RAINER'S RAMBLINGS
Change, is it good or bad?
By RAINER ARNOLD Union Sentinel Publisher

This is actually a Rambling's with sports undertones, but they are a valid topic here. I was watching Wimbledon the other day and I heard that this year, for the first time, the men and the women winners would receive the same about of prize money. I guess people have complained long enough that women were getting less.

So here is my thought. The women play three sets and the men play up to five sets. Seems to me if they both get the same amount of money that they ought to play the same amount of sets. I mean, after all, what is fair is fair. Therefore if the men play more, they should get paid more. Just my thinking.

Anyway, while I was watching the guys play it was obvious that their serves were tremendous where the women volley more even though they have pretty powerful serves as well.

What I did notice when the women were playing is that they grunt and shriek and moan to the point that they make it almost unbearable to watch because of their noises. What is with that? I have seen tennis being played at high school matches and the girls there do not scream. Why is it that these professional athletes have to make that much noise every time they hit a ball.

Also, as far as Wimbledon is concerned, it is said that all players have to wear white only. They are not going to change that tradition. They are allowing change, however, in other areas. First the screaming, second the pay outs and third the behavior that is being tolerated.

So I don't think Wimbledon is the status tournament that is most revered anymore. It is a great tournament, but it has changed. And whether change is good or bad is up to the people who watch and pay admission. But as far as I am concerned, I am sorry to see some of the changes and I do not like the equal prize money when one group plays more than the other and I certainly do not like the screaming. Let me know your thoughts, if you care to, email me at the paper.