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"Grunting" Controversy Continues On Wimbledon's Opening Day

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Rooo sez BISH PLZ
06/22/09

In reply to "Grunting" Controversy Continues On Wimbledon's Opening Day
*rolleyes*

Call me when there's a Wimbledon referendum when the boys do it.

(Although the irony of this quasi-parliamentary assembly being called in a year when Rafa is not here to defend his title *pauses, sobs, wipes eyes, struggles to go on* strikes me as no less than uncanny.)

*breaks down again at prospect of no Wimbledon FEDAL final*
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Karlifornia
06/22/09

In reply to "Grunting" Controversy Continues On Wimbledon's Opening Day
He then joked that the only way to make sure female players stop grunting is to "shoot them."

Andre Agassi just wants to remind everyone that he strongly recommends shooting them....with a 8.5 megapixel Canon Auto-Focus Digital Camera!
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Rooo sez BISH PLZ
06/22/09

@Karlifornia: The commercial is banal, but Andre can strongly recommend to me whatever he wants.
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CollegeCamel
06/22/09

In reply to "Grunting" Controversy Continues On Wimbledon's Opening Day
My friend once was flipping through the radio stations and came to a radio broadcast of women's tennis. Needless to say, it took him awhile to figure out what he was listening to.
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Sunflowercat
06/22/09

In reply to "Grunting" Controversy Continues On Wimbledon's Opening Day
I had completely forgotten about Michael Stich, and hell, I remember one-timers like Richard Krajicek and Kevin Curren, for God's sake. Couldn't they find an interesting stranger on the street to work for BBC?

I don't think Bollettieri is sincere, but he certainly said the right thing. Start taking away points and this stunt will stop for both men and women.
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sportz.star
06/22/09

In reply to "Grunting" Controversy Continues On Wimbledon's Opening Day
I think if these women think they need the grunting and noise to throw others off or to make themselves feel more powerful or to just let it all out, then let them, until and unless there's a rule against it.
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heykoukla
06/22/09

In reply to "Grunting" Controversy Continues On Wimbledon's Opening Day
Michael Stich was one of the most boring players I can remember. He really has no place discussing what people do and do not want to see when it comes to tennis.
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Kivrin
06/22/09

@heykoukla: Oh SNAP.
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vamusical
06/22/09

In reply to "Grunting" Controversy Continues On Wimbledon's Opening Day
I do not understand how putting forth enough energy to sound like a mutant seagull does NOT detract from your game. Doing two things at once is HARD, and the noise de Brito makes is ridiculous, how does the crazy sounds she emits not distract her from her athletic performance?
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littlemissvan
06/22/09

@vamusical: I went to the Australian Open a few years ago when I was in Melbourne, and Sharapova sounded like she was having an orgasm every time she hit the ball! It was pretty distracting, but then again, as a spectator, I don't really need to be concentrating. So I guess, whatever works!
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ihateyourescalade
06/22/09

@littlemissvan: This would mortify me as a spectator.
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Vivi21
06/22/09

@littlemissvan: She is one of the worst offenders. As I mentioned in another thread, it's natural to grunt every once in a while when you're exerting yourself, but some of these players take it way too far, Sharapova being a prime example. Larcher de Brito actually had a valid point when she complained that nobody gets on Sharapova's case because she's the tour's glamour girl (although to be fair, Sharapova is also an established grand slam champion). In any case, as a spectator, I can't stand to listen to all of that shrieking and end up changing the channel.

Martina Navratilova recently wrote in an editorial (on this subject) that the shrieking is bothersome and should be regulated; she mentioned that often you can hear a bad shot come off your opponent's racket before you see it, so it's important to be able to hear the ball. A grunt here and there? Ok. Sounding like dying cat on every point? Not cool.
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heykoukla
06/22/09

@Vivi21: Exactly. As I said above, you can't compare tennis to soccer or martial arts or other sports in which people grunt. It's not the same - there's a reason players wait for silence before they serve.
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Alys Brangwin has a huge talent
06/22/09

@littlemissvan: Yes. I must watch her on mute. Sometimes I just yell "Masha be quiet!" She can't hear me over her screaming.
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Ailatan
06/22/09

In reply to "Grunting" Controversy Continues On Wimbledon's Opening Day
'They want to look good, they pay attention to their looks and everything.'

Because they are athletes they are not allowed to look good? This women are playing tennis and winning titles! But it is reduced to how sexy they, according to Stich, want to look?

I suggest that the Beeb ditch Stich.
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sportz.star
06/22/09

In reply to "Grunting" Controversy Continues On Wimbledon's Opening Day
I bet the only way to make Michael Stich cease and desist from his sexism is to shoot him too. What's good for the goose and all.
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nex0s
06/22/09

In reply to "Grunting" Controversy Continues On Wimbledon's Opening Day
I've heard men grunting on the courts. Hitting the damn tennis balls requires exertion. WTF is wrong with these people? If the lady grunts while she wins, let her grunt. If it psyches you (as her opponent) out, then that's YOUR issue - not hers! Geez. As to being "unladylike", that radio personality can kiss my grunty butt.
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linnyt is a walking cliché
06/22/09

@nex0s: i was in tae kwon do back in my younger days and the yelling/noise making thing is to get power in your hits because it moves your air and makes you breathe or something like that.
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ihateyourescalade
06/22/09

@nex0s: True. And yet hearing the grunting really makes me feel like I'm listening in on their sexcapades. Call me prudish but I get all embarrassed.
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heykoukla
06/22/09

@nex0s: I disagree. In tennis, it's very bad form for the crowd to leave their mobile phones on. Or to talk loudly. Or yell out when someone is serving or during a point. Maybe for other sports it might be alright for the players/crowd to make that much noise, but tennis is different.
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lalaland13
06/22/09

In reply to "Grunting" Controversy Continues On Wimbledon's Opening Day
Michael Stich added that it would be much more appropriate if women would just think of England whilst engaged in the genteel (at first I wrote gentile, sigh) game of tennis.
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PilgrimSoul
06/22/09

In reply to "Grunting" Controversy Continues On Wimbledon's Opening Day
Just wait until the day a woman takes a shit in a public bathroom at Wimbledon.

There will be a run on smelling salts that day. Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag...
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save jinger
06/22/09

In reply to "Grunting" Controversy Continues On Wimbledon's Opening Day
I prefer the strong, silent type:

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sassyredhead
06/22/09

@save jinger: Is this Roger circa: Rebel Without a Cause?
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Kivrin
06/22/09

@save jinger: Sweet Lord, I'm about to pass out. Broken A/C + Roger Federer = dangerous.
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save jinger
06/22/09

@Kivrin: Oh no, I should have posted a warning. Perhaps you should take your shirt off:

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Kivrin
06/22/09

@save jinger: *head desk*

(But not for the usual reasons -- this time I actually blacked out and fell on my desk!)
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sassyredhead
06/22/09

@save jinger: Back at ya with my favorite shirtless wonder...

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Rooo sez BISH PLZ
06/22/09

@Kivrin: @save jinger: Girls, some of us are desperately trying to work. Will you stop that please?

(Especially since there will be no Roger-Rafa final this Wimbledon *sobs*)
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