ANYBODY who has played competitive tennis in Bermuda during the last 30 years or more will have almost certainly met or come into contact with Marge Way.

There?s probably nobody on the Island who knows ? or cares ? as much about local tournaments and local players.

Whether the event is for juniors or seniors, at the rather upscale Coral Beach Club or the more down to earth Tennis Stadium, then Marge can usually be found.

If she isn?t working on the schedule, compiling the results or just generally helping out, she?s just as likely to be seen offering encouragement to one of the Island?s many up and coming youngsters.

And whether her business is tennis-related or not you can be sure she?ll be sporting that same infectious smile which has become almost trademark.

All of the above seems to have made little impression on Sammy Maybury, whose vitriolic attack on the 67-year-old matriarch of one of Bermuda?s best known tennis families not only caused considerable distress to the target of his outburst but to the tennis fraternity in general.

Maybury insists that by what all accounts was no more than jovial banter about his dreadlocks ? and there were at least two witnesses present ? was in fact a racial slur, another example of the discrimination which, as a Rastafarian, he claims to have been continually subjected, particularly on the tennis court.

Poppycock!

Marge Way would have insulted Sammy Maybury no more than she would one of her own children.

Her reputation has been founded on a tolerance of all races, all religions. Even Maybury admits that as a youngster he was welcomed into the Way home with open arms. And there have been many more like him.

In the best part of three decades working on the sports desk at , I and those with whom I?ve worked could honestly say we?ve never heard an ill word spoken of Marge Way.

And like many others, I can?t accept Sammy?s allegations of racism.

That isn?t to say racism in sport doesn?t exist, and Maybury no doubt has suffered on occasions from discrimination as have numerous others.

But to finger Marge Way as one of the perpetrators is almost beyond belief.

If she was poking fun at Maybury?s locks, then it was no more than that ? poking fun. No more, no less than she would at somebody sporting a pink wig.

Super sensitive Sammy has got it wrong.

Discrimination hurts. Nobody would dispute that. But being accused of racism when the allegation is without foundation, can be just as painful.

Maybury claims he brings ?peace and tolerance to the game . . . to show my class.?

Where was that peace and tolerance a couple of years ago ? October, 2001, to be exact ? when Maybury launched a profanity-laced tirade at all around, opponents, spectators, even his own partner, and smashed balls out of the court following a disputed line call?

During that contest in the Argus Open, opponents Coleridge Place and Wendy Gelhay elected to forfeit the match rather than put up with his antics.

To be fair, Maybury?s reputation isn?t all bad. A colourful and charismatic character, he can be a lot of fun to play with and against.

But his latest outburst won?t have won over many friends.

If he wants to take a stand against racism, then he needs to expose the real culprits, offer some concrete evidence and then maybe somebody will take his concerns seriously.

On this occasion there?s only one culprit. And it isn?t Marge Way.