James Ward Whines his way to Ignominy

James Ward.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- If James Ward could see a video of his match in the St. Vincent Auxiliary Men's Professional Tennis Tournament, he would not be impressed.

If James Ward were a comedian, he would say, "I bombed."

Like athletes who come clean after a particularly poor performance, James Ward would say, "I stunk up the joint."

In fact, the phrase James Ward uttered several times during his loss to Marcus Fugate 7-6 (3), 6-3 was 'embarrassing tennis.'

During his match in this Little Rock Futures, James Ward whined, and whined, and whined.

He was not whining about the officiating. He was not whining about his opponent. He was whining about his own play. James Ward apparently was not interested in, as they say, sucking it up and doing something about his 'embarrassing tennis', he was content to complain about his own bad tennis.

At a time when British tennis is celebrating small victories -- Andy Murray's victory over Roger Federer and Jamie Baker's winning of two Futures Tournaments -- and when fans might be taking a first look at other up-and-coming British players, James Ward did not impress.

James Ward showed a disregard for his opponent, the small gathering of fans and for the game of tennis.

He showed a disregard for the fans by his constant cursing (not to mention whining). He is apparently unaware of the fierce competition for 'eyeballs'. Fans, though just a handful, could have been watching the televised match of Serena Williams-Maria Sharapova, or taking a Tai Chi class, or shopping, but chose to see his match.

He showed a disregard for his opponent by having a full blown and continuing conversation with a friend during the match; at one point while waiting to receive Ward's serve, his opponent grew tired of waiting and walked to the sideline to towel off while Ward continued his conversation.

The match ended fittingly and mercifully: the chair umpire, apparently tired of Ward's antics -- on match point -- penalized him a point to end the match.

Marcus Fugate.