Fresh from the "Only in America" files comes another saga in the colourful career of controversial Major League Baseball umpire and wannabe country singing star Joe West.

In a scenario which would be considered way beyond the boundaries of normality on our shores, the 57-year-old veteran umpire was recently fined an undisclosed sum by America's MLB for his part in a sequence of headline-making episodes which the sport's governing body has clearly interpreted as being detrimental to the image of the game.

Born in Asheville, North Carolina, West became a major league umpire in 1976 at 23 years of age and has now officiated over 4,000 games. Nicknamed "Cowboy Joe", media reports in the US depict him as a polarising character who has gained a reputation for being a serial attention-seeker and shamelessly theatrical on and off the field. It is suggested that he has a liking for being a visible presence in games. Some of West's more fervent critics have even gone so far as questioning at times the accuracy and, even more damningly, the integrity of his decision making.

Astonishingly, West engages the services of a publicist. Yes, you read right. A personal PR agent, armed with the mission of promoting West and his own line of umpire clothing and equipment merchandise. There are also the two country albums West has recorded, Blue Cowboy and Diamond Dreams, in which he pours out songs penned with an emphasis on baseball rather than lost love. Both CDs and his successful merchandise line are spruiked on his dedicated website. If that implausible combination of talents is not enough, West also previously flirted briefly with Hollywood fame, playing an umpire in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad in 1988.

Not for the first time this season, West brought attention to himself with his ejections of Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen and pitcher Mark Buehrle during their 5-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians a month ago. Guillen and Buerhle were given their marching orders for their responses to two separate balk calls by West. A balk is one of the lesser-known rules in baseball, restricting the actions of the pitcher when there are runners on base. In general, a balk is called whenever a pitcher interrupts the pitching motion. Balk calls are seldom made, but two in one game is a rarity.

Firstly, Guillen was ejected during the second innings of the game when he entered the field following the first balk call and approached West, who was umpiring on third base. Guillen insists that his motive was merely to calm the situation and clarify why the umpire was embarrassing his team's pitcher, a version of the event which West hotly disputes. One innings later, West further inflamed tensions with a highly controversial second balk on Buerhle, a decision which was variously described in the media as vindictive and incorrect. The angered pitcher flung his glove to the ground and was duly sent on his way by West for his defiance of the umpire's authority.

Both player and coach had plenty to say on the matter in their post-game comments. "I think he's too worried about promoting his CD," Buehrle wryly observed. "And I think he likes seeing his name in the papers a little bit too much instead of worrying about the rules," the aggrieved pitcher added for good measure. The reaction of White Sox manager Guillen was an expletive-laden outburst in which he suggested West sometimes thinks people pay to watch him umpire.

Escaping suspension, neither Buehrle nor Guillen could have been surprised to be penalised financially, but MLB had also tired of Cowboy Joe's recent antics. In April, West displeased officialdom by criticising slow play between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox which he described as "pathetic and embarrassing". West unwisely reopened those unhealed wounds by having his publicist inform the media that he was happy to revisit his comments and making the umpire's upcoming schedule available to help facilitate further discussions.

Whether it was that specific incident or a cumulative effect with the fall-out from the Guillen/Buehrle ejections which proved to be straw that finally broke the camel's back, MLB evidently believed West had taken one too many steps into the spotlight and subsequently intervened to fine their umpire. MLB was reluctant to elaborate on the details of the penalty imposed on West, who also carries the title of president of his profession's union known as the World Umpires' Association.

Here in Australia, it is difficult to think of any examples of a major sport having resorted to fining one of its umpires. Demotions of umpires due to performance are commonplace in many sports, but imposing monetary sanctions for an offence that basically amounts to grand-standing is another thing altogether.

The previously incomprehensible notion of an umpire utilising a publicist does beg some obvious questions. Are our own umpires also capable of being marketable commodities? Do any of the AFL's more familiar men in white or the referees from the NRL or A-League soccer possess hidden talents which may alert an opportunistic spin doctor into action?

On further thought, cricket has bred more than its fair share of eccentric umpires over the years across its major playing nations. Perhaps a quick-thinking agent could somehow help Kiwi umpire Brent ‘Billy" Bowden turn his bizarre hand signals into purposeful grabs for extra cash?

The US sports media has speculated that these latest events may cause West to hasten his retirement from umpiring. It is thought that Cowboy Joe may ride off into the sunset sooner rather than later, sadly in danger of finishing his long career as an object of ridicule rather than an admired servant of the sport and figure of respect as someone with such longevity of service as him deserves.

In digesting the West soap opera it is impossible not to contemplate what John "Sammy" Newman, the most outspoken critic of umpires being noticeable identities in AFL football, would make of it all.

Chris West is a Melbourne-based sports writer and no relation to umpire Joe West.