We're all Swiss today......do the business Roger.

Quite!

Talk about padding it out with rubbish, and barely a glimpse of Pippa Middleton!


Didn't Sue Barker just say the Scotish First Minister "Sir Alex Ferguson" was there?

I note that when Mcenroe said, 'Andy has to decide whether he wants to be a champion or also ran' he looked at Timbo!





.

Gosh, with resale tickets at up to £8,000, it's hard to say who should be more abashed, the Swiss or the Scot!
Good luck to them both of course but Federer's half South African and holds dual nationality so yes: Federer for the cup!

Edit: Was going to say something quite rude about the Scots and the English but changed my mind when I realised that the English are so noble of spirit that they would never claim the victory of a Scot as one of their own.

If he can make it back from the Silverstone winners's podium in time, my money's on John Terry.

SWMBO has no interest in tennis all year - other than playing once a week with the book group - and bloody Wimbledon comes along and she hogs the tv in the sitting room.

Couldn't someone arrange for the electrickery at Wombledon to fail? NOW.

Before the commentators wax lyrical about 'their very own' Fred Perry, perhaps a smidgin of historical perspective. Despite his unprecedented contribution to British tennis he was not admired in Britain and was ostracized by the then tennis establishment. He moved to the USA and became a naturalised US citizen in 1938. He served in the US Air Force during WWII and died in Australia.

I found myself tidying up earlier, so I'm trying to become more Swiss as the day goes on.

We're all Swiss today

So you should be neutral then..............

So you should be neutral then.............. :ok:

If Murray loses, he's Scottish; if he wins he'll be British :ugh:

Don't forget there was a British (English sub-section to boot) Male Wimbledon Finals winner, the first for 76 years. Yesterday. So if Mr. Murray wins he will be the first British champion for 24 hours.

(And yesterdays winner has even got a name similar enough to cause major confusion).

As he is a Brit, I really want to see Murray win. I will not attempt to Anglicise him in any way. He is a Scot. But, he has not endeared himself to many non Scots through some of his comments about other countries in the UK. He has not endeared himself to many through his lack of charisma. He does his talking on the court. He is just not good at PR, fact. I wish him well even though,like many of his countrymen he does not reciprocate that sentiment when non Scot, British sportsmen are involved.
As for Fred Perry, he came from Lancashire, fell foul of the British Class system and elected to go to the USA to live. Sadly that class system still exists in the UK and it is still just as destructive to society as it has always been.
Oh, and well done Jonny Marray yesterday. As he won the men's doubles final, is he British, or English, or both!
Temps.

MadsDad - doesn't Virginia Wade's win count as a win? There was great rejoicing at the time. If it does still count as a win, as it should, then, (not including yesterday's win) it is only 35 years since the last British win at Wimbledon.

DX, sorry, you are of course correct - I recall the match being live on the box in the background at the time. I shall amend the relevant post to Male immediately.

Thank you MadsDad. :) :ok:

ram it OP a**hole, you shame your mother country :}

Boris Becker, BBC Sport

"What a spectacular first two sets. All credit to Andy, his first Wimbledon final and he plays like a veteran."



:uhoh:

Pity Mr Marry needed a Dane to help him...:E

Not a pity, it's called teamwork:ok:

Thought the Danes conquered Britain a few hundred years ago?

No, the Danes merely made a bit of a nuisance of themselves with a spot of rape and pillage - just enthusiastic boisterous rapscallions, really ...

It took the mighty Roman Empire, and the sturdy Normans a thousand years later, to actually conquer us on the only two occasions that we have been taken over and occupied. IMHO, we benefitted considerably from both of these. :)

That's okay Cavorting, us modern Brits have learnt to put the past behind us.

Thought the Danes conquered Britain a few hundred years ago?

nope.

