Wimbledon

#1
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rockydoc

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#1
Any Tennis fans out there? It is a true sport requiring great athlethic ability. With Andre retiring not many good American players on the horizon. Roddick is struggling and with his brother as his coach I don't see him being a factor as he looks like the type to run out for a brewski rather than practice.

 
#3
#3
(vols kick balls @ Jun 25 said:
tennis is worse than hockey but right above the spelling bee and dominoes.
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Actually VKB, tennis is gaining in popularity. (Golf is losing). More high school teams have tennis teams. It is actually a game not requiring a lot of money to play. If I had some advice to young parents with small kids it would be to involve them in sports like tennis that the could continue to play throughout life for fun but great exercise. Also for the singles it is a great way to meet the opposite sex.
 
#5
#5
I am not a tennis player, however, if hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in sports, then returning a 126 MPH serve, while running and adding spin to the shot (oh, and there is no 'strike zone'), would definitely have to take considerable athletic ability.

That being said, really tough sport to sit and watch for 2 and a half hours.
 
#6
#6
(rockydoc @ Jun 25 said:
tennis is gaining in popularity. (Golf is losing)
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Really? Over what time period? Yeah, I know it probably hit a peak in the late-90's with Tiger's success, but my bet is that if you look at sports like stocks or commodities, the trend over the past decade or two is quite favorable. I know for sure that I've heard that record numbers of kids have embraced the sport and that the number of players, especially in higher-income demographics, FAR outweigh tennis players.
 
#7
#7
(kiddiedoc @ Jun 25 said:
Really? Over what time period? Yeah, I know it probably hit a peak in the late-90's with Tiger's success, but my bet is that if you look at sports like stocks or commodities, the trend over the past decade or two is quite favorable. I know for sure that I've heard that record numbers of kids have embraced the sport and that the number of players, especially in higher-income demographics, FAR outweigh tennis players.
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Our local paper (which is owned by the NY Times) ran an article in today's Sunday paper about the financial struggles of some of the local, privately owned, but open to the public golf courses in the Shoals area (approx 150,000 pop.). In the article the state that the popularity of golf peaked in 2003. Now there are 1.3 million less golfers in the USA that in 2003.
 
#8
#8
Maybe it is just the circles that I run in but I have never been invited to a "business" tennis match, but I play "business" golf about once a week in the summer. I cannot remember the last time a sat around the water cooler and talked about Wimbeldon, and I played tennis in highschool.

I simply don't think that it generates the buzz that golf does, and I actually enjoy both sports.
 
#9
#9
(Lexvol @ Jun 26 said:
I actually enjoy both sports.
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As do I (although I haven't played much tennis over the last few years).

Truth is: I played golf on a packed course yesterday, and the two beautiful tennis courts by the clubhouse and pool were empty. I went to the marina Saturday, two nice courts in the park: empty. Around here, there just don't seem to be that many people interested in tennis.

Why? A couple of reasons, I think.

-One, golf is (as a poster above mentioned) a "business" or "social" event. You often play with coworkers, clients, wedding parties, fundraisers, and so on. It allows lots of time between shots to relax and talk. More people can do it at the same time (i.e. 8 people max on 2 tennis courts, a course will accommodate a tourney of 100+).

-Two, tennis lacks a figurehead in America. With Agassi retiring, Sampras out of the picture, and Roddick underperfoming, there is no "Tiger Woods." What percentage of average Americans could pick Roddick out in a picture lineup? How about Tiger?

-Three, honestly, is that Americans are fat and lazy. When we get out of work or have a day off, the last thing most of us want to do is to run around and chase a ball on a court of hot cement. Now, give me a nice cart with a cooler in the back and we're talking.

-And finally, I think golf carries a "prestige" factor. Most people, if they really think about it, will admit to this. You feel "special" when you are playing the old game. Attribute it to sky-high costs, media/advertising, or the game's history. . . .I don't know.

Again, I have nothing against tennis, enjoy it, and actually used to play fairly well.
 
#10
#10
I stopped playing some time ago. Doc, everything you just said is likely true, but I still love to watch Wimbledon. Have since I was eight or nine. The Borg/McEnroe battle of 18-16 is etched in my mind to this day. To go to a Saturday/Sunday at The Masters, and to attend quarterfinals day at Wimbledon's Centre Court are at the top of my sports wish list(well just below a UT National title game).

I understand the reasons for the waning popularity(notwithstanding the earlier post's assertion), but I'm one of those few who still loves to watch this game when it's being played at it's best.

Federer v. Ancic in the final. Not sure if that's possible, I've not seeen a full bracket, but those are the two best grass courters right now.

By the way, Federer has the most beautiful game I've seen since Borg. It's a shame more people don't see the greatness in this guy.
 
#14
#14
For me golf is one of those games I like to play but don't so much enjoy watching. Tennis I like to play and watch. JMO
 
#15
#15
(rockydoc @ Jun 25 said:
Actually VKB, tennis is gaining in popularity. (Golf is losing). More high school teams have tennis teams. It is actually a game not requiring a lot of money to play. If I had some advice to young parents with small kids it would be to involve them in sports like tennis that the could continue to play throughout life for fun but great exercise. Also for the singles it is a great way to meet the opposite sex.
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yea but in golf you can drink and play at the same time and still be pretty good
tennis is boring i am not saying that golf isnt but aleast in golf you get more money if you win and plus its on every weekend

if you was really good then you could make 1,000,000 easly w/o a win
 
#16
#16
(volinbham @ Jun 26 said:
Now I have THREE reasons to watch tennis!
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wat about natalie gulbis, paula creamer, michelle wie
there all hot they should give you pleanty of reasons to watch golf
 
#17
#17
(volinbham @ Jun 26 said:
Now I have THREE reasons to watch tennis!
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wat about natalie gulbis, paula creamer, michelle wie
there all hot they should give you pleanty of reasons to watch golf
 
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