Not Football (Soccer) Thread

No takers for cricket or tennis here? Any bets for who is going to win the French Open? Is it going to be a cake walk for Nadal once again? What about Justin Henin or Maria Sharapova?

Come on pals..... let's have a debate!


Best Regards,

A Sankara Narayanan

Dear Sankara,

Good idea! (of course everyone knows that this is just a warm-up for Wimbledon )

My Male vote goes to The Incredible Nadal. Regardless, he is surely the winner of the longest service action.
Female – Miss Gruntova because I suspect JH is not yet match fit. Special award to the enchanting Jankovic for listening to music on her ipod during the changeover in her match 2 days back.

Rgds / Charles.C

No takers for cricket or tennis here? Any bets for who is going to win the French Open? Is it going to be a cake walk for Nadal once again? What about Justin Henin or Maria Sharapova?

Come on pals..... let's have a debate!
Best Regards,

A Sankara Narayanan

I split into a new topic.

Yes cricket and tennis two more sports that England are rubbish at.

Yes, The 'clay king' seems invincible.

I wonder why opponents are not objecting to 'grunting'? One can get easily get distracted with the intensity of
grunts. How it will be if its a 'grunting match' between Sharapova and Seles?

Best Regards,

A Sankara Narayanan

Dear Sankara,

Indeed.
Wimbledon 2005 (The Telegraph)

“It had been suggested before these championships that Sharapova, and some of the other noisy women, deliberately indulge in a little gamesmanship by grunting so loudly. Alan Mills, the referee, was quoted as saying that the worst offenders should be removed from the tournament for “cheating”. Sharapova, it seems, should be seen, and not heard.
The closer the match is, the louder she grunts. Sharapova also has an impressive vocal range, with several different kinds of grunt. Occasionally she shrieked, occasionally she let out a low bass note of a grunt, occasionally she attempted to muffle the noise, and occasionally she really went for it and came close to stripping the paint off the debentures enclosure.”

And BBC Wimbledon blog –

“Comparing the grunts Seles’ grunts are a mere shadow of the power that is Sharapova’s screamers.”

A reader’s suggestion – “Should Sharapova be banned or deducted points?. I think a muffling mask could be used.”

Rgds / Charles.C

@ Simon -

Lawn tennis was invented in Wales and patented and popularised by a Welshman, Major Walter Wingfield. Why Major Wingfield did this is not certain, though it seems plain to me that it was to gain revenge on the English for 600 years of oppression and Gavin Henson being left out of the Lions team for the first Test. As a tool of Welsh vengeance, tennis can only work if the English take it seriously. Unfortunately for two weeks every year we do. Personally I hate tennis as the devil does milk but it is a choice between that and Bodger and Badger and frankly, once you discover the latter is not a DIY show hosted by Bernard Hinault, that is no choice at all.

Don't get me wrong, tennis is a pleasant pastime for foreign girls and the more delicate sort of boy and it is for this reason I regard England's long-term failure to produce a men's singles winner as a badge of national honour. People keep posing the question: is Tim Henman a failure? The answer plainly is that he most certainly is not. Fred Perry and Bunny Austin - they were failures. Tim is a loser and that makes him a winner in my book.

The average English woman is likewise far too robust to be bothering with a pastime as unashamedly cardigan-friendly as tennis. True, some have shamefully succeeded in the past but they, thank goodness, are not typical.

After all, Sue Barker is to the womanhood of Albion what the Pekinese is to the world of dogs - all very well if you want something cute to carry around in a shoulder bag but useless at scaring away burglars or herding frisky bullocks.

( http://www.buzzle.co...-2005-72100.asp - worth a few chuckles) )

@ Simon -

Lawn tennis was invented in Wales and patented and popularised by a Welshman, Major Walter Wingfield. Why Major Wingfield did this is not certain, though it seems plain to me that it was to gain revenge on the English for 600 years of oppression and Gavin Henson being left out of the Lions team for the first Test. As a tool of Welsh vengeance, tennis can only work if the English take it seriously. Unfortunately for two weeks every year we do. Personally I hate tennis as the devil does milk but it is a choice between that and Bodger and Badger and frankly, once you discover the latter is not a DIY show hosted by Bernard Hinault, that is no choice at all.

Don't get me wrong, tennis is a pleasant pastime for foreign girls and the more delicate sort of boy and it is for this reason I regard England's long-term failure to produce a men's singles winner as a badge of national honour. People keep posing the question: is Tim Henman a failure? The answer plainly is that he most certainly is not. Fred Perry and Bunny Austin - they were failures. Tim is a loser and that makes him a winner in my book.

The average English woman is likewise far too robust to be bothering with a pastime as unashamedly cardigan-friendly as tennis. True, some have shamefully succeeded in the past but they, thank goodness, are not typical.

After all, Sue Barker is to the womanhood of Albion what the Pekinese is to the world of dogs - all very well if you want something cute to carry around in a shoulder bag but useless at scaring away burglars or herding frisky bullocks.

( http://www.buzzle.co...-2005-72100.asp - worth a few chuckles) )

Excellent mate. Not sure if the author is a genius or a complete nutter, but funny all the same. England are the eternal losers when it comes to sport. We may have won the 1966 world cup, but we didn't really, we cheated, but we were on home soil, the Queen was there and it was Germany. Whoops talking about football on a non football thread.

I should have looked up the statistics before voting . Apparently Maria.S has never reached a clay final. Nonetheless, highly successful tournament for Serbia.

Rgds / Charles.C

. Apparently Maria.S has never reached a clay final.

This time too she didn't trouble the statisticians. May be a new champion this time ?