Errol Park History (http://www.errolpark.co.uk/history.htm)

During the time King Kenneth III was King of Scotland, around 980, the Danes made a raid into Scotland. A peasant named Hay and his two sons were ploughing a nearby field. When Hay saw the invaders, he and his two sons ran to fight encouraging others to follow. The effect was for the weary invaders to retreat believing a new army was about to hit them. King Kenneth rewarded Hay with a ceremony in his castle in Perth and a gift of land. Hay decided on some land around Errol (http://www.errolpark.co.uk/history.htm#). King Kenneth, who was a keen falconer, determined the boundaries by flight of falcon. The falcon flew through the valley and landed on a large stone near St Madoes which to this day is called Hawkstane, and remains some 1000 years later, at the boundary of the estate.
The falcon's journey is described: "The falcon flew to ane toun IV miles from Dundee called Rosse and alighted on ane stane which is called The Falcon Stane and so he got all the lands betwixt Tay and Arole six miles of length and four of breadth which lands are still inhabited by his posteritie".


;)



As for Dubai, isn't it time for a flood of biblical proportions?


:eek:

Perhaps not biblical, they have a different book down here, but many of the stories are similar. Rain would be nice for a change. 360 days of sunshine a year is such a bore. Anyway, back to watching the Brit play the South African.

Danish digression before the Boers triumph again? Federer's mama was Dutch.
King Cnut, in 1018 became King of England, Denmark and Norway. Died in 1035 and buried at Winchester.

I thought he drowned ;)

Murray has already won a major title - The Most Miserable, Monotone and Undemonstrative player in the world.

I'd like him to win just to see if he smiled.

SGC

Bloody hell, where were you when I was doing My A level in History! That information would have been useful, then.

Can't stand the game meself, just tuned in to hear some oaf shouting 'c'mon Andy' etc being asked to be quiet. If he was English, they'd be shouting 'Engerlund'.

I thougth tennis was supposed to be a civilised game...see what happens when the oafs are permitted entry.

But that girl friend of his is a pretty thing, doesn't have the used looks of the Middleton girls.

TBH, despite his best efforts the young man will have to reach deep for this one....:D

Well matched, she's got a face like a slapped arse as well.

There is no disgrace though in losing to Federer if, as seems likely, that is what happens.

Good. s

Sorry I couldn't have stood the sheer hype and nonsense surrounding a win by that miserable git.

Slapped bottoms and an absence of bright smiles? Look to the mother features for an answer?

Boris Becker:

"He lost to a better player today. Most successful tennis player of all time and there's no shame in losing to Roger Federer."

I do hope the press just leave it at that and don't blame absolutely everything in sight including Federer.

I've just been banished from the Living Room for laughing too much at the sight of Murray blubbing like a little baby because he lost - highlight of the week for me!

I blame Tim Henman - Murray had a lot to live down to. ;)

Couldn't give a toss about tennis one way or the other , but judging by the chippy comments more than a few of you people I would cross the road to avoid.

But that girl friend of his is a pretty thing, doesn't have the used looks of
the Middleton girls.

Well said.....

It's only a game?

Well, I for one am sorry the Brit lost, and he smiled, and he was emotional, and he was very honourable. He also played a good game of tennis and was not disgraced. I hope the press see it like that but i have my doubts...........

Andy Murray was absolutely not disgraced and I would hope most especially that he sees it that way. Not that I know a thing about tennis but you usually know when someone has given of their best and that's as good as anyone can ever get.

1DC, well said.

Your doubts are well founded 1DC. I heard the news on the radio as I was travelling home. It was announced as "Andy Murray has lost etc..." What about "Roger Federer has won..... ?" Andy Murray himself was gracious in defeat. I can't remember his exact words as I was concentrating on driving, but they were along the lines of congratulating his opponent and that Roger Federer had deserved to win. It would appear that the British Press no longer congratulates a winner but prefers to castigate the person who came second.

I couldn't stand the man until I heard him going out of his way to congratulate the victor.

SO

The BBC British GP coverage wasn't much better, concentrating on the two British drivers. Even DC didn't correct it.

Murray wears his heart on his sleeve. Obviously greatly disappointed, but as he said, "I'm getting closer"

Somebody explain

Why the hell does it matter?

