Wellity Wellity Wellity....Goody Goody Flanders needs help from Stinky Pants Simpson

So Wimbledon is here again, as they say. However, although I can't be sure, I don't think Wimbledon goes anywhere else for the rest of the year. I'll look into it but I haven't seen a suburb of London on the Eurostar just yet.

And what does Wimbledon bring with it? Yes that hysteria only the British can exhibit as they convince themselves our players are far superior to the higher ranked, more successful opponents. Case in point - England at the World Cup. Anyway, this year is slightly different as everyone knows Henman won't beat Federer tomorrow in the 2nd round and despite accepting Murray is an incredible talent, people tend to think he hasn't the physical stamina to maintain his performance over two weeks. Yet. Oh, nearly forgot Greg Rusedski (already out at time of print) who despite being Britain's official Number 1, has been banished to the outside courts that no-one watches. Apparently he's become more Canadian now he doesn't win as many matches as when he first came over here.

But what Wimbledon has also brought with it (back from its holidays) in recent years is the debate over equal pay. Now don't get me wrong, I am perhaps the most chauvanistic person in the world. I believe women should be at home making the tea and not playing tennis. However, if they are unmarried then ok, they may be allowed to pursue other interests, such as playing tennis. And if so, I really am a little ashamed that women players do not get paid as much as their male counterparts at Wimbledon.

People argue that as women play fewer sets than men at the major championships, then they shouldn't get paid as much. Personally, I shout Balderdash! Are they seriously suggesting men train more outside of games? travel more in between events? take longer in the showers? My untrained tennis eye very much doubts this. It's the average players I genuinely feel sorry for, not really that the winner only gets six hundred and something thousand (which the French think is the problem), but those who have to pay their air-fares and accomodation and coaching fees etc. out of their winings, not the millions Nike or Adidas give them each year.

Shit. I guess this means I agree with Venus Williams, who has been the most outspoken tennis star this week. I've never really liked her or her sister but she does make a good argument, pointing out that last year's women's final was longer than the men's. Seriously, Wimbledon should catch up with the rest of us, in the 21st century. Oh and take that more time on the court argument with you when you go on holiday in two weeks time.

PS. Good luck Andre Agassi, one of my favourite players because of his whole attitude towards the game, as he takes on his final ever Wimbledon.
PPS. Title is one of my favourite Simpsons lines and just popped into my head. It would have been "People, People...We're all frightened and Horny" but I used it last year in a group email and still giggle and Jeffrey's reply stating he wasn't frightened.
PPPS. I haven't used many illustrations in this blog recently so here are a few to continue the tennis theme of this post. Ciao!






(Shh...Sharapova's my favourite!)