In an earlier post on cultural difference, I'd commented on the prevalence of background music in American life.

This week, I was reminded of the unwritten rule –there shall be music everywhere and always in the USA– while watching the US Open on television.

At the US Open, pop music punctuates the play.

This is in keeping with most sporting events in the US –I've ran marathons where there was music at the start and finish lines, and bands along the route– but contrasts sharply with tennis events elsewhere. At the French Open or Wilmbledon, spectators maintain a churchlike silence. Spectators may chat quietly with the neighbors, but the organizers insist upon quiet. Music is unthinkable.