HENMAN: So shit it hurts (from laughing too hard)

12:01 / 22.06.04

Henman just flew his second serve almost out of the center court, it was absolutely laughable. He's down a set already, and down a break. The guy he's playing is just battering him.

He's rubbish, isn't he? It's like car crash TV, and I can't stop looking.

12:15 / 22.06.04

I wouldn't write that up as an indicator. Ivanisevitch used to be a habitual five set merchant. Even yesterday he was taking it fairly easy playing against Yuszchny.

Also, Henman isn't Britain's "only hope" (except as far as this Wimbledon is concerned). Bogdanovich is showing great shape and potential for development. I think you have to give credit for any 295 that can make the One seed run for his points.

Besides, anyone can make a slow start on the first day of a tournament. In fact watching the scores roll up yesterday and sitting by on some of the matches showed a lot of the big names throwing some very bad lines and easy floaters at the start. I wouldn't start trading your bets too quickly.

12:25 / 22.06.04

I'm not, I just don't like him.

*clenches fist*

Goodness Gracious Meme

12:27 / 22.06.04

Me neither. I hope he goes out in the first round, it would be hilarious.

I'm not sure why I find him so irratiting.

12:28 / 22.06.04

I was referring to Henman "the only hope" for this Wimbeldon with a little hyperbole, anyway!

I kind of expect Henman to win this match, but I won't be surprised if he doesn't.

...

*clenches fist again*

*pained expression*

12:30 / 22.06.04

Maybe because of this, Bengali?

12:33 / 22.06.04

Fair enough, he does look a lot like Cliff Richard.

Thankfully for England two women are through, so all is not lost yet. Unless Navratilova's execution card is kept in good order although I suspect she hasn't got what it takes to run the whole tournament.

12:34 / 22.06.04

Henman pisses me right off, every time he loses, it's always someone else's fault. He's indicative of the crap tennis system in this country that churns out soulless home counties tennisbots with absolutely no passion, drive, or determination.

I'd love to drop a bomb on fucking Henman-Hill, but will just settle for him never, ever, winning Wimbledon.

Ganesh

12:36 / 22.06.04

Is is true that he's got the proportionate strength, speed and tennis ability of a radioactive hen?

sleazenation

12:36 / 22.06.04

a work collegue of mine concured with the general hatred of henman - when I pressed him on it he claimed that he was too posh and polite to be a sporting hero...

Goodness Gracious Meme

12:38 / 22.06.04

Suedey: ah, that might well be it. Ick.

Suspect there's an element of this soulless home counties tennisbots (thanks HK)/class-based ick as well.

12:39 / 22.06.04

He really is the snotty kid you never liked when you were little who just happened to grow up and be good at tennis.

12:43 / 22.06.04

Close to losing another set on the tiebreak, too... after having set points and everything! he is, frankly, getting outplayed.

I'd like to see him do well, even though I find him a tad annoying (fun to hate).

Ganesh

12:47 / 22.06.04

He really is the snotty kid you never liked when you were little who just happened to grow up and be good at tennis.

But not that good. Shit at childminding too.

12:49 / 22.06.04

I didn't want to be mean, because he is good... but yeah. He's a so very nearly almost.

In that ad with the baby, is he watching videos of himself playing tennis? I wasn't really paying attention, but if that's the case, it's quite hilarious.

12:54 / 22.06.04

Henman managed to win that set. I want him to win now, because the clenched fist of Henman vs. the annoying grunting of the guy he's playing is the lesser of two evils.

Love that they asked the people on "Henman hill" if they thought he'd win Wimbeldon and were merely answered "No... sorry, I was too busy texting" and "I hope he wins this match.". They're there to support him, but it's like they don't know why.

ONLY NICE THINGS

13:18 / 22.06.04

They've been infected... with Henmania

(Screams, shambles)

COMEONTIM! COMEONTIM!

