Smithy's Sermon: Sad moment for sporting tradition as Wimbledon succumbs to technology

Wimbledon is surely one of the last bastions of traditions and standards in sports.

Take the playing apparel, for instance. It's always white. Always respectful of standards. No excessive logos. Some might say conservative, some might even say boring. I mean, it does stand alone in that regard. Generally speaking, it's a supportive, yet polite atmosphere, observant of high standards.

When Wimbledon makes a change or two, you do raise an eyebrow. So, we learn that after 147 years of smart, uniformed men and women perfecting the role of line judges, the Hawk-Eye live system of automated electronic line calling - ELC to its friends - will now be the definitive judge across all 18 courts, including Centre Court.

If Wimbledon changes, there will be no going back. That's it - technology rules and the rule is technology.

Actually, it's been the governing factor in contentious calls in all other tennis majors since the 2020 US Open. The players are used to it, and there appears an acceptance that gone are the glory days of debate and of those famous tantrums, none more infamous than the great John McEnroe's. You can't argue with a robot, can you John?

So, with it goes a large degree of human nature and the trust, or lack thereof, in human judgement. It was fun and we loved it, just like we loved the biff in footy, the sledging in cricket - all administered now into oblivion.

Not only that, TV companies used to crawl over broken paddocks of glass to cover the great event anytime, day or night. But now they are dictating start times to key matches to fit into their own schedules.

Wow. Wimbledon, we're talking about. Football has virtual eye on crucial decisions, so it's not so beautiful anymore, the beautiful game. The bunker and TMOs have consigned their codes to tedium and embarrassment. Cricket has killed all sense of human judgement from the pitch to the boundary rope.

Now Wimbledon - yes, glorious Wimbledon - has succumbed.

Golf takes time and it can be a long watch. But maybe now it's the purest and most beautiful of them all.

Tune into Ian Smith on SENZ Mornings, 9am-midday weekdays except Thursdays.