There's solace in sucking the thumb.
http://lh4.googleusercontent.com/public/_6JAbYnDY5E0EDWfI1tWwRfMZpELJJqbwOV4sld2FGZw6oFKzDxkDJ-FCDaVFGlddZniRX0JG9c7FXa6zjLY4VUrG8_6mctPGZ5GW7efKuI8Mdz95U2exOiWdIMhQxCvTK-amirIaVyBCJbluNUgSc-ccCrvEUZ0Eg=s90-c

congrats to the winner, the loser is an arrogant ****, now he should go back to digging peat or making haggises or whatever they do up there.

gs

the loser is an arrogant ****, now he should go back to digging peat or making haggises or whatever they do up there.


There speaks the voice of the average Sun reader.

sorry dont read - socalled news papers - i leave that to you.

What you meant to say Lon was that when he learns to read he'll aspire to The Sun.:rolleyes:

The Sun headline reads: New bawls please
Murray is the crying Scotsman

Carrying on with the no A-levels press, the Mirror gives us: Tears of a hero: Brave Andy Murray loses Wimbledon final but wins the heart of a nation with emotional speech

The Mail tells us what Miss Kardashian felt with: Murray mania turns to misery: Andy, Kim and Kate all emotional on Centre Court as he loses Wimbledon final to seven-timer Federer, to my amazement, not mentioning the Baroness of Buns, The Marquesa of Mudflaps, the Princess of Arse - but hang on - Duchess of Cambridge, her sister Pippa Middleton, Prime Minister David Cameron and David and Victoria Beckham among celebrities who attended the match.

People who eat with a knife and fork will like the DT's Wimbledon: Brave Murray succumbs to fantastic Federer whilst diversity tzars will read the Guardian's Driven to tears by Federer's brilliance.

So Lon is pretty much right, the Sun output was risible, but the man who reads it is mendng your boiler. The Mirror is big on hyperbole, I mean they weren't fixing bayonets forchrissakes, and the man who's reading it is on the sick. The Mail tastes like a tramp's old chap.

Gird your loins, then - the Olympics are just three weeks away, tumescent with fatuous headlines as our heroes weep tears of joy/agony.

SO

There speaks the voice of the average Sun reader.

Judging by the follow on post, I think that you are correct.

(I am, or its contraction missing) sorry(Comma missing) I dont (Aprostophe missing) read - (incorrect use of a hyphen) socalled (no space between two words) news papers (Newspapers is a single word) - (Incorrect use of hyphen and comma missing) I (I should be capitalised) leave that to you.

There were at least 9 grammatical errors in a single sentence.
That definitely makes me think of a Sun reader.

Personally, I don't mind having my typing and grammar corrected as I am of the opinion that learning from ones mistakes is the best way to learn.

Turned on Sky News this am (not in the UK) and they were talking about the match to a couple of former England female players - I didn't know the result at that stage, but I assumed from the chat that Murray had actually won ...

I still can't recall ever seeing him smile - but then again, wasn't he at the school in Dunblane when the massacre took place?

Personally, I don't mind having my typing and grammar corrected as I am of the opinion that learning from ones mistakes is the best way to learn.

That's very noble of you, 747 Jock.

Pedant hat on:

I'm not sure, but shouldn't there be an apostrophe in there somewhere? I also note that you spell Heathrow with a small 'h' in your location. Finally, isn't Sun reader a contradiction in terms?

Pedant hat off.




.

1DC wrote: "
Well, I for one am sorry the Brit lost, and he smiled, and he was emotional, and he was very honourable. He also played a good game of tennis and was not disgraced. I hope the press see it like that but i have my doubts........... "

Watch the match again - Murray caved in at the end of the second set. He made the mistake of assuming he'd done enough to take it to a tie break. In all fairness, Federer wasn't at the top of his game either and made a host of unforced errors which typically wasn't the norm (Accorrding to Boris anyway). Federer did deserve to win however had Murray actually showed more heart, it could have been much closer. I'll gete panned for these comments no doubt but think of this - he didn't start falling about and limping until set three - go figure!

Don't be too hard on the wee lad, he's in good company. Namely, Henman,Castle, Lloyd not to mention Montgomerie,Westwood, Donald! - Don't we just love a runner up!!!

Yes, the Brothers Murray were at school in Dunblane on that day.

Perhaps something to remember for those wind-up merchants that criticize him as a 'miserable Scotch Git' .

