Posted on 07/30/2012 12:07:04 PM PDT by the scotsman
It looks different, sounds different and feels different - the Olympic tennis event is taking place at Wimbledon, just not as we know it.
One of Britain's great sporting institutions, steeped in proud tradition and strict protocol, is almost unrecognisable from its usual self.
Mauve hoardings, coloured kits, raucous crowds, pop songs and a beverage formerly known as Pimm's; London 2012 has taken over the All England Club.
"It's definitely weird," explained five-times Wimbledon singles champion Serena Williams. "I love playing Wimbledon but this atmosphere I didn't expect. It's bananas, and I love it."
Saturday's doubles tie involving Andy and Jamie Murray felt more like a football match, the crowd living every high and low with remarkable emotion.
Those scenes have been replicated across the grounds in the first two days of competition, and the excitement will only heighten as the week goes on.
Pomp replaced by passion, restraint by roars and etiquette by energy. Flags, scarves, face paint and hair spray - anything to show your nation's colours.'
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
What, did Buckfast buy up all the advertising?
Tennis: pomp and quiet interrupted by two players making the most ridiculous and annoying noises to ever come out of the human mouth.
If I want to know what it sounds like when people have sex with horses, I’d look on the Internet.
OK... I about lost it when I read that. The grunting is a long time peave of mine, may I borrow that phrase?
No surprise the Olympic people have cheezed up Wimbledon
In Vancouver, every break in the action there was the usual cheezy “entertainment” you see at US sports events...though the best one was the ArenaCam looking for a Belarus hockey fan (they never heard of their Dictator Lukashenko).
The worst was the incessant playing of “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas. The Canadian fans, who were very cordial to me even with my USA jacket on....started getting sick of the song.... “not that f-— song again, eh”
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