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Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site ut-ngp.UTEXAS
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!ut-sally!ut-ngp!osmigo
From: osmigo@ut-ngp.UTEXAS (osmigo)
Newsgroups: net.sport
Subject: tennis pro behavior
Message-ID: <2464@ut-ngp.UTEXAS>
Date: Mon, 7-Oct-85 20:35:57 EDT
Article-I.D.: ut-ngp.2464
Posted: Mon Oct  7 20:35:57 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 9-Oct-85 06:43:40 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: UTexas Computation Center, Austin, Texas
Lines: 17


 I think one possible solution to the McEnroe Syndrome might be to give point
penalties instead of monetary fines. In football, teams lose yardage for
illegalities; they don't fine the offending player $XXX. Other sports have
similar rules, and why not do the same in tennis? An obscene gesture such as
Connor's masturbating his racket handle could cost him the point or even the
game. Another tactic might be to give players a certain amount of time before
serving, say, 1 minute or so. One problem here is that many of the problems
are somewhat fuzzily defined; we're talking about penalizing players for 
"bad" or "unsportsmanlike" behavior. These are nebulous concepts, unlike
football's "offsides" or "holding." Just where should we draw the line? A
player has every right in the world to be upset over a faulty line call that
might cost him 1000's of bucks. But HOW upset?

 
Ron Morgan (ut-ngp .UTEXAS)
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