Plain crazy
I HAVE said it before but let me say it again if only to stress my fierce opposition to it.
It is about tennis players carrying their own bags.
They go to battle lugging a minimum of two bags stuffed with racquets, towels, shirts, shoes, socks etc. After the match, same scene. Why they do it is just plain crazy. I refer to all the world’s superstars of the game. Past and present. From Newcombe to Nadal, from Wade to the Williams Sisters Venus and Serena.
They all strut into the courts with almost both of their shoulders heavy with bags.
How can they relax before each battle?
Why this routine, habit, hasn’t changed through time is a puzzle as troubling as Digong’s sudden hatred against God.
I will readily understand if a player is just starting to build a career in tennis. Obviously, he doesn’t have the money yet to pay for extra hands.
But, hey, this is Wimbledon. Once you make it there, bag-boys’ fees become mere chicken feed. And it’s the same as well in the other majors, notably the Australian, French and U.S. Opens.
How much does a player like Nadal or Federer,
Serena or Maria, earn in a season, if not one just major? More than enough to buy each one of them a mansion at Forbes Park.
Them having bag-carriers would cost them mere popcorn money—even maybe less.
Have you seen Tiger Woods carrying his own golf bag while playing, whether during practice or not?
Have you seen LeBron James carrying a duffel bag on his way to the Quicken Loans Arena?
Have you seen Manny Pacquiao carrying his own towel and pail of water each time he climbs a ring?
It’s really an aberration. From Rod Laver to Bjorn Borg, from Pete Sampras to Novak Djokovic, no one among them has ever employed someone to carry their bags going to and coming from the battle of arena. Just plain idiocy. What pains me deeply is when I see a Wimbledon top seed and defending champion lose to a complete nobody. It just happened couple of days back in the Wimbledon quarters, Simona Halep bowing to a skinny unknown surnamed Hsieh from Taiwan.
On her way out of the court, didn’t Halep’s duffels weigh like huge bags of cement slung on her shoulders? Double whammy.