SELF-REGULATION

John McEnroe, one of the great tennis players of the late 1970's and 1980's, a 7-time Grand Slam champion, and a surprisingly good commentator, has come up with an interesting idea. Why not get rid of tennis umpires and let the players themselves decide who has won the points, just as lesser mortals do in the local park. Unlike in the park, however, any disputes could be resolved by resorting to Hawkeye.

Why not? Given Hawkeye and the system of challenges, the umpire's role has already been reduced to not much more than calling the score in a serious voice and regulating injury time-outs. Yes, it would be revolutionary. But Hawkeye was considered revolutionary when it first arrived (no less a player than Roger Federer was against it), yet it is now accepted.

I suspect that Mr. McEnroe's idea will be rejected. However, he has sown a seed which may well bloom in a few years' time.

Walter Blotscher