|
Dec 09
|
Tennis CelebritiesSports Comments Off
|
The term ‘tennis celebrities’ is quite a recent invention. Tennis itself is quite an old game. And since its invention, stars have always emerged out of it. But it is only in recent days that such star tennis players have come to be considered ‘celebrities:’ where a celebrity is a person of great social interest, and a person other people look up to.
The induction of star tennis players into the ranks of celebrities is attributable to the fact that in recent days, tennis (as indeed all sport) has started to pay really well. So the new ‘tennis celebrities’ as indeed all sports celebrities today find themselves among the best paid people of all time. And ours being a society given to money-worship (where an individual’s worth is a direct function of their bank balance), star tennis players – with their now high earnings – find a place of honor in the society.
That star tennis players have had to ‘buy’ their place into recognition by virtue of their earnings is regrettable. For this (recognition as true celebrities) is something they should have earned ages ago, by virtue of their having unique talents. But ours is a society where talent alone is not quite enough: where you have to translate that talent into money if you are to be considered a celebrity.