If you haven’t heard yet, up-and-comer
Grigor Dimitrov was issued a fine of $2,640 for shoving an umpire in the chest after losing a match to
Ricardas Bernakis. In
this article, a video can also be seen of the young Bulgarian flipping the bird to an umpire after another doubles match.
While I certainly do not support violence of this sort, I must admit that it certainly makes things more interesting. Granted, the “g’day”, “cherrio old chap” tennis act is certainly respectable – it’s little more than a façade for the brutality that has come to engulf the sport of tennis. No longer is it the “well shot, mate!” sport of yesteryears, but rather the racquet-smashing xtreme-this, hyper-that sport embraced by heavy hitting grunters.
In essentially crafting younger players to emulate the attitude that bigger, stronger and faster is better, tennis has created its own evil – complete with teenage punks that like to cuss and fight. I can’t say that I didn’t partake in such exciting acts as a youngster – it certainly seems as modern society is geared toward such predispositioned angst.
So while I certainly do frown upon such immature behavior, the impression that society (and tennis culture!) has made on our youth should not be ignored. Actions such as these are reprimandable, but not surprising. They are the product of a violent culture. And as we have undoubtedly learned over the past thousands of years, violence begets violence (MLK Jr.). So start now to create a better tomorrow. And treat everyone kindly.
I will leave you with these wise words by Confucius: “
It is easy to hate and it is difficult to love. This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve; and bad things are very easy to get.”
What's on your mind?
Post a comment below.
Current rating: 0 (0 ratings)