Official Favoritism

Several chair umpires have responded to the outstretched hand of the winner in a manner that I can only describe as
"enthusiastic congratulation..."

With a large crowd, TV audience, and instant replay, I do not, for a moment, think that there is any real opportunity for a chair umpire to influence the outcome of a match. Neither do I believe that the thought would ever cross their minds.
I know a number of chair umpires at the highest level of the sport and have the greatest respect for their ability and professionalism.
Having been a very low-level chair umpire myself, I know how difficult their job is.

But, having said all that, it makes me very uncomfortable to see such overt displays of cameraderie
from a chair umpire towards the winner of a match that he has just presided over.
A smile and a "well done" equally shared with both players is one thing.
What I have recently seen is quite another...

And at the Hamburg Masters, we have Tournament Director, Walter Knapper,
sitting with Roger Federer's girlfriend throughout his semifinal match against Nikolay Davydenko...

But at least it is not as bad as what occurred after a final of a Bausch & Lomb tournament at Amelia Island...

Most people believe we have the 'best seat in the house' at the side of the court while taking pictures of the event.
In reality we see far less of 'the match' than TV viewers
 as we tend to be focused on just one player at a time and see little of the rallies

Watching this match later on TV, I was shocked to see winner Lindsay Davenport's mother appear on the screen
watching from her seat in the stands as the award ceremony got underway.
Although a fairly unusual occurrence, it was not her presence at the tournament that shocked me
it was who was sitting alongside her - WTA Chair umpire Lynn Welch
who had just chaired the final that Lindsay had won...!

Now, I absolutely believe in Ms Welch's impartiality and professionalism.
I have seen her in action in too many matches to believe otherwise.
What shocks me is that she - and the gathered tennis dignitaries - WTA CEO Larry Scott was just a few feet away -
should think it appropriate for a chair umpire to go and sit with the family of the winner immediately after the match.

I think that people who are in a position of influence over a match or event should be - and be seen to be -
quite separate from - and unattached to - the competitors.

I think that the appearance of favoritism is as bad as the exercise of it...