I have two comments to make about the spectacle that is Wimbledon.
First, the retractable roof over Centre Court.
I'm boycotting Wimbledon this year because of the roof.
We see how money can influence and take away a special element from one of the oldest, most prestigious sporting events in the world.
They played Wimbledon for over a century without a roof. Now there's a roof. So now they can keep things moving. Get all the important matches in.
But at what cost?
The bleacher bums won't be able to get in on that once-a-generation Monday Wimbledon Final. And something else is lost. Rain delays were just a part of the event for over a hundred years. Now they're minimized to mixed doubles matches in the far courts. Wimbledon isn't the same as it was without the roof. Tradition once again takes a backseat to filling wallets and worshiping at the teat of Television.
Speaking of television, they must be thrilled. Both Venus and Serena Williams have advanced to the Quarter Finals of the Women's Draw. On the men's side, Andy Roddick has survived to the "Elite 8". It's really the best that Television could have hoped for.
And why is that?
Since the beginning of televised tennis in the United States, the theme has been jingoism and nationalism. It's not an event where you celebrate great players. Television has always fed the nationalistic angle. They highlight American players, and foster an "Us vs. Them" mentality.
That worked great in the 1970's. It still worked well even to the beginning of this decade. But the past five years have seen tennis flourish around the world, and it has become more of a world sport without the U.S. domination. So Television is presented with the problem of how to promote this sport, when the finals of Men's Wimbledon may not sport an American player for another generation.
And the truth is, they can't. What they have promoted for decades is so deeply ingrained, that American fans have no interest in a "Russia vs. Sweeden" Final. Television chose its destiny and now it must live with the consequences of poor ratings when Americans do poorly most years.
21
Rand