Is Sharapova the most annoying noise in sport?

Chris Matthews opinion

By Chris Matthews tvnz.co.nz Writer

Published: 11:11AM Tuesday January 24, 2012 Source: ONE Sport

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Something is seriously amiss when you contemplate watching television on mute.

But that was the very scenario we found ourselves in last night.

And we weren't watching a school teacher from the 1950s screech her finger nails down a blackboard to get the attention of her apathetic class.

No this was far worse.  What we were attempting was an experience akin to listening to True Bliss in hell.

A sound so irritating you could easily be forgiven for pulling your hair out. It can only be the screaming of tennis starlet Maria Sharapova.

Now we understand that her obsessive shrieking, which tops the pops at 101 decibels and is the equivalent of listening to an aeroplane land, is hardly a new phenomenon to tennis.

But last night's