I'm sure I could come up with some 'miserable Ingerlish Gits' just for balance. :=

Murray losing has at least done Oxfam some good

BBC News - Roger Federer Wimbledon triumph wins Oxfam £100,000 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-18765015)

And as for the opinion of, apparently, most people that he should run round looking like a grinning loon, why should he? He can smile as and when he wants and it's up to him. If the press aren't happy, tough. Charlie Brooker expressed it better than I can:-

Charlie Brooker: Andy Murray (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jul/08/andy-murray-not-miserable-just-normal)

I'm sure I could come up with some 'miserable Ingerlish Gits' just for balance.

Victoria Beckham for a start, always scowling!

Wasn't there an Engerlish foopballer, a Geordie, who forever seemed to be in tears? Treated as a hero by the Engerlish press I believe. As for Maccarooney .... In F1 Hamilton is not exactly a bundle of laughs yet most treat him as a hero

You'd be scowling as well if you were married to Beckham.

Well played Federer. Class !!!

That's our problem - as sooner as one of our nation's 'Hopes' loses and bursts into tears, we all say, "Oh but you did your best - well done mate". That's why now, we're a nation of sporting 'No hoper's' as those who try are safe in the knowledge that when they lose, we'll all give them a group hug and say, "You did your best, better luck next year".

We should adpot the mentality of other nations. I remember a CNN report on the 2000 olympic's (I think). It went something like this.....

"USA wins Gold. Maurice Greene, 200m Olmypic Champion in a time of 19.88 seconds - now the weather........."

We don't seem to hear so much of the Russians winning all
the Gold medals lately.

They'll beat the GB team in the medal table I'm sure

Murray played some occasional brilliant tennis but, I am shamed to admit, much as I try to like him I find I dislike him intensely. Not sure why.

I know there is a lot of emotional stress involved in playing the Wimbledon final but I found his prolonged emotional display became quite nauseating.

Never mind he still had the runner up's £½m prize money to console him.

True - but half of that should go to fixing his Mum's neck. Did a double take for a second, thought it was Deirdre Barlow in the box.

I have been watching the forums and blogs over the past few days and the vitriol being heaped on Murray because of his so called "anti English" comments needs to be put into context...

bqQsHBwkDgQ

Well, there you have it! A bit of banter where Murray was ribbed about Scotland, and he gave as good as he got.

much as I try to like him I find I dislike him intensely. Not sure why.

He is difficult to love, that’s for sure. It’s not that he doesn’t smile much – the same is true of many of his peers. It’s that he always seems so dour and sullen. I remember watching him in one of the earlier rounds – possibly againsts Baghdatis – where he was clearly not having things his own way, and his attitude came across as really bad tempered; he scowled, stamped, kicked his racquet and often looked like he was close to throwing his toys out of the pram. Somehow, you couldn’t see Nadal or Federer behaving like that – they’d have simply composed themselves and got on with the job.

I find Andy Murray a very frustrating player to watch. There’s no doubt he’s got the ability, but I sometimes wonder if he has what it takes mentally? Sometimes he just seems to switch off. His semi against Tsonga was a classic example – at two sets to love up he was cruising, and you’d have expected him to take the third in his stride. Instead, he loses the third and really struggled in the fourth. He really needs to be far more clinical against inferior opposition.

Having said that, he wasn’t at all bad in the final; he just happened to come up against an inspired Federer.

That's why now, we're a nation of sporting 'No hoper's'

Sure we are.

We only have the world's 4th best tennis player, the world's #1 Test, Twenty20 and -shortly- ODI cricket team, a football team ranked in the top 4 of the world, an Olympic's team likely to reach 4th spot on the medals table, countless athletes ranked #1 in the world at their sport, an English rider the favourite for the Tour de France, we operate and run 90% of the F1 teams (even Ferrari has mostly British mechanics, Renault's and Mercedes' teams are both based in the UK).

Yeah. We're totally hopeless. We haven't got any talent or skill.
Was your girlfriend stolen by a sporty type or something?

Interesting link posted by sitigeltfel.

Perhaps if he were to read a few of the posts on here, Murray might become as anti-English as some claim him to be already; and who would blame him?

