[Yudster]

I hate Wimbledon.

[MK Chris]

Ah come on, it's pretty much the only prestigious international sporting event that we hold every year. It may not be as challenging as Roland Garros in terms of the surface (and the weather may be shit this year) but it's still a good do. Just a shame we can't produce anyone better than Henman or Murray.

[foot-loose]

why don't they play it indoors instead of complaining about the rain each year?

Or put a roof on Wimbledon? It seems kinda backwards to me.

[SAV1OUR]

Bouncing words around on here tends to be more the case I take it Yudster?

So with that in mind.. New threads please.

[Yudster]

Ah come on, it's pretty much the only prestigious international sporting event that we hold every year. It may not be as challenging as Roland Garros in terms of the surface (and the weather may be * this year) but it's still a good do. Just a shame we can't produce anyone better than Henman or Murray.

The problem is, for me anyway, that the reason I hate it so much is BECAUSE its here. We seem incapable of hosting any major sporting event without a disproportionate amount of hysteria and fuss. Look at all the crap with Henman this year - it was a first round match for goodness sake, and everyone is behaving as though he has won something! And I think its worse with tennis than football, because - *braces herself for probable attack* - the demographic of the audience for tennis is far more middle class, and the level of hysteria seems more pronounced in that group of people. Posh people can't do "being a crowd at a massive international sporting event with a huge worldwide audience" without being frankly embarassing. And yes, I know this is a ridiculous generalisation - my excuse is that there is a grain of truth in it, and I'm too ill to organise my thoughts properly and dig it out.

[Boboff]

I agree with Yudster, the middle classes go to university and become journalists so they get to be in charge.
The last time a brit won it was Fred Perry in 1929 or something, Tennis is a crappp game, the balls are too hard and it hurts your wrists, and the hit them too fast

[Vivienne]

I've actually managed to annoy myself... I'm just sick of ME at the moment, if this makes any kind of sense....

[MK Chris]

I see what you mean Yudster, but ignoring the idiots who are an embarrassment, I still enjoy seeing an event of such magnitude hosted in this country.

As regards the state of our tennis, yeah it was Fred Perry for the men (who, by the way, was also World Table Tennis Champion); though Virginia Wade for the women, in the 70s. I think the main problem is, if you go to France, Canada, in fact most places in the western world, there are tennis courts full of people. Over here we have the courts but it costs £200 to join, on top of Christ knows how much for lessons, etc. We have totally the wrong attitude when it comes to getting people into the sport.

[Console]

I've actually managed to annoy myself... I'm just sick of ME at the moment, if this makes any kind of sense....

I can see a certain sense in that.

[Vivienne]

I've actually managed to annoy myself... I'm just sick of ME at the moment, if this makes any kind of sense....

I can see a certain sense in that.

charming

[Console]

While I did, jokingly, mean it in that way as well, I have also at times annoyed myself, usually by making the same mistakes over and over again.

[Vivienne]

It's ok, I realised it was a joke I always thought you got everything right tho' (ha ha!).

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

Ah come on, it's pretty much the only prestigious international sporting event that we hold every year. It may not be as challenging as Roland Garros in terms of the surface (and the weather may be shit this year) but it's still a good do. Just a shame we can't produce anyone better than Henman or Murray.

The British Grand Prix

The Open Golf Championship

The World Snooker Championships

The Darts World Championships (both bodies)

i'm sure there are more...

[MK Chris]

Ah come on, it's pretty much the only prestigious international sporting event that we hold every year. It may not be as challenging as Roland Garros in terms of the surface (and the weather may be shit this year) but it's still a good do. Just a shame we can't produce anyone better than Henman or Murray.

The British Grand Prix

The Open Golf Championship

The World Snooker Championships

The Darts World Championships (both bodies)

i'm sure there are more...

OK I take your point.

Bastard.

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

I didn't even mention Cheese Rolling or Bog Snorkling.

[Yudster]

I've started enjoying watching snooker again recently - I used to like it back in the Steve Davis years, but it got very dull after that. Now I'm liking it again, not sure wy.

[MK Chris]

I like to watch Snooker, I only tend to watch the World Championships though. I think snooker appears to be on the decline again though, snooker clubs never seem to be very busy any more.

[foot-loose]

I didn't even mention Cheese Rolling or Bog Snorkling.

You are also forgetting the british ping pong championships!

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

Thats going to be struggling on the international part.

[foot-loose]

Ahhh, are we the kings of the ping pong?

I may start supporting it...

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

hmmm read it again.

[foot-loose]

So we're not kings of the ping pong* then? Shame. I'll not bother supporting it then.



*who are in session tonight with Zane.

[MK Chris]

What Gaspode means is that I said international sporting events.. if it's the British Championships it's not international.

We used to have an English Open, but it's not been done for years.

[Yudster]

hmmm read it again.

Gaspode, have you ever considered becoming a secondary school teacher?

[DemonHorse]

Ah come on, it's pretty much the only prestigious international sporting event that we hold every year. It may not be as challenging as Roland Garros in terms of the surface (and the weather may be shit this year) but it's still a good do. Just a shame we can't produce anyone better than Henman or Murray.

The British Grand Prix

The Open Golf Championship

The World Snooker Championships

The Darts World Championships (both bodies)

i'm sure there are more...

London Marathon

and strangely enough the Tour De FRANCE which for some reason starts in London.