From: clin@eng.umd.edu (Charles Lin)
Subject: Re: Exhibition Debate
Date: Sun, 05 Apr 92 20:27:12 GMT
Organization: College of Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park
Distribution: usa
Originator: clin@coke.eng.umd.edu


In article <1992Apr5.151919.28452@cbnewsh.cb.att.com>, shun@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (shun.cheung) writes:
>
>Do people really enjoy exhibition matches once they realize that
>the players are "acting" to a certain extend? This is subjective,
>but when I watch a James Bond movie, I understand that when Sean Connary
>shoots someone, nobody actually dies. Otherwise, who wants to be his
>"enemy"? :-)  The "blood" is actually catchup. There is obviously
>no problem with that.
>
>However, sports events should be competitions more than entertainment.
>Some of us remember that when Capriati (then a rookie) played Graf
>at the Mahwah exhibition in August, 1990, she took it to three sets
>(what a surprise!) before finally losing 4-6 in the third. A lot of
>people made a big deal out of it, but Graf explained that it was just
>an exhibition. Two weeks later, Graf easily defeated Capriati 6-1, 6-2
>in the round of 16 at the US Open. IMHO, it is understandable if Steffi
>Graf didn't go all out and perhaps tested some new shots in the exhibition.
>But if she had actually made some "unforced errors" on purpose so that
>she would lose the second set to Capriati to generate some excitement,
>I would feel cheated in disguest.

   I think as long as people go into exhibitions knowing that the players
are not always playing full out (though I heard Borg used to do so even
in exhibitions) then that's OK.   It's a different matter if they think that
they are seeing the real thing.  This is the kind of cheated feeling people
get when they hear that some famous singer is lip-synching instead of
really singing live.  I don't equate the two since I expect a singer to
actually sing, but players do actually play.  It's more like Sting not
trying to sing very well since he's tired or doesn't want to do a good
job rather than lip-synching.

   In any case, there are cases, even in pro tennis, where people aren't
necessarily giving 100%.  Consider the 1980 Masters where Lendl tanked
the match to Connors so he would face Gene Mayer rather than face Borg.
Or there have been cases where players who are up two sets to love, and fall
way back in the third, just drop the set to conserve energy.  Big Bill Tilden
was known to have thrown a few games just so he could make a comeback and
wow the crowds.   Doubles teams have been known to throw matches since
doubles tends to run over to the qualifying rounds of the following
week's tournament, and some doubles players fare a bit better, moneywise,
in singles.   With more money in doubles,  this is happening less and
there are many people who can make a living by just playing doubles.

   I'll agree that everyone should try to play as hard as they can, but
I sometimes wonder if fans want to see a real 6-0, 6-0, 49 minute exhibition
rather than a fake three-set exhibition.

--
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