A Wimbledon official admitted yesterday that the twilight hour impaired the ability to see and what ultimately decided the championship was Rafael Nadal’s flop.*

“This was such an incredible match... no one on Center Court except for the players ever wanted the tennis to end,” the anonymous source said.  “But when flashbulbs from the stands revealed Nadal prone on the grass at the conclusion of the fifth set, we had to give him the win.”

Compared to many other sports, professional tennis has little controversy aside from the occasional cocaine bust, gambling inquiry and the guilt over tanking that drove Andrea Jaeger into the nunnery.  

But this new revelation in London has given cause for investigation.  It has been well-documented that flopping can affect the outcome of an athletic event.

Flopping in the NBA is so prevalent that it has practically been elevated to a contest itself.  And while known by alternate names, this questionable tactic is pervasive in other team sports as well.

It is referred to as “diving” in hockey, an activity more suited to water that is not frozen.  Another matter of enthusiastic escalation in this already contact-heavy sport: when one cannot connect with jawbone, hit the ice.

But this form of acting perhaps finds its greatest stage on the pitch.  So much so that FIFA, the governing body of soccer, has taken a stand against what it calls “simulation.”  The new rules can apply to embellishment on-field, as well the unique symbiotic relationship between soccer players & porn stars.

At first glance, Nadal’s hammy back-smacker seems contrary action for a man who likes to test the authenticity of his trophies like a Deadwood prospector.

However, further inquiry shows the young Mallorcan star is influenced by both the theatrics of his countrymen and the man he had -- until that tumble to the earth late Sunday in London -- lost to in the finals at Wimbledon.

DID FELICIANO LOPEZ OF SPAIN WIN HIS FOURTH ROUND FIVE-SETTER AGAINST MARCOS BAGHDATIS WITH HIS POST-MATCH FLAILING?  

HAVE CHAIR UMPIRES BEEN GLORIFYING ROGER FEDERER'S FIVE-TIME CRUMPLE?

So while the flop in the non-contact sport of tennis has yet to come under great scrutiny, it too may explain some results, as well as lack of, in recent years...

SAFIN'S MISSION: Marathon Marat's superior position on

hardcourts could be too suggestive for Roland Garros & The All-England Club.

POOR FORM: Andy Roddick dared to drop

after only winning three sets at the U.S. Open Men's Final in 2003.

The breach of unwritten netiquette may have cost him since.

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*This isn’t meant to paint me a Fed apologist.  When the going gets tough, the tough blog absurd.

For me, the Men’s Final in action was cause for joy; the outcome a bit of pain.  I expected to wake up today feeling like I did the morning after Peyton Manning won his Super Bowl ring.  However, I now suspect the latter sensation was actually a hangover.

Because right now I feel pretty good!  There is no shame in second when John McEnroe is awarding consolation hugs.

New Wimbledon Champion? Yes. New Number One?  No.  For the calendar year thus far, true... it is the Spaniard.  

But given so little between Federer and Nadal over the long course of Sunday, I think we need to see the follow-up before we label Rafa the best.  I don’t think Federer could have asked for a better challenge to his career.  His response -- on-court & off, both yesterday and onward -- will help define his legacy.

Now for the more obvious... Contrary to popular speculation, I did not commit jigai after Safin’s semifinal loss, or the threat of competition for his affection.  As a matter of fact, I am practicing my flop in expectation to win over Marat myself!