BS: Tennis: Is Wimbledon the greatest?

Subject: Tennis: Is Wimbledon the greatest?
From: GUEST,Jack K
Date: 01 Jul 02 - 01:49 PM

The Wimbledon Tennis championships are currently taking place.

Here in the UK we are constantly being told how everyone considers them to be the greatest championship in the world.

Curious to know how it's viewed in the US / Australia etc.

Thanks

Jack

Subject: RE: BS: Tennis: Is Wimbledon the greatest?
From: GUEST,Jack K
Date: 01 Jul 02 - 05:09 PM

No tennis fans here then?

Subject: RE: BS: Tennis: Is Wimbledon the greatest?
From: mack/misophist
Date: 01 Jul 02 - 05:14 PM

I fear Wimbledon must be considerec a poor 20th or 30th in the tennis world. Without a doubt the acme of competition is the Annual Girl Guides Play Off and Bake Sale at Sue Haswell Park in Bryan, Texas. People come from all over Brazos County to watch with breathless admiration. Wimbledom? Hah!

Subject: RE: BS: Tennis: Is Wimbledon the greatest?
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jul 02 - 05:23 PM

misophist,

you're a real shit head

Subject: RE: BS: Tennis: Is Wimbledon the greatest?
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jul 02 - 06:19 PM

Any one want to make a sensible comment?

Subject: RE: BS: Tennis: Is Wimbledon the greatest?
From: GUEST,ozmacca
Date: 01 Jul 02 - 07:32 PM

Greatest what? I'd have to say that, IMHO tennis must be a contender in the Competition for Utter Pointlessness - along with nearly every other ball sport - No, on second thoughts, as I feel I'm being a little too harsh here - delete "nearly".

Any extended series of televised sports "live" action, repeats, highlights, interviews, reactions, dissections, post-mortems and printed versions of the same things, together with the gossip and scandals attached thereunto, is another good reason to throw a half-brick through the telly and play music instead. From which you may gather that I'm not exactly enthralled at the prospect of Wimbledon...... which is just a "racquet" anyway - and that's my "net" opinion ......

Subject: RE: BS: Tennis: Is Wimbledon the greatest?
From: mack/misophist
Date: 01 Jul 02 - 11:32 PM

Dear Mr Jack D,

My heart is broken. When all I was trying to do is convince you that tennis is NOT anathema to all right thinking people, everywhere. I guess that'll teach me. I'd better get my ball and play in my own yard.

By the way: clay and grass court tennis ARE anathema, asplalt tennis is acceptable, and cement tennis rules.

Subject: RE: BS: Tennis: Is Wimbledon the greatest?
From: GUEST,ozmacca
Date: 02 Jul 02 - 12:00 AM

Hey misophist, I see in your list that you don't mention real tennis. Now, does real tennis really rule, or do people who's role is to rail against it rile you?

(Sorry, couldn't resist it.....)

Subject: RE: BS: Tennis: Is Wimbledon the greatest?
From: mack/misophist
Date: 02 Jul 02 - 12:28 AM

Neither, either, or both. You pick. Be careful because you only get one chance.

Subject: RE: BS: Tennis: Is Wimbledon the greatest?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 02 Jul 02 - 03:17 AM

The sad thing about Wimbledon is that every year the media hype up an English no-hoper who survives the first couple of rounds, and deceive the public into believing , for a few days, that England has a real chance of producing a champion.

Bit like the World Cup, really ....

Murray

Subject: RE: BS: Tennis: Is Wimbledon the greatest?
From: Hrothgar
Date: 02 Jul 02 - 04:58 AM

Well, I think being on grass makes Wimbledon the real thing.

Notice how Australian tennis has gone backwards since all our tournaments switched to artificial surfaces? Back in the good old days (about 1955 to 1975) Australians could clean out all you forigners 75% of the time. Look at the number of times Wimbledon was won by Australians in that period - often enough with another Australian as runner-up.

Then some goose decided that artificial courts aree the way to go and - boom! - there went Australian tennis. Apart from a couple of flashes in the pan like Rafter and Cash, nothing.

...but Wimbledon is still the best.

Subject: RE: BS: Tennis: Is Wimbledon the greatest?
From: fogie
Date: 02 Jul 02 - 05:08 AM

Its nice watching real athletic acrobats, and players at the height of their powers, with abilities and certainty that its their day. I found watching the Henman match yesterday too anxiety provoking to enjoy, and I dont really care who wins as long as they're a class act. A few millionaires hitting balls back and forward? and others hungry for fame. When the weather is good I feel good about the sport,- shame we British have got a generally hopeless climate.I think that rules Wimbledon out for me. I gave up long ago on tennis -give me Squash any day. I only wish there was some on the TV.

