Pooping, dive-bombing pigeons have finally met their match in England.
The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club has hired sharpshooters to take out the birds before the winged rats disembark their droppings on tables Wimbledon fans are prone to dine at.
The tournament does have two hawks employed to scare away pigeons, which, apparently were swooping down on Center Court and distracting players.
But the hawks failed to keep the pigeons away from where fish, chips and strawberries are sold, which of course, will happen when you hire chickenhawks instead of hawks.
The Sharpton-esque animal rights group, PETA, has sent a letter outlying the “apparently illegal action” to Wimbledon.
“Since the use of marksmen to kill pigeons appears to have been carried out as a first, rather than a last resort, and not out of a concern for public health, but rather because the animals were deemed inconvenient by players, you appear to be in clear violation of the law,” PETA vice-president Bruce Friedrich said.
By law, Friedrich means the Animal Welfare Act. The act, according to the AP, says a property owner can only use lethal control as a last resort if it can demonstrate, in a court of law, which non-lethal methods had been used and only if the target species presents a demonstrable risk to public health and safety.
Lesson to note: If you don't ask Brenda Fricker to leave, you can't start shooting pigeons.
This just in from Friedrich via email to the Korner:
"We confirmed with a Wimbledon spokesperson that they will not be killing any more pigeons. She also assured us that they 'use a humane method normally' (of course, this grants that killing the animals is inhumane). She says that they had the fellow with the hawk down there this morning and that they will contact us when the tournament is over in order to figure out the best way to work on pigeon control at the Club in the future."
Controversy, to borrow a term from the Roland Garros crowd, is fin.
On to the best blogs ... around
Who is Brian Runge? The ump who "instigated an event that led to both Jerry Manuel and Carlos Beltrain getting ejected," and somebody who should have a two-week unpaid vacation, Coming Outta Left Field...says
Justin Duchscherer, AL All-Star starter? Before you think Matt Abedi's Sporting Universe is on crazy pills, read the blog.
The mock drafts are out, and The Downunder View has a few, uh, views. Robin Lopez to the Clippers? Danilo Gillinari to the Raptors? Russell Westbrook to the Knicks?
Travis Hafner's shoulder is a mess. I White; You Read explains why parting ways with the Indians' designated hitter still tugs at his fantasy heart strings.
Klick of the Day
A Tiger Woods' apple core is for sale. For sale for $36,000.
Subscribe to this blog
