BS: US Open tennis query

10 Sep 11 - 10:12 PM (#3221382)
Subject: BS: US Open tennis query
From: MGM·Lion

A woman has sat just behind and alongside the umpire's chair throughout, following the entire play [including the toss-up, for which she left her chair] with a long, narrow device at the end of a cable. I do not recall such a person or device present on any previous occasion. What, precisely, is she doing?

~Michael~

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10 Sep 11 - 10:33 PM (#3221390)
Subject: RE: BS: US Open tennis query
From: MGM·Lion

... and why the [to my eye somewhat threatening] presence thru Saturday of several hefty security men deployed round court perimeter, keeping watchful eye on the spectators throughout knock-ups and changeovers, but not during play? Anything to do with '11.9.01' being inscribed on the court on side opposite umpire's chair?

~M~

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11 Sep 11 - 01:53 PM (#3221617)
Subject: RE: BS: US Open tennis query
From: MGM·Lion

Refresh ~~ Does nobody really know answer to what that long narrow handheld device is following and measuring or recording or whatever?

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11 Sep 11 - 06:10 PM (#3221721)
Subject: RE: BS: US Open tennis query
From: gnu

WOW! Just WOW! That was a great win Stosur!

And, Williams not shaking the ref's hand after the match... what a bitch. Poor sportswomanship.

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11 Sep 11 - 10:53 PM (#3221728)
Subject: RE: BS: US Open tennis query
From: MGM·Lion

Yes ~~ I said all along it would be Stosur, after seeing how she won her quarter-final.

But PLEASE, start another thread to say so if you must.

I WANT AN ANSWER TO MY QUESTION ABOUT THE FUNNY LOOKING HANDHELD MACHINE & WHAT IT IS FOR

which is what I opened this thread for. If you want to talk about Stosur, go somewhere else, eh?

Thank you.

                           Let ~~ first service!
                              ~Michael~

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12 Sep 11 - 12:20 AM (#3221756)
Subject: RE: BS: US Open tennis query
From: michaelr

WELL EMAIL THE BLOODY TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS AND STOP YELLING AT US! JEEZ!

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12 Sep 11 - 02:41 PM (#3222085)
Subject: RE: BS: US Open tennis query
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Just to stop the shouted questions, I would guess the gadget measures the speed of serves.
At major league baseball games, someone is often seen directly behind the batter position in the front row of the stands, with a device that measures the speed of the pitches.

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12 Sep 11 - 03:03 PM (#3222097)
Subject: RE: BS: US Open tennis query
From: GUEST,Jon

But this is beside the umpire rather than the equivalent of behind the batter and the person moved for the toss.

I'd guess at some form of microphone.

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12 Sep 11 - 06:10 PM (#3222189)
Subject: RE: BS: US Open tennis query
From: gnu

4 ALL!

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13 Sep 11 - 10:28 PM (#3222876)
Subject: RE: BS: US Open tennis query
From: michaelr

No sense of humor either, I see. You'll be great pals with gnu.

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13 Sep 11 - 11:23 PM (#3222888)
Subject: RE: BS: US Open tennis query
From: GUEST,999

"I WANT AN ANSWER TO MY QUESTION ABOUT THE FUNNY LOOKING HANDHELD MACHINE & WHAT IT IS FOR"

Word on the street says it's a sex toy. They can be found on e-Bay. Used they are half price. Well, that's the word on the street, anyway. My opinion is that real gentlemen wouldn't ask such a question of the lady.

Either that or a new-technology phaser like the kind Captain Kirk used to have, and only cads would ask THAT where a Klingon might read it.

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14 Sep 11 - 01:07 AM (#3222912)
Subject: RE: BS: US Open tennis query
From: MGM·Lion

michaelr

"... one of those who insults you and then says 'Can't you take a joke?'" ~~ Julian Fellowes, Snobs [2004], chapter 5.

Had your number right enough, didn't he? Genuinely distressed to find you are one of those. I had thought better of you.

~M~

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14 Sep 11 - 01:11 AM (#3222914)
Subject: RE: BS: US Open tennis query
From: michaelr

Imagined insults, another thing you have in common with gnu.

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14 Sep 11 - 02:08 AM (#3222920)
Subject: RE: BS: US Open tennis query
From: Paul Burke

It's a wheezer for winding the sun up.

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14 Sep 11 - 02:39 AM (#3222927)
Subject: RE: BS: US Open tennis query
From: MGM·Lion

michaelr ~~ I must wonder which of us anyone who could be arsed to read our exchanges would conclude was the one lacking the sense of humour.

You have now drifted my thread, into which you butted irrelevantly and unwittily, quite far enough. Now butt out, please ~~ there's a dear fellow...

Traditional greetings

~Michael~

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14 Sep 11 - 05:53 AM (#3222976)
Subject: RE: BS: US Open tennis query
From: MikeL2

hi Michael

If the game you were watching where the gizmo was being employed was the Serena Williams match maybe the thingy was a curse counter ??

Cheers

MikeL2

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14 Sep 11 - 06:29 AM (#3222983)
Subject: RE: BS: US Open tennis query
From: MGM·Lion

Thanks, MikeL. It was used in all the games. I think the suggestion above of some sort of microphone seems reasonable. But what its purpose, I continue to wonder.

~M~

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14 Sep 11 - 06:51 AM (#3222989)
Subject: RE: BS: US Open tennis query
From: maeve

Ahem. If I may please intrude... I wonder if this is the device:

http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2010/09/06/the-technology-behind-the-u-s-open/

And a cordial hello to previous posters here; all of whom have been courteous and helpful to me in the past.

Maeve

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14 Sep 11 - 06:57 AM (#3222991)
Subject: RE: BS: US Open tennis query
From: MGM·Lion

Thanks, as ever, Maeve. But I don't think that is the one I ref to, which is not used by the chair umpire himself, but by someone sitting on a chair behind and sightly to one side of his; who follows the play with it, swivelling side to side as the ball travels and stopping between the points; and also leaves the chair to point it at the toss-up as it occurs at the beginning of each match.

~M~

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14 Sep 11 - 07:58 AM (#3223005)
Subject: RE: BS: US Open tennis query
From: maeve

Ok, I'll do some more digging when I have a little more time.

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14 Sep 11 - 12:52 PM (#3223152)
Subject: RE: BS: US Open tennis query
From: The Sandman

I had a bet on Djokovic winning the mens final at 2 TO I

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