The controversial rally between Australians Dawn Fraser, Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic has revealed not only a lot about the character of these individuals but also a lot about the underlying tension that exists in Australia with regards to migration and race relations.
It all started when Kyrgios threw his toys in a Wimbledon game against Richard Gasquet by tanking, defined as the intent of a person or team to do less than everything they can to win.
Kyrgios definitely looked like he was hanging his lip for a game but then got over himself and his frustration and almost over-corrected with regards to his effort, which didn't work for him either. He ultimately lost the game and the respect of tennis fans and, it seems, Australians as well.
Kyrgios is not the first Australian to tank. In 2004, Australian rower Sally Robbins stopped rowing during the final part of an Olympic race, for which she was heavily criticised.
So why is everyone surprised that it has happened again, and why is this considered very ''un-Australian'' by swimming great Dawn Fraser?
Fraser responded to a question about the behaviour of Kyrgios and Tomic recently with this: ''They should be setting a better example for the younger generation of this country, a great country of ours.
If they don't like it, go back to where their fathers or their parents came from.
''This is one of those moments when someone's frontal lobe is neutralised and their underlying values and beliefs come to the fore.
Fraser has since unreservedly apologised for causing offence with her comments but insists there was nothing racist about what she said.
True, she didn't mention skin colour or use any derogatory terms to refer to the objects of her disgust, but suggesting that ''they'' go back to where they came from suggests that they are not ''real'' Australians.
Often, athletes who are ethnic minorities or migrants to a country are labelled as fellow countrymen or women when they succeed or behave admirably, and as migrants when they fail or behave disgracefully.
Ben Johnson, for instance, was a celebrated ''Canadian'' when he won the 1988 100m final at the Olympics but then was described as ''Jamaican'' when he was stripped of his gold medal due to doping.
Kyrgios has a Malaysian mother and a Greek father and was born in Australia. Tomic was born in Germany to a Croatian father and Bosnian mother and moved to Australia when he was 3.
Fraser was born in Australia and was known for being a larrikin during her swimming heyday.
According to Fraser, being racist and a larrikin falls within the parameters of what it means to be an Aussie, but tanking and ranting is not.
Based on her criteria, Robbins and Australian cricketers who rant and rave at their opponents during a game are also a disgrace to the Australian ethos.
Wimbledon is meant to be one of the few sporting events where the values and expectations of ''civilised'' decorum still exist.
One would expect sportsmanship rather than gamesmanship and uncontrollable emotional outbursts to dominate. The opposite is the norm.
Unsportsmanlike behaviour is rife at Wimbledon this year and seems to be indiscriminatory - no matter the nationality, colour or gender of the athlete.
Maria Sharapova has been accused of unsportsmanlike behaviour for moving too much during her serves. Her opponent went on to suggest that officials at Wimbledon may also be too intimidated by the superstar players to reprimand them.
Even crowd favourite and world No 1 Novak Djokovic is not above reproach after taking out his frustrations during his victory over Kevin Anderson on a ball girl, at whom he apparently screamed to get him a towel.
So who or what should be blamed for actions like tanking, off-putting movements or screaming fits in one of the most reserved settings in sport?
It is too easy to blame these outbursts on migration.
Fraser's antics out of the swimming pool resulted in her being banned from her sport for 10 years, so surely she must understand how immaturity and the unreal environment of elite/professional sport can impact on a young athlete's career.
All involved may learn to rein in their mouths and their emotions a bit more since all this blew up, but perhaps being outspoken and forthright is also part of the Australian psyche.
That suggests Fraser, Kyrgios and Tomic have more in common as fair dinkum Australians than they realise, irrespective of where their parents came from.
