Opinion | Dear Wimbledon, welcome to the 21st century, you’re late and why did Nike pull its Betsy Ross flag sneakers?
- Wimbledon is dropping reference to female players’ marital status, but will still refer to it when discussing fouls or penalties
- Meanwhile, Nike has pulled a pair of sneakers featuring an old version of the American flag because covering up history is all the rage these days
This week, in our cultural age of outrage, we have one of the oldest and most storied sports tournaments finally joining the modern world – and Nike pulling a pair of sneakers off the market because history is apparently better left forgotten than remembered.
The announcement Wimbledon was dropping the titles “Miss”, “Ms” and “Mrs” when referring to female tennis players for the 2019 tournament was met with equal parts snobbery and what I can only describe as “Oh snap, they were doing that in the first place?”.
The All England Lawn Tennis Club and Croquet Club, which sounds like the stuffiest organisation since the Old White Men in Suits Drinking Brandy Cigar Club, announced its umpires will, for the most part, be forgoing the honorifics when referring to female players.
But, in typical Wimbledon fashion – or lack thereof, given all players must wear white clothing – female competitors’ marital status will still be exposed when discussing a foul or penalty. There is no way to spin this public relations disaster without tournament organisers looking both silly and outdated. Wimbledon, it’s the 21st century. Seriously, how are you still making this a thing?
Add in the fact that up until 2009 married female players were referred to by their husband’s names and this gets face-palm bad. I’m all for tradition, a bit of etiquette and preserving the heritage of iconic sporting events, but there is a big difference between requiring certain attire and basically verbally addressing women as property.
