Posted on 06/19/2005 12:56:59 AM PDT by kingattax
LONDON (AFP) - Grunting noises made by female tennis players as they strike the ball are getting out of hand, and rules should be changed to crack down on the practice, Wimbledon referee Alan Mills has said, according to a report.
Mills, Wimbledon's chief official for 22 years who retires after this week's tournament, which begins on Monday, told The Sunday Times he believed coaches were teaching young women players to grunt.
"I don't like it at all. Today there is probably more grunting than there has ever been," he said.
"If I was playing an opponent making so much noise, I think I'd just laugh. But it's what young players are being coached to do.
"Many of the non-grunting players are unhappy about the noise pollution and a kind of counter-grunt culture has emerged in recent years whereby offended parties ape their opponent's noises."
He added: "Officials can only act if the player is shown to be making the noise on purpose, which is virtually impossible to do.
"As far as I am concerned it is certainly a specific matter that the rule makers should address."
One of the loudest of the modern grunters is defending women's champion Maria Sharapova, who, according to the paper, makes a 100-decibel grunt, roughly the same volume as small aircraft landing nearby
It would be very simple to use electronic noise meters. It goes off - you're disqualified.
One of those "there oughta be a law against everything" kind of guys.
Much ado about nothing...
perhaps, but the original noise maker was Miss HA-HEE herself, Monica Seles, was soooo annoying (I believe her first name was Monica)
I think they use it as a weapon. They often grunt louder when they hit the ball lighter to throw off the opponent. Anything for a small advantage... Personally I think it sucks and is a low thing to do - lets just play tennis without all the distractions.
You are correct.
Ace...40 Love...
What's next? Farding?
One does wonder why baseball and softball players generally don't grunt at all when they hit a much heavier ball a much greater distance than tennis players do.
What a control freak. One of those who seems to believe that the world revolves around him.
I'll bet he still wets the bed.
Her nickname was Moan-ick-a Seles.
This referee must have no sex life to speak of.
And one more comment ...
As is my choice, I no longer watch pro football because of all the show-boating. The Patriots are an exception ...
To me, the showboating in the NFL ruined the game as a team sport -- the NFL is NOT the NBA. Likewise, the over-the-top grunting spoils the sport of tennis.
In tennis, you CAN call a fault for spoken or voiced noises made by your opponent that disrupt YOUR game. Likewise, so can the referee.
Deal with it in your own way, but the ref is right.
I suppose a prohibition on the unseemly act of prespiring will follow......Ungh!
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