Not much joy for the Brits this summer in terms of sports: Spanish win the football, Swiss wins the tennis, Ozzy wins the GP, probably fail to make it into the top 5 on the medal table at the Olympics.

Might as well watch the cricket and to hell with the rest!

Andy Murray was absolutely not disgraced and I would hope most especially that he sees it that way.

Just how good he is will be hammered home when his paycheck clears.

CG

I have been watching the forums and blogs over the past few days and the vitriol being heaped on Murray because of his so called "anti English" comments needs to be put into context...


Very true but you mustn't let the facts get it the way of a good bigot.

Not much joy for the Brits this summer in terms of sports:

Don't forget the Tour de Frog. Apparently a Brit is doing quite well although he will undoubtedly manage to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory

muppet of the north - reread your post and tell me what those you've quoted have actually won. Rankings is like talk - it's cheap. Only when they've won something can their status be elevated. As it stands, you seem to be proudly endorsing a lot of 4ths and that's my point.

Cheers
CB

PS. FYI - I'm the sporty type, got a cupboard full of medal's (Fair few are Gold) and trophy's to confirm

PPS. You're making an asumption that I'm either a fella or lesbian!!

" the world's #1 Test, Twenty20 and -shortly- ODI cricket team"

A vast imrovement on the past I grant you, however, let's see how they perform against the S.Africans ( subject to wx ) and then back to back against the Aussies...then, and only then, can we start to say with confidence we deserve the No1 spot


" a football team ranked in the top 4 of the world,"

Really ?....much as I detest the game, I don't seem to recall any great and stunning results since, oh, lets see....1966 perhaps?


"an Olympic's team likely to reach 4th spot on the medals table, countless athletes ranked #1"

That's an interesting prediction...which particular cut glass crystal were you using to foretell this, or was it more to do with the contents ?.:p

As for Mr M, well he did make it to the final and frankly, he was up against one of the best players of all time it would seem. The underdog only wins in Hollywood films.

Not a fan of tennis, but credit where it's due. Which is more than can be said for the Beeb last night. As ever, the priority for the Islington set was not the other "incidental items"..:rolleyes:! that followed him on the News..eventually.

Anyway, by now, for the braying classes in the Home Counties, he will have gone from "C'mon Andy, damn fine chap you know ! " to "useless bloody Jock!"...nothing like fickle support and the well established English trait of hypocrisy after all.

As it stands, you seem to be proudly endorsing a lot of 4ths and that's my point.And you seem to equate being 'merely' top 5 globally as a bad thing. There are 7 billion people on this planet, and this country has about 60 million of them.

Considering we have 0.8% of the world's population we win a damn sight more than 0.8% of the global prizes.

You mock Murray because he's not won a Grand Slam. Fine. How close have you ever been? They're open competitions, you attempt an entry and see how far you get. He has won, however, 22 career ATP titles. Hardly the career of a "sporting no hoper".

So, what is it that motivates your ire? Jealousy?

That's an interesting prediction...which particular cut glass crystal were you using to foretell this, or was it more to do with the contents ?

Simply going on form. If all of our current world-leading athletes perform as per the form guide we'll finish 4th in the table. Source: 2012 medal projections (http://www.sportsmyriad.com/2012-medal-projections/) Also being chronicalled in national papers, however the one I follow is the Times so behnd an internet paywall.

I'm the sporty type, got a cupboard full of medal's (Fair few are Gold) and trophy's to confirm

So you can run faster than the average cop?

Just seen a couple of footballers on tv, one the ex Engerland Captain. Definitely capable of whining for Engerland at professional level

edited to add - obviously you didn't even get Bronze for spelling.

In the four years leading up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, or so I have heard tell, Britain spent something in the region of £440 million on her athletes. Britain won 19 golds, 13 silvers and 15 bronzes in 2008? That works out at £9.4 million a medal. If you spent more money you'd probably get more medals and if you spent a really enormous amount of money and recruited a lot more Zola Budds, under the wire with a British passport, you'd get an even more stupendous amount of medals, no tripping included.

