More on Tennis Rage

Don't get me wrong: in my previous post, I wasn't criticizing players for expressing emotion.

There are strategic and tactical reasons for dissembling, concealing your emotions on court, but no moral ones. Emotions just are: there's nothing right or wrong about them. So long as players have self control and express their feelings metely -- that is with a sense of measure that keeps their conduct decent -- there's nothing really wrong with expressing emotion on court, whether that emotion be joy, frustration, anger, or whatever. That's just being honest.

But this isn't that...

Frankly, it's over the top and seems put on.

There has been this advertizing meme since the 1990's = "Let 'er rip, boys and girls, and cross the 'borderline.'" In other words: "Go wild!" It is the antithesis of the old saying Moderation in all things. It has sold a lot of other commodities by the truckload, and now it's selling the icons of tennis.

Just as politicians have learned that they can't make the nightly news without launching some smear against their opponent, and as Middle Eastern Arabs have learned that they must do something outrageous to play to the cameras, tennis players are learning that they won't get their picture published without being, shall we say, "photogenic" with rage.

There's money, as well as flattering fame, in publicity.

But spare us the hype, please. Those faces look like they should be under helmets with AK-47s in hand instead of tennis rackets.

Someday these players will look back on these photos with embarrassment. Don't sell yourself like that for attention. You are a human being, not an artificial persona for public consumption.

I have nothing against the old "clenched" fist gesture. I could have posted photos of Roger Federer with his fists both raised in triumph...but he has a happy smile on his face in those photos. So, the gesture means something totally different in that case than it does (especially midmatch) in the photos I posted yesterday. He isn't AIMING his fist at anything and with a look that could kill on his face.

Don't tell me that players aren't also trying to intimidate their opponents with the fist-pumping roars and get in their heads. It's often just plain, old taunting.

And the male hip thrusting speaks for itself. Spare us that narcissism, please.

It's already really getting old and has become a cliche.