WHAT PRICE SUCCESS... AND FALSE PRIDE?
Winning is everything, the taking part is essential, but the ultimate glory goes to the winner and all who sail in their moneyed fame and triumphal wake. Agents take their cut, media invitations offering a myriad of celebrity opportunities arrive with remarkable ease and Britain's latest sensation has hit the headlines. Fame lasting from fifteen minutes to a lifetime beckons.
Not that I watch, for I have little interest in perpetual grunting, but one cannot be unaware that Wimbledon is back and taking up a lot of screen time. Mr Murray has just been knocked out of the Men's Singles and our remaining hopes lie with... no, I do believe they have all gone, knocked out, defeated in the early stages. So, no surprise there, but at least they took part, which is nice if you're not overly bothered about winning, but a complete bummer if you're of an extremely competitive disposition!
With the ladies 'our' collective hopes commenced this time round apparently with Johanna Konta, Heather Watson and Emma Raducanu... oh... and there is also Naiktha Bains and Eden Silva to add to the list of flag-flying hopefuls over the next few years... maybe.
The problem is, just how 'British' are they? Heather Watson was at least born here to parents carrying British passports. That her British family history and lineage does not go back the five hundred years I would make a prerequisite for being 'British', I have to accept that this principle could be subject to discussion in certain left-wing circles. Johanna Konta's claim to represent Britain is laughable. She was born in Australia to Hungarian parents. How on earth can she so readily trade nationalities and sides? Could it be because she might, just might, win a few matches for her adopted country of choice? And whose choice was it? Did she make the move to become British and thus represent our mongrel land, or did the tennis authorities spot her and think 'We'll take a chance on this one 'ere!' Who knows, but it does make you think... No it does, really!
With regard to Emma Raducanu, this seemingly talented young lady was born in Toronto to a Hungarian father and a Chinese mother. The family moved to the UK when Emma was two years of age. Other than living here for the majority of her still young life, what qualifies her to racket for Britain? Hungary, China or failing that her country of origin, in her case, Canada all seem to be fair game, so surely her links to Blighty, other than residency are tenuous? But... she might be a winner, and that's what counts!
In the case of Leeds born Naiktha Bains, her father is Indian. She moved with him to Brisbane when she was eight years old. Now, with the previously-mentioned thoughts in mind, she could play for GB due to her being born here, however, there is a whopping great fly in a rather syrupy ointment. From 2014 to 2019 she represented Australia. She then changed allegiance and from that same year is now strutting her stuff for Britain, though she continues to be a resident of Brisbane and commutes between the two continents whilst contributing greatly to the worlds carbon footprint. I have to ask, 'Is this right?' Eden Silva, born in London is the offspring of a Russian father and a Sri Lankan mother. Why is she not representing one of the two countries she is linked to by parentage as opposed to a city her parents have adopted for either work or personal reasons? It appears to be a case of 'bugger the ethics, we need a winner! ' Game, Set and Match to misguided and unwarranted national pride...
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