SPORTS promotion is a business not without considerable risk as those involved locally and internationally with the 'High Noon in Hong Kong' debacle know to their cost.
The cost is measured in an awful lot of dollars, of the American variety, plus total credibility.
Those whose working lives centre on the tricky business of persuading Hong Kong people to part with dollars to enter an arena to watch some sporting endeavour are usually known to play safe. There are few who take a complete gamble and attempt to foist international croquet upon us.
The latest sporting venture slightly later this month is the exhibition match between the Chang and McEnroe brothers but, if you can, forgive me in advance for looking at this one with a slightly jaundiced eye.
Tennis seems to be 'in' here and at grassroots level is a tremendously popular sport. Tennis promotion has not been without its ups and downs over the years but has basically thrived because of sponsorship from the cigarette manufacturers - who shall remain nameless here and should do so in all sporting publications.
There's nothing like having your costs underwritten before a tennis ball is smashed across the net.