I'm not having a go at Andy Murray per se, what I'm saying it we have the wrong attitude 'Generally' as a nation which encourages underachievers. The "Never mind, you did your best, maybe next time" sentiment is the exact mumsy approach that's given to a 4year old child that's just grazed its knee!!.

We need to toughen up. I'll give you an example

Jamaican track and field qualification for the olympics. First 3 past the post, no excuses, that's it same as the USA. Everyone knows the score. You may not agree with it however what it does is breed competition, create true hunger and raises standards. This year ALL 8 finalists in the mens 100m achieved the olympic qualifying time - Yes that's right ALL 8. In the UK we have 2 and without the help of google, most people wouldn't even know who they are. The 3rd choice achieved the A standard last year and there are counter arguements as to whether they should be at the olympics at all.

There's talk of Murray's 22 ATP tour titles. Pays the bills but it's the grand slam's that really count. Ask 100 people who won the Beijing Masters this year then ask them who won the French open (Not even Wimbledon) - think most people would get the latter right.

Taking part in sport is for kindegarten and do gooders - winning is what professional sportsmen/women should aim for and nothing less. There's also winning and winning. Coming first in the London grand prix 100m is one thing, being olympic champion is an entirely different thing.

I'll be glued to the telly come olypics and yes we will win medals and some of our sportsmen/women will raise their game. But if you think we're going to be 4th in the medal league table then I have to admire your optimism. Unless the God's are on our side, in track & field especially, I fear that the vast money spent is not going to reap the rewards we'd hope. Don't worry though, when we come up short, we'll have 18 million viewers shouting in unison, "Never mind love, there's always next time!"

All the best
CB

But if you think we're going to be 4th in the medal league table then I have to admire your optimism. We were 4th at Beijing. Follow the link I put in my earlier post, we're scheduled to be 4th again. It's not optimism, blind or otherwise, it's simple form. We have enough athletes at the top of their game to realistically expect 20 Golds. Ok, they don't all come from track and field. But so what? Does Ben Ainslie's achievements mean less because they came from sailing? Are you going to tell Sir Steve that his 5 gold aren't as good as Bolt's 3?

I think, like a lot of the older population of the UK and other countries, you're only happy when you can complain about other people's perceived mediocrities because you are too ashamed of your own. By mocking people who have dedicated their lives to a sport to get to a point where they are among the world's best just because they aren't quite as good as one or two others you are working from an envious and petty pedastol that serves only to make you look small and particularly thick.

Muppet, rankings and forecasts are one thing, achievements are another. I can see that I've needled you from a moral perspective however that was not my intention. These are my views irrespective whether you agree or not.

Lets not make this personal as your sign off suggests.

"you are working from an envious and petty pedastol that serves only to make you look small and particularly thick". Ouch fella. Put down your beer and re read the thread, think you may feel a tad awkward in the morning. This ain't about me or my achievements - it's a viewpoint and if you can't grasp that - well.

Again, I reiterate, I admire your optimism, 20 Golds, wow - sorry fella, we're never going to reach that figure unless that it is we're giving them to spectators.

Despite being on our doorstep, we're just not geared up to compete at the highest level. I firmly believe some will step up to the mark but 20 golds, field of dreams stuff.

A suggestion if I may, leave google alone and perhaps select a topic you know something about - it clearly ain't sport fella

All the best
CB :ok:

We won 19 golds at Beijing, don't know if you were watching. Yes, some of those were won by the same people, ie, Hoy won 3 of them, Adlington 2 of them, but they were 19 events in which we took gold medals.

On current form, current standings - which of course are not guarantees - we should reach 20.

It's got no more to do with sport than it has to do with amateur athletics.

Professor has a surprisingly accurate formula for predicting Olympic medal results | News | National Post (http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/03/13/professor-has-a-surprisingly-accurate-formula-for-predicting-olympic-medal-results/)

Another Fifaesque spawn of corruption, outrageous in its demands, contemptuous of the citizenry, self idolizing and utterly amoral in its corruption of a once noble idea.

Each professional athlete may play his or her heart out and achieve great personal triumph but Britain and the other major countries that acquire medals for themselves by those individuals' efforts will have bought them with pieces of gold paid for by others.