by Pete Bodo
Mornin!
So while we've been pre-occupied with fairly weighty matters here, some news that will bring a smile to many of your faces just came through the pipeline: On Sunday, May 17th, the All-England Club, Wimbledon, will stage a special event to celebrate (and test) the new roof that has been installed over Centre Court. The festivities will include an exhibition match, featuring four names so familiar that it ought to banish any notion that what the AEC really wants to see is whether or not the roof collapses on everyone's head.
One of the icons who traipse onto the greensward a month before Wimbledon begins will be Andre Agassi. And as you know, Andre often insists that his wife, Steffi, accompany him to social functions, so she'll be there too - along with Tim Henman and Kim Clijsters - that's right, our much loved (by you), much maligned (by me). . . Champagne Kimmy, you remember, the plump lass who hates tennis but loves little puppies and children and long walks on the beach and - of course - pina coladas!
According to the official communique from Wimbledon: The event is designed to test the new roof and air management system with live tennis in front of a capacity crowd of 15,000. The programme will feature a men’s singles, a ladies’ singles and a mixed doubles match all played to the pro set format – the first to 8 games, with a tie-break at 8-8. The exact order of play will be confirmed nearer the time.
Ticket priced at £35.00 will go on general sale via Ticketmaster (0844 847 2481) at 10.00 am on Thursday 12 March 2009. There will be no on-day sales at the turnstiles. I am hoping that TW can score a credential for Rosangel to cover the event.
I wonder, is it possible to revive the original name of Mt. Murray, just for the day? Some of you may remember that the towering peak rose from the loam and turf of the serve-and-valley of the dinosaurs as Henman Hill, and many ancients and druids abandoned Stonehenge to worship there.