Peak Money
The finish of Serena Williams's loss to Roberta Vinci was peak drama. There was a protagonist -- be it Serena for the lovers or Vinci for the haters. There was high antagonism: Serena about to lose her chance at history; an unheralded Vinci facing a moment no person could ever prepare for. There was everything else: suspense, a climax, reactions that spanned the emotional spectrum. It was, in a word, money. One subplot was the loss of money. And that was true. Ticket brokers saw re-sale prices for the Women's Final plummet in the moments after the match. Advertising buyers who snapped up spots early saw their investments deflate and ESPN folks lost a chance to sell at a higher rate next time Serena plays. Those are just the big ones. Journalists, concession vendors and even -- maybe especially -- the sellers outside the grounds who planned to offer commemorative t-shirts Saturday night took a hit, too. It is a reminder of who pays the bills in the world of enterta