Squash is the New Tennis.
Discussion
In addition to the already running Tennis thread, why, if we want to watch Racket Sports on TV, do we never, ever get to see the Squash??? 4 in the top 10 men in the world are from England ALONE. not counting Scotland Ireland and those Welsh fellas.
have a look at these 2006 world standing tables, and see just how f
ing good we are at it, but it gets not one mention ever.
Really really pisses me off. So much better to watch, faster, and YOU CAN PLAY IN THE RAIN, its England for Christ sake, of course it'll rain!!!!!!
edited to add the sodding link........
www.squashplayer.co.uk/players.htm
>> Edited by tiga84 on Tuesday 17th January 13:21
have a look at these 2006 world standing tables, and see just how f
ing good we are at it, but it gets not one mention ever. Really really pisses me off. So much better to watch, faster, and YOU CAN PLAY IN THE RAIN, its England for Christ sake, of course it'll rain!!!!!!
edited to add the sodding link........
www.squashplayer.co.uk/players.htm
>> Edited by tiga84 on Tuesday 17th January 13:21
BBC Sport said:
Squash player Vicky Botwright has been advised against wearing a thong at this year's British Open Championships in Birmingham.
The 16th seed, who revealed her choice of outfit at the championships, has had to abandon plans to wear her preferred choice of clothing - a sports bra and thong - on court.
Women's International Squash Players' Association (Wispa) rules stipulate the players must wear either a skirt or a dress - but does not mention underwear.
But squash officials believe the 23-year-old's revealing outfit would prove to be too much of a distraction for referees.
Speaking to Radio Five Live, Botwright said: "I approached Andrew Shelley, who is the chairperson of the Wispa, if us girls were allowed to wear skimpier clothing.
"Squash always seemed to be skirt and top or dress - it's quite boring really, we need to attract a wider audience
"He saw the clothing and said 'not really', but he said he would put it to the board and see what they said.
"The board had a meeting but they still came back and said 'no'."
Botwright denied accusations of copying tennis pin-up Anna Kournikova, the Russian star who has made her name with her looks and racy outfits.
But the Manchester-born squash player believed allowing more revealing clothing would inject a renewed enthusiasm for the sport.
"Squash sometimes gets left behind the times," she added.
"You look at other sports like athletics where they wear little bra tops and running knickers and you look at tennis and they are all trendy - they are becoming more revealing.
"Squash always seemed to be skirt and top or dress - it's quite boring really, we need to attract a wider audience."
And if wearing less is the way forward for squash to become a mainstream sport, then Botwright is in full support.
"I don't think squash can complain about what anyone takes an interest in because we are a minority sport - any interest is good interest."
Will Botwright set a new squash precedent?
Wispa has been criticised by British Open promoter Paul Smith, who believes Botwright is about to revolutionise women's squash.
"I think it is somewhat archaic of Wispa to ban the clothing, this is the kind of publicity we want to see in terms of changing fashions in the sport," he said.
"Squash is becoming more mainstream and I'm delighted that Vicky's pictures have created a lot of interest.
"Most of the girls on the circuit can match the girls on the tennis tournament and I think squash will follow the same route."
However, Wispa chairman Shelley was keen to reiterate no final decision had been made on Botwright's outfit.
"We want to be sure there are no downsides if the women are wearing thongs," he said.
"We want to take a common sense view and that will take a few days to decide.
"It is the integrity of the players we are concerned about and we hold their best interests at heart."
I'm all for squash on the telebox
www.vickybotwright.com
www.squashpics.com/vickybot/
>> Edited by B17NNS on Tuesday 17th January 13:34
much much better game than tennis! Sadly, the masses don't understand it. In my teens I learnt from the same pro and played squash at the same club as former world No.1 Jonathon Power. He was beating the pants of everyone way back then (he was only 12 iirc).
Counted myself lucky to get a point off him. Bit of an arrogant sod too.
It's not a great TV spectator sport, because it is difficult to follow the ball.
Years ago, they tried to develop a ball that would be more TV friendly. Not sure what the result was!
I played a few games against Paul Wright, when he was the England coach and won one of them
must type faster
>> Edited by mkgriff on Tuesday 17th January 13:41
Years ago, they tried to develop a ball that would be more TV friendly. Not sure what the result was!
I played a few games against Paul Wright, when he was the England coach and won one of them
must type faster
>> Edited by mkgriff on Tuesday 17th January 13:41
B17NNS said:
Didint they try dark court walls (blue I think) with white luminous balls.
Think that was better for TV
You've got the clear box style courts for arenas'. Viewing from all sides, one way glass from inside, totally clear from outside! looked very clever. green front wall, red floor, blue side walls, all with yellow lines and a clear back wall and a white squash ball. Not that hard to watch I always thought.
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