

SUMMER BASEBALL