Suddenly, it's noisy again in Switzerland

Over the past few days, there's been a lot of noise from the alpine nation.

Setting the stage, Justice Herman Cahn in New York hummed, or gently limned his decision into the ethos. Thank you, Justice Cahn.

And for a day or two, all was silent. Even Cory Freidman, Esq. (USA), that exceptional legal commentator, was silent.

But it was not to last.

Soon, the faxes and emails started flying.

And notably among the faxers and the statement-makers, Vice Commodore Fred Meyer (SUI) of Société Nautique de Genève (SNG), an otherwise highly partisan member of the Alinghi clan, wrote a surprisingly reasoned and sensible letter to the Commodore of the Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC), in the manner of good and reasonable yacht club officials, inviting GGYC to participate in discussions to resolve the date of the Deed of Gift challenge between Alinghi and BMW Oracle. Very nice.

But it was not to last.

In his next breath, the Vice Commodore fired off an extraordinarily intemperate, vituperative letter to Russell Coutts (NZL), Oracle CEO and skipper, declaiming Oracle's inability to compete on the water and protesting their penchant for action in the courts.

The Vice Commodore may seem like a major player in America's Cup, and maybe he is, but in his printed communications he sounds like just another Alinghi noisemaker. A lot like the Prince of Alinghi himself, but without the clout. A lot like the flacks at America's Cup Management -- but with more clout? It's hard to tell.

The sad fact is, he demonstrates an extraordinarily cheezy, mean-spirited ability to make the worst kinds of comments, for all the wrong reasons, at a time when he should be conciliatory and constructive.

After all, SNG was creamed in the Court of the Deed of Gift.

And let me point out, just for the record, that the people Commodore Meyer declaims, directly and indirectly, including Larry Ellison (USA), chief of Oracle, Russell Coutts, CEO, and the good people of GGYC have never, ever, ever uttered such childish, defensive thoughts as his.

So who are the sportsmen here?

Vice Commodore Meyer evidently has forgotten or conveniently overlooked the fact that the New York Court that protects the Deed of Gift said, in effect, to the Principality of Alinghi, "You are out of line. You are wrong. We listened to you. We waited upon you. But you are wrong. You are totally wrong. Drop it. Forget it. Move on."

Meyer inevitably must face that fact.

He must also face the fact that his posture, tone of voice and language are unseemly, unwelcome, undignified and unsportsmanlike.

We pray he behaves like the gentleman he is in his meeting with Russell Coutts and Tom Ehman (USA), head of external affairs for Oracle, tomorrow.