Tennis Chatter

I have always been quizzical about Maria Sharapova’s family motto in action. You know, whatever you do, just win. Or that famous “It’s never enough. Bring on the money. There’s no limit to how much you can make.” Sounds like IMG with an idiot board.

During their match on Day 2 of the Australian Open, Camille Pin was serving at 30-15 when Sharapova changed her racket. After the banana incident at the U.S. Open, she has been sharpening her skills at gamesmanship (a glamorous word for cheating in sports). After a ball dropped clearly by accident from Camille Pin’s skirt she let out an expletive (due to the f______ heat, maybe). Still commentators butter up over the so-called Golden Girl. Hey, they could not call her the Fairness Girl, can they? I’ll be damn if her matches will be scheduled at night while others are not. This is a traditional politician’s way: while in power siphon all privileges as much as possible. I will bet the Sharapovs will demand a preference.

She is not a quitter, she said. What? Quit when you just endorsed and energy drink and launched a hydration program in Australia? That would be a slap to the company!

Speaking of fairness, when fines were issued left and right two of tennis’ glamorous players, Roddick and Sharapova, escaped fines for verbal abuse. That would have been easy to do. In the end, organizers kowtow to the dough-providers. Hey, that’s commercial life.

Sharapova should not be hyped as a teenager anymore since she has learned the ways of the world and pretty much adapting to it long after Wimbledon while being polished with glamour and sassiness. She is the future, they say. There is no doubt at all about her “working her butt off.�? Who does not want to reap the rewards of that?

But not all that glitters is gold.