Holy Shite - Andy Murray refuses Serena Williams in traditional champions dance

[malaise]

http://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis/andy-murray-celebrates-after-historic-wimbledon-win/news-story/8be015fb8b53c662d5003e6bb9530dec
<snip>
Interestingly, Murray refused the traditional champions dance with Serena Williams, joking that he had not nearly had enough to drink yet.

“The next winners can try it again but no dance for me tonight unless I’ve had a few glasses of champagne. And then it’s possible.

“It’s a nice thing to do but it never really happened this year, and I was just lucky to leave the stage in one piece,” he said.
This year’s celebrations were a stark contrast to the previous event where Williams and Novak Djokovic danced together to the tune of Night Fever by the Bee Gees.

Williams had previously been at Cafe Royal for another party hosted by British Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton, fresh after she forged a place in history by equalling Steffi Graf’s record of 22 grand slam titles.
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Hope there's a real Queen's boo to greet him in September
Fuck you Andy Murray - it's 22 to three and you're lucky Nadal is injured, Federer is aging and Djokovic had a bad few hours.

[Lance Bass esquire]

1. Some people just don't dance....period. n/t

[DrDan]

10. my thought as well

[yeoman6987]

11. So many just like to be outraged over everything

[840high]

15. yep

[ryan_cats]

27. And if

...and if they don't dance then, they're no friends of mine.

At first I though he was being ungracious but it is possible he does not want to look the fool although that has never stopped me and should not stop him.

[Ms. Toad]

30. Especially when they appear to have a spotlight location to perform

It's one thing to be hidden in the middle of a crowd - but from last year's dance video it looks like it is a spotlight dance.

[MH1]

2. I'm going to be generous and choose to believe

that he was self-conscious about his dancing ability.

Of course on first read it sounds completely different, in a very bad way, and my initial reaction was the same as yours. Eff him.

(And, he's a freakin' tennis star, with how much dough? What would it hurt him to embarrass himself on the dance floor? Sheesh.)

[LisaM]

3. It sounded to me like he just doesn't like to dance

Apparently years ago there used to be a ball and there was a more formal dance, but it's been decades since that happened. I think it would be a nice tradition for them to dance together, but I am also going to be generous and think that in this case he was self conscious about it. Too bad, it would be fun to see!

[spooky3]

4. Please don't fall for the Aussie tabloid BS -- here's more info:

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/688623/Andy-Murray-Wimbledon-title-Ivan-Lendl-Serena-Williams-Kim-3am-night-out-news-gossip

According to this article, which is short but contains multiple quotes from him, the Wimbledon dance tradition ended several years ago. Djokovic, who is much more extraverted than Murray, decided he wanted to dance last year.

From all reports, Murray is a very nice guy. And he was one of the very few male players to speak out forcefully on behalf of women's tennis when the Indian Wells tournament director made vile sexist comments last year--even challenged Djokovic publicly when he piled on (and Djokovic later apologized to women.) remember also that he was the first major male player to hire a female coach (and who happened to be gay). Lots more could be added -- check out google.

[malaise]

5. It's in several British papers

but you are correct re his position on most issues. I like Murray in terms of his world view (although if he ever takes that title, my support is gone). I don't need Google and I am sure Serena will sort out the hacks.

My friend from childhood called me about this

[spooky3]

6. I think you are misinterpreting what he said and why.

Several of the Brit papers ( like several of those in Oz and here) are little more than gossip rags.

My evidence is that that interpretation is totally at odds with what he has said and done in other contexts. If you know about those other things ( and you apparently did not know the dance has not been a tradition for some time) then I am surprised you are reacting so strongly and negatively to this "story."

Signed,

A huge Federer and Serena fan

[malaise]

7. I am mostly agreeing with you spooky3

[spooky3]

8. Great!

[B2G]

24. You think he's a nice guy but he still merits a 'fuck you' in your OP?

Please.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

9. Did anyone care in 2013?

Did they or didn't they then?

[Ilsa]

12. I'm going to attribute this to two things...

He doesn't like public dancing; he's only been married 1-2 years and prefers to only dance with his wife.

I wish he had handled this privately ahead of time instead of "standing up" Serena. She could have found another dance partner.

[spooky3]

13. I don't think he did that. It was only when other people there

Started calling for him to dance with her that the subject came up.

As the story I linked (and others have) stated, the tradition of the dance stopped a long time ago. Djokovic (who is a good dancer and a ham) decided with Serena to dance last year, and they definitely didn't follow the tradition of a slow dance.

Even in past years when the tradition was ongoing other champs didn't dance some years. Lendl missed the ball altogether one year and sent apologies to Steffi Graf.

Did anyone ask Serena? She may have been busy with some great dancers and didn't care.

[JI7]

20. he is probably the type that wouldn't dance with his wife either

[madinmaryland]

14. Why the FUCK do the male and female winners of the tournament have to dance together.

That is so FUCKING wrong and sexist. AND STUPID.

FUG THAT FUGGING TRADITION!!

[malaise]

17. The tradition has died

The Murdoch papers and tabloids wanted a story - he's not a dancer. Serena arrived from the Lewis Hamilton party - clearly this was hardly formal. Djokovic danced with her last year because they chose to dance.

[seabeyond]

16. It sounded to me like he doesn't dance, and the only way to get him on the floor is booze.

We all know people like that. Give him a break.

[malaise]

18. It does look that way n/t

[DavidDvorkin]

19. There isn't enough champagne in the world to make me dance.

[bravenak]

21. He probably cant dance

I can dance to anything in public but some people lock up and get weird and start jerking around like madmen. Poor guy probably wont be asked to dance again.

[ProfessorGAC]

28. I'm Picturing Elaine Bennis Right Now

As soon as i read "jerking around like madmen" that was the image that popped into my head.

Now, i'll be thinking about that all day.

See what you've done?!?

[Nuclear Unicorn]

22. I wonder how this would read if the genders were reversed.

[Bluenorthwest]

23. Her religion is very anti gay so how is it that dancing with other people's husbands is

something they see as expected? I don't get that. He's married, newly. She orders him to dance with her? But also, she's anti gay.


Sports culture is ignorant.

[CBGLuthier]

26. You are making a true genuine assload of assumptions about a human being.

Find me one anti-gay sentiment from the woman. Who gives a fuck about her religious beliefs.

[B2G]

25. Thread not going the way you'd hoped? nt

[Dustlawyer]

29. I was a DJ for 13 years putting myself through school.

Some men are really really afraid of looking like George "W" Bush trying to dance with the Africans. They cannot dance and know it. I have watched people trying to pull them out of chairs causing a bigger scene for them than if they had danced and yet they still would not.

Unless he gave racist or sexist comments about why he wouldn't dance with Serena, or he danced with others there I would believe this is a tempest in a tea pot.

[ghostsinthemachine]

31. Did he dance last time?

The question.

[stevenleser]

32. I think he was afraid he was going to look like this