This Aus Open has been characterised by cheeky signs in the audience, saying things like 'That's fast!' or 'Great serve!', etc. Do you like the fun they bring or do you find them a tad cheesy and contrived - vote now!

cheese.

There was one I saw before the Federer Djokovic match which said "Federer is the one I prefer"..... :wacko: :wacko:

So my verdict... is....

It's all a bit contrived - and that kind of pantomime doesn't really suit tennis.

So, it's a thumbs down from me!

I'd also imagine having the person in front of you shove a sign up in front of your face now and again, even if inbetween points, would be terribly annoying. :smash:

I hadn't thought of that - it would drive me insane. Another thing I don't like is the new bursts of music between points. I know the players are all pros and very professional - so can probably block it out....but surely at moments of intense concentration, you really don't need "Livin' on a Prayer" blasting! Especially in you are (living on a prayer, that is!)

Its the image of this gentleman sport which I think is degraded by this music between games. I think it first appeared in the US TMS but I am not sure. Just a joke really. And we know where it is going! Has anyone seen the Chicago Bulls live? Forget the Basket, pure circus!

There is something so automatic about those awful signs - response from the spectators should be spontaneous, I think. And that music OMG no!

My reaction shows my age, doesn't it :whistle:

Not at all scolios, I'm with all of you on the music....absolute joke! :angry:

Its cheesy, annoying and doesnt add anything to the entertainment.
Thankfully I cant really see it catching on at Wimbledon :)

No, any ticket holders with foam fingers, placards and rock music are automatically diverted to Henman Hill :D

hmmm after reading these posts I don't think I'd last very long at a tennis match!! roflmao We should at least be able to yell "Go Roger" or "Allez Justine" or "Davai Maria" every now & then.

Nothing wrong with yelling support inbetween points, but if someone shoves a banner up in front of my face when I have paid to watch a tennis match, then they are gonna know I am not a happy Gav. ;)

where's the smiley to show an unhappy gav?? i think you're letting yourself down :tsk:

well done - you've acquitted yourself well there! you can live to fight another day :P

Yeah that would irritate me too. :D

Wow! Just made my vote and am quite surprised at how close it is! i thought a lot of people would feel the same and that it was just pure cheese. Show's I am being quite narrow minded I guess. Does it appeal to the younger generation? Teens upward etc?
As for the music if there was a smiley like this :ok: but posted from Australia I would post it! :P
Hate the stuff.. and yes Tenez, I think you are right, I remember it starting in the late Nineties in America? Maybe not late maybe Mid? I sorta remember Mark Phlipss being in one of the first tournaments where they trialled it playing Agassi? Even the once considered Rebel against the Establishment Agassi hated it and he was only mid-early twenties.

Thanks for the info Trisco. I thought Music between games came much later actually and was ready to blame it all on deVilliers again ;).

Regarding shouting between points.....I have shamefully done it a couple of times times :thinking: , once in favour of Korda while he played my compatriot Pioline in Wimbledon and this year, this time in Bartoli's favour v Henin! It was loud, brief and I sat back down with a red face while my stoic English sitting neighbours looked at me like a fool. I think this is as good or as bad as it should get. I have always been the first to criticise the French Open crowd, especially the Wednesday one when all the kids are let loose. Let’s not forget, this is tennis and not football. We yell at one person and not at a team, so it is extremely different. A few screams there and then fine, but I don’t like when it is too much. Except maybe in Davis cup for this very reason.

I think it's total and utter sh*te.

I have no problem with spectators getting as involved as they want as long as it does not distract the players or involve an effort to change the course of the match.

My main beef with these signs is that it is entirely faux and unimaginative, which is demonstrated by the fact that it is already being, and will be, exploited for corporate purposes. So many of those signs have company logos on them.

What sort of sad git can't enjoy a match and express him or herself honestly and spontaneously in support of the players and appreciation of the tennis without waiving some sad corporate logo around that some over-weight executive who wears a baseball cap at weekends spent the night 'brainstorming' to dream up.

Generally these things happen at events which are 'entertainment' like Gladiators or where the sport is so boring the crowd need to amuse themselves - anyone ever see a mexican wave at a good match?

Thought not.

As far as music is concerned - there is an ever increasing number of people for whom real-life is apparently insufficiently interesting that wherever they go they have to clutter it up with noise that they have paid for* (anyone spot the other opportunity for commercial invasion?) - if you want music at a tennis match take a f*cking Ipod in and listen to that - don't bother the rest of us with that rubbish. I enjoy reflecting on the points and listening to the buzz from the crowd.

* You even see utter cretins skiing with Ipods - they obviously don't have the wit or the imagination to appreciate the beauty of silence in the mountains and don't care if they cause accidents because they can't hear what's going on.

I say UTTER BOLLOCKS to all artificially introduced noise that interferes with the rest of us. :chainsaw: :moody:

:blink:

That's where Pebs sits with her "Lleyton is my fluffy wuffy sex cushion" and "Lleyton's ass makes my knees go all wobbly" signs.... :yep: :yep:

ha ha ha roflmao Gav!!!!!! And I can't imagine rock/rap music being played in between points that's just-unnatural