Slapstick

Players from two countries at the Australian Open are not allowed to represent their flag, the Russians because their country invaded Ukraine and Belarusians because theirs supports the mayhem. When you watch them play on TV, you see a plain white image before their names instead. Clever anti-war message, it appears to be the white-out editing tool to right a wrong. Or, it represents either peace or surrender. Self-contradictory, but when harmonized for harmony, it means surrender to peace, which seems the hardest.

The first grand slam of the year down under does not only punish but also reward invasion. American men wiped out heavy favorites in the earlier rounds in a mission to reclaim their lost territory. Three of them reached at least the quarters, hoping to reprise Andy Roddick, the last American man to win a grand slam two decades ago. Since then they ceded the once impenetrable territory fenced by Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, the duopoly before the trivalry.

The Chinese invaded silently like how their government does its neighbors. A teenager is the first Chinese man to win a singles match in the main draw of the Australian Open. Two women advanced in the doubles while two others reached the fourth round in singles in this post Li Na era.

The Philippine invasion of untouchable territory in the majors however fell short. History stood up Alex Eala who blew away a wide lead in the qualifying round of a grand slam. The Filipina’s invasion of the never before would have been most welcome, but not invasion of human dignity by her namesake whose handlers fumbled more in desperation to control the damage, when a simple, sincere apology would have ended the story. It’s difficult to end a controversy if it doesn’t start with humility.

But her camp insists it was all for fun. It’s her birthday anyway. Give her a break, they say. Making fun ends when it starts to make fun of, or worse, condescends others. Disaster happens when those who are not funny to begin with try hard to be. They almost always end up annoying or offensive or both, with their foot in the mouth. Indeed, it is harder to make people laugh than make them cry.

If you’re not innately funny, don’t dare crack a joke, else you end up the pathetic joke. Even natural comics rarely pull off and get away with risky gags, especially offensive and racist punch lines. No one did it better than Joan Rivers who made fun of everybody, including world leaders and celebrities and, especially herself, with such wit and sarcasm only the smart senses her humor, anything less is horror.

Just as when you’re the boss, don’t try to be funny if you’re not, all you get is canned laughter from your subordinates. Treat them to dinner instead, you’d draw genuine smile from fake colleagues. Or better yet, treat them kindly. It’s free. Yes, even if they’re phony. Everybody is anyway.