Once again another very interesting story has surfaced about how new technology is affecting old tradition.  There is undoubtedly a fear of the unknown when it comes to the Internet.  An extreme example is the paranoia on the part of the National Football League that legalizing online casinos will some how lead to gambling corruption in the sport, even though legalizing online casinos has nothing to do with legalizing sports betting. Tennis Authorities also have there concerns about how the Internet could negatively affect the integrity of their sport, but this concern seems a touch more legitimate.

If you have been paying attention to professional tennis in the slightest, you probably know that it is no secret that the sport has recently been riddled with gambling scandals.  Very bizarre performances have been matched with abnormally high stakes wagering.  In an effort to prevent further scandals, tennis authorities have banned the use of Twitter at the US Open.

Signs are being posted that are warning players, coaches, and officials against tweeting on the court.  The signs read: “Important. Player Notice.  Twitter Warning.”  If you have really been out of touch with the development in of community based websites, Twitter is a new craze that has swept the globe that allows individuals to post live updates on what they are doing at any given moment.  Twitter is used often on mobile devices.

Tennis authorities fear that Twitter will be used by people on the court to transfer sensitive insider information about court conditions, player health, or even weather; all information that can be used by gamblers to capitalize financially off of the sport.