Research carried out by a motion-perception scientist, Professor George Mather of the University of Sussex, suggests that players have an unusual ability to judge the position of a fast-moving ball. True, his assertion that he had spotted chalk dust flying up from the line might not have justified his description of the match official as an "incompetent fool", but it seems it was certainly more than mere gamesmanship designed to put off his opponent, Tom Gullikson. Back in 1981, a young John McEnroe, sporting a headband and frizzy hair, was so furious at the Wimbledon umpire Edward James's refusal to rule his serve in that he uttered the immortal line "you cannot be serious" before subjecting, or perhaps treating, the centre court crowd to a tirade of ill-tempered invective.īut new evidence today suggests that McEnroe could have had a point after all. It ranks as one of the most memorable – and imitated – moments in sporting history.
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