OT: Calling the official a "hater" and "loser"

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Because the American public at least do not give a damn about Tennis. No one talks about it on discussion sports boards.

Then, what's this?

Actually this was probably the most attention that tournament got because I could not tell you who she played or won the damn thing.

It's a big world out there, Rut. The later rounds of the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, and French Open are still picked up by either NBC or CBS. Someone in America must be watching.

Anyway, Bob wondered aloud what we can learn from this. I've learned that we have it easy, compared to some officials. Most of us wouldn't tolerate this kind of talk from athletes toward us, and we'd handle it immediately. Certainly, though, it's a different world. We get paid significantly less than this official, whose payment is partially dependent upon the television ratings her tournament receives.

Should it matter, though? Shouldn't name-calling like this toward an official always be immediately punishable within the contest? This official did nothing to squash Serena's sililoquy. Should she have taken a firmer stance?