Subject: RE: BS: Tennis: Is Wimbledon the greatest?
From: Pied Piper
Date: 02 Jul 02 - 06:01 AM

I used to play tennis as a kid (without a net), come to think of it I used to play football (jumpers for goalposts) and cricket ( tennis ball, piece of wood, and a chalked tree for wickets). When I grew older I stopped playing children's games and did more interesting things instead. I still think its weird that some people carried on into adulthood. The fact that some people make obscene amounts of money playing juvenile games while other people starve never ceases to amaze me. But it takes all sorts to make world. What really pisses me of is the inordinate amount of coverage on terrestrial telly 8 hours a day . Maybe we could have hide and seek for adults, that might be quite amusing. "Coming ready or not" PP.

Subject: RE: BS: Tennis: Is Wimbledon the greatest?
From: The Walrus at work
Date: 02 Jul 02 - 09:03 AM

I just wish that they'd move Wimbledon tennis to somewhere like the Outer Hebrides just to get it out of my way. I travel through Wimbledon on my way to and from work and quite frankly, for two weeks or so every year (depending how long it's extended due to rain) I find myself hating the "Tennis Vermin" who clog up the system and stop me getting to work/home on time - and how is it that the bus companies never have spare buses to replace failed machines when they are needed, but suddenly find enough to run a service every 5 minutes to the bloody tennis - and they are the only ones to run on time....

I'd better stop in case it turns into a real rant. (Who's guess that I had a bad jouney in this morning)

Walrus

Subject: RE: BS: Tennis: Is Wimbledon the greatest?
From: Gervase
Date: 02 Jul 02 - 09:51 AM

Certainly the greatest turn-off for me. I don't mind a knock myself, but to televise it? I'd rather watch paint dry.
The game is as dull as bloody ditchwater to watch, and the players all seem to be two-dimensional bores. And as for that Tim Henman - don't get me started! When the tabloids started calling him "Tiger" Tim I almost pissed myself: I've seen more charisma in my fridge.

Subject: RE: BS: Tennis: Is Wimbledon the greatest?
From: van lingle
Date: 02 Jul 02 - 10:00 PM

For me serve and volley is fun to play but not so much to watch. I use to love Wimbledon back in the days of all around players like Borg, McEnroe, Laver, Rosewall etc. But now it seems a lot of the guys are pumping out 140 MPH plus serves on the grass and get pretty far without having to do much else. Don't blink or you might miss the point. The women are much more interesting these days as their's is a bit more of a finesse game, IMHO. vl

Subject: RE: BS: Tennis: Is Wimbledon the greatest?
From: gnu
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 06:23 AM

Yes from Eastern Canada, Jack.

Fogie, I have watched squash on TV a number of times, but it was that silly blue dot ball >>> extremely boring. Now, if they would use yellow dot, the game might be more interesting to watch.... it's certainly harder to play. Gosh, I wish I had knees so I could get back on the court and rip my knees apart again.

Subject: RE: BS: Tennis: Is Wimbledon the greatest?
From: GUEST,Jack K
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 08:33 AM

Well, I'm sorry that I started this thread.

I was simply curious if American and Australian fans (with their own Grand Slams) see Wimbledon as 'something special'

I didn't realise that so many people hated tennis.

My apologies

Jack

Subject: RE: BS: Tennis: Is Wimbledon the greatest?
From: death by whisky
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 09:31 AM

There,there Jack.I only watch sport when it involves the national team.Six nations rugby,World Cup.The Heineken Cup is technically a club(rugby)tournament ,but it is the european clubs and so has that international feel to it.

Subject: RE: BS: Tennis: Is Wimbledon the greatest?
From: Pied Piper
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 11:41 AM

Don't appologise Jack its good to let it all out every now and again. All the best PP.

Subject: RE: BS: Tennis: Is Wimbledon the greatest?
From: GUEST,Foe
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 12:08 PM

I believe the British actor, Robert Morley, was quoted as saying that he was proud that in his whole life he had never once chased a ball.

Subject: RE: BS: Tennis: Is Wimbledon the greatest?
From: Bagpuss
Date: 05 Jul 02 - 01:02 PM

Oh well, wimbledon may be the greatest, but poor Timmy isn't. Out in straight sets to Hewitt. He put up a decent fight at times, but just wasn't in the same class as Hewitt.

Subject: RE: BS: Tennis: Is Wimbledon the greatest?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Jul 02 - 05:38 PM

Hi, Jack - I'm not a tennis fan. The only tennis tournament I can think of, right of the top of my head, is Wimbledon. I think that may be the same for many Americans who aren't interested in tennis. I guess I'd say Wimbledon has pretty good name recognition in the U.S., for whatever that's worth.
-Joe Offer, in the Sierra foothills of California-

Subject: RE: BS: Tennis: Is Wimbledon the greatest?
From: Les Jones
Date: 06 Jul 02 - 03:04 AM

A rich, brat game or what? At least with badminton the shuttle thing hangs about a bit.

Has any body noticed how beach volley ball seems to attract an above average number of nudists

Perhaps Tennis could be perked up in a similar way

I still haven't got over Channel 4 taking the Tour de France off to be replaced by cricket. I know cricket is a deeply complex game of strategy and the Tour is powered by drugs but the photography of rural France made such a perfect end to a day. Oh, and I used to work with Phil Ligget, producer and commontater on the Tour so I always felt close to fame