Ode to the Code

Background.

         This piece was composed by Robin Blackburne to replace the informational but somewhat irritating "pep talk" given to the players in previous years at the beginning of the Annual Bermuda International Tennis Championships by the rather officious US former Director of the Tennis Tournament.

          It was first read by the author, who was the tournament Chairman that year, at the Monday night welcoming cocktail party for the players at Newstead, Bermuda on

10 November 1985.

        

                           ODE TO THE CODE

Please remember, don't forget

To buy each day the Royal Gazette

And study well the morning schedule.

Unless you're early out of bed you'll

Very likely miss your game

And that would be a crying shame

When on the court the rule is "whites"

(This note is just for neophytes).

Now warming up should be just that -

Enough to raise the thermostat.

Please keep the score and call the lines

With voice stentorian  - not signs.

A thousandth part of just a hair

May catch the tape  - but could you swear

That speeding ball was in or out ?

So if there is the slightest doubt

The gentlemanly thing to do

Is give the point to you know who.

Rule forty-three you may recall

Says if, perchance, a rolling ball

Invades your court from foreign parts

Or, during play, the umpire farts

You are obliged to call a let.

And now a little etiquette:-

Don't chuck your racket in the air

Or smash it on the umpire's chair

Or shout if you have lost or won.

At Coral Beach - it isn't done.

                                                          Robin Blackburne,  10 November 1985

Background.

The International Invitational Tennis Championships, held at Coral Beach Club, Bermuda, require all players to wear white tennis attire.

Some players occasionally sought to wear tee-shirts and coloured tennis apparel and this addendum to Ode to the Code, read after the Ode to the Code, was written by Robin Blackburne to make players gently aware of the tournament dress code rules.

It was first read at Horizons during the Monday night welcoming party on

13 November 1990

Addendum to Ode to the Code

For those who did not understand

Why Mr. Agassi was banned

From playing on the hallowed grass

Of Wimbledon  -  which still has class.

It was because he wanted to

Wear tee-shirts painted green and blue.

So thus, at Coral Beach's hub,

We think that the All England Club

Has got a very neat idea

Which we intend to follow here.

The rule is that all players wear whites

Including shorts and socks and tights

And shoes and warm-up pants and shirts

And sweaters, headbands, caps and skirts.

So please this week do not besport

A tee-shirt when upon the court.

It's OK for a jog or run.

      But………….

At Coral Beach it just ain't done.

                                                      Robin Blackburne, 13 November 1990