Best Regards,

A Sankara Narayanan

So Fedderer depatched Davydenko with clinical perfection. I wonder how emaciated stars like Davy.. and JH play some shots with such awesome power!!!

Another poser. Why the number of aces are less in clay court than in grass court? Is it similar to the hard pitches which aid spin bowling and grassy ones which aid pace ?


Best Regards,

A Sankara Narayanan

Dear Sankara,

In the pink and emaciated with money.Sadly yet another total anti-climax, I was afraid Ivanovic's choice of black gear was ominous. Nonetheless well done Justine, you earned it

Yes, the clay slows things down and makes the ball bounce sharply for the top-spinners (just like cricket I think ?). At least you have time to see the ball move. I missed not seeing the Hawkeye line shots, seems like French TV are technologically lacking although the all-girl band was a nice touch (if you watched it that is).

Now it's the Battle of the Titans.

Rgds / Charles.C

Dear Charles,

Any predictions for today's big event? Guys like Fedderer, Sampras, Lendl bore me. I prefer to watch 'characters' like Agassi, Connors, Goran etc who add a touch of spice and flavour to the game.

I was just wondering how it would be if Monty Panesar tries to spin it in the clay court?

Best Regards,

A Sankara Narayanan

Dear Sankara,

One can see where he gets the spin from



As you say, it can be a bit more interesting when people like Mac the Brat Enroe are playing.
I've already got one wrong so by the laws of probability ..... Nadal by a short head.

Rgds / Charles.C

I prefer to watch 'characters' like Agassi, Connors, Goran etc who add a touch of spice and flavour to the game.

Hey what about Tiger Tim? Tiger pah. What a wimp. Murray at least has spirit; we shall see, but he's more my type of guy. What do you guys think of Murray - is he a prospect or are we Brits building up another no hoper?

Simon

Hey what about Tiger Tim?
What do you guys think of Murray - is he a prospect ?

Dear Simon,
I think Tim didnt live up to the expectations frankly. Murray, i think, is a prospect. Age is on his side.
Any predictions for Wimbeldon?

Ford has declined to coach 'team India' after flying to india for the inerview knowing fully well that he had a contract with Kent up to 2008 or so. They say its just one of the old tricks people do . They go to their boss with an appointment letter from another company, preferably the competitor. in many cases they get their salary increased..........

Best Regards,

A sankara Narayanan

I think Tim didnt live up to the expectations frankly. Murray, i think, is a prospect. Age is on his side.
Any predictions for Wimbeldon?

Two years ago I had a bet on Nadal at 50/1 for Wimbldeon; he did not win. I don't suppose I will get those odds again.

I think Tim didnt live up to the expectations frankly. Murray, i think, is a prospect. Age is on his side.
Any predictions for Wimbeldon?

Two years ago I had a bet on Nadal at 50/1 for Wimbldeon; he did not win. I don't suppose I will get those odds again.

You see I was always ahead of my time.

Wimbeldon is round the corner. With lot of upcoming teenagers showing their mettle we could be in for some 'surprises' in the ladies' section. As for the gents, it should be Roger another time...
Any difference of opinion anyone?

Best Regards,

A Sankara Narayanan

Dear Sankara,

You might consider trying a poll if you can think up say (half a dozen + "other" ) likely winners (and ladies ?). A few selected pictures might also help the less frequent tennis watchers.

BTW, what about Lewis Hamilton ? How about his chances for three 1st places in a row ? My guess is that this has never been done yet by a driver in his rookie year ? I suppose it also depends a bit on the car, McLaren seem to have achieved something special this year, so far anyway.

Rgds / Charles.C

You might consider trying a poll if you can think up say (half a dozen + "other" ) likely winners (and ladies ?). A few selected pictures might also help the less frequent tennis watchers.

Mmmmmm yes please...

You might consider trying a poll if you can think up say (half a dozen + "other" ) likely winners (and ladies ?). A few selected pictures might also help the less frequent tennis watchers.

Dear Charles,

Thanks for the tip. Ill certainly take the cue next time.

Now coming back to Wimbeldon, when I was in Mumbai I have seen that one of the popular brands of butter had, as part of the commercial advertisements, placed huge sign boards in different parts of the city. In one of them captions used to be changed on the 'current' scenario on a weekly basis or so. Like for example when Pat Cash won the title beating Lendl, years back, the caption went like this...''Hard Cash is better than Czec''. I marvelled at the skills of the copy writer(and had a go at copy writing for some days - well.........)

See this one for example after World cup final last year
amul_1.jpg   159.36KB   34 downloads

Best Regards,

A Sankara Narayanan

See this one for example after World cup final last year
amul_1.jpg   159.36KB   34 downloads

Is that really your work Sankara?

Frankly, a name like Amul certainly needs some promoting.

Would have thought Agoat had more potential ?

Rgds / Charles.C

Dear Charles,

Amul is a well established organisation in India('Amul chocalate - a gift for someone you love' ....was famous those days). Attaching 2 threads for you to know something about Amul...

best Regards,

A Sankara Narayanan

Amul_story.htm   26.67KB   15 downloads
Amul_show.htm   38.78KB   44 downloads

See the following to know about Guillermo Coria's woes. After going through it I was reminded of Monica Seles' mishap when she was at her prime .


Best Regards,

A Sankara Narayanan

Guillermo_Coria.htm   71.04KB   17 downloads

Dear Sankara,

Thanks for the milk links. Truly an amazing story (even has a Wikipaedia). Interesting that there is seemingly no unanimous agreement over the origin of the name.

Rgds / Charles.C

added - seems that Coria may have had a case -

http://www.theage.co...2019282414.html