Ganesh

13:19 / 22.06.04

*tries*

I'm sorry. With all the creative fantasising in the world, I don't think I could come on Tim.

nedrichards is confused

13:52 / 22.06.04

Well given that Henman himself had actually very little to do w/ the crap tennis sytem that churns out tennisbots who lose I think that's a little unfair. In fact it's almost certainly the fact that he just wasn't considered that good enough to get all the special LTAstuff and worked for it through force of determination etc. that actually makes hima rahter decent player. Yes, he almost certainly lacks that extra spark of tennis greatness to win a Major tourney but I'd rather have him as the top British player than Jeremy F-ing Bates.

Cherry Bomb

14:31 / 22.06.04

Henmania... one thing I'll never understand about this country...

w1rebaby

14:44 / 22.06.04

It's *recurring* Henmania that gets me. Every bloody year, everyone pretends that the tedious arse is actually a world-beater. Every year he doesn't win, and it seems to come as a total shock.

Aren't there any interesting tennis players around?

14:46 / 22.06.04

Well, I wasn't blaming him for the crap tennis coaching system as such, he's just a very good example of the way youngsters are drilled into playing exactly the same way by coaches who have probably never won a tournament in their lives.

There was a TV programme on a few years back highlighting how the LTA favours kids from middle-class, home counties tennis clubs getting on its coaching programmes, at the expense of inncer-city kids who can't afford to join tennis clubs in the first place, on the basis that the middle-class kids are "more likely" to progress because of their improved financial situations and access to better facilities.

I hate to think of all the wasted potential that's been cast aside in favour of the likes of Henman, and don't even get me started on the state of the British women's game...

14:56 / 22.06.04

Aren't there any interesting tennis players around?

Goran Ivanisevic - quite an enjoyable watch, I think one of the few players left on the circuit whose sense of humour hasn't been surgically removed by sponsors.

Bogdanovic - Whilst only 295, his enthusiasm and dedication to the spirit of the game is inspiring. He looks like the complete preppy git when he walks on but I really enjoyed watching him. Plus he wasn't afraid to throw gang signs at Federer when he pulled back from match point.

11:01 / 25.06.04

Ivanisevic is great, because he is batshit insane.

11:19 / 25.06.04

Fucking hell, Venus Williams is out thanks to dodgy umpire!

Justine Henin-Hardenne should walk this now.

11:19 / 25.06.04

Gosh, I remember that final from however long ago (3 years?) and me and my friends were cheering for Goran. He's great! I think it was the one where he just came from nowhere to win the tournament. And did a shot from between his legs, or something.

That was exciting shit.

11:22 / 25.06.04

Shit. Henin-Hardenne would walk it, if she was fucking playing this year. Arse.

12:57 / 25.06.04

did a shot from between his legs, or something.

He tried it again on Monday but was less successful, i.e. not but the tricklers were a bit thick and fast.

13:38 / 30.06.04

To the tune of 'Go West':

"Farewell, to Tim Hen-a-man
FareWELL, to Tim Hen-a-man
Farewell, to Tim HEN-a-man
Farewell, to Tim Hen-a-man!"

Tryphena Absent

13:44 / 30.06.04

Well, I hated all tennis players until I saw Federer (is that how you spell his name?) interviewed 15 minutes ago. I love him, he's so nice and he has a squidgy face, I want him to win.

sleazenation

13:46 / 30.06.04

Didn't Henman make it just as far in Wimbledon as England did in Euro-whatever?

14:21 / 30.06.04

May he eat washing powder for ever more, the fool.

15:06 / 30.06.04

sleazenation: I'm not sure I understand. Are you trying to say that you don't like football? This is very informative, as I was certainly unaware that you did not like football prior to this thread...

sleazenation

15:38 / 30.06.04

Flyboy - No, I'm just pointing out to the football-loving Henman haters that the failure of 'so-shit-it-hurts [from laughing...]' tim is an equal achievement to that mustered by the team they cheered for so verhemently just 1 week ago.