RE: Why are tennis scores so odd?

[Polam Madhu <>]

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Tip of the day:  Avoid tasteless humor.
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Why are tennis scores so odd?

The Answer

What's with tennis? In just about any other sport, before I
earn a point, my score is zero. In tennis it's "love." And
what comes after love, one? No, it's fifteen. What's with
the odd scoring?

According to trivia columnist Cecil Adams, the weird
numbering goes back to medieval numerology, in which 60 was
considered a "complete" number (much like 100 is considered
a nice round number today). Back in medieval times,
tennis's four points were 15, 30, 45 (later abbreviate to
40), and 60, or game.

As for calling zero "love," many people believe that since
zero looks like an egg, the French called it "l'oeuf,"
which is French for "egg," but Adams says that's a
misconception. According to him, love comes from the idea
that anyone who consistently scores zero must be playing
tennis for the LOVE of the game (as opposed to money, for
example).

(Main Source: THE STRAIGH DOPE, by Cecil Adams)


> -----Original Message-----
> From:	polla.rama@gb.unisys.com [SMTP:polla.rama@gb.unisys.com]
> Sent:	26-Oct-98 16:10
> To:	Rajesh_Ekbote@india.notes.pwa.co.in
> Cc:	nukkad-list@mumbai-central.com
> Subject:	Re: [nukkad] [nukkad] value of time
> 
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> Tip of the day:  Avoid tasteless humor.
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> 
> That was just a joke rajesh. U dont need to take it so seriously.
> 
> Rama.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Rajesh_Ekbote@india.notes.pwa.co.in on 25/10/98 06:08:25
> 
> To:   nukkad-list@mumbai-central.com
> cc:    (bcc: Polla R. Rama/ISG/UK/Unisys)
> Subject:  Re: [nukkad] [nukkad] value of time
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
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> -
> Tip of the day:  Avoid tasteless humor.
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
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> 
> 
> How you can say this ? Everyone is aware the value of the time and
> then how
> Software Engineers is an exception ?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> nukkad-list@mumbai-central.com on 26/10/98 11:16:02 AM
> 
> To:   nukkad-list@mumbai-central.com
> cc:    (bcc: Rajesh Ekbote/PWA)
> Subject:  [nukkad] [nukkad] value of time
> 
> 
> 
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>                      The Value of Time
> 
> To realize the value of ONE YEAR
> Ask a student who has failed his exam.
> 
> To realize the value of ONE MONTH
> Ask a mother who has given birth to a pre-mature baby.
> 
> To realize the value of ONE WEEK
> Ask an editor of a weekly.
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> To realize the value of ONE DAY
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> Ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.
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> To realize the value of ONE MINUTE
> Ask a person who has missed the train.
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> To realize the value of ONE SECOND
> Ask a person who has survived an accident.
> 
> To realize the value of ONE MILLI-SECOND
> Ask the person who has won a silver medal in Olympics.
> 
> To realize the value of ONE MICRO-SECOND
> Ask a NASA scientist.
> 
> To realize the value of ONE NANO-SECOND
> Ask a Hardware Engineer.
> 
> And if you still don't realize the value of time you must be
> a Software Engineer!!!
> 
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