Who's Joe West!?

Do you know? I didn't before today. Joe West is an MLB umpire. He's been making some noise this week.  First he ripped the Yankees and the Red Sox for their slow play, calling it "pathetic" and "embarassing." Then, yesterday, he called not one, but two balks on White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle, which resulted in ejections for both manager Ozzie Guillen and Buehrle. I also learned, from the linked article above, that he's a country singer and entertainer? I don't typically agree with anyone in a White Sox uniform, but I have to agree with some of the comments Mr. Buehrle had regarding the incident after the game.

It does seem a bit suspicious for an MLB umpire to be in the news twice in the same week he has released a new album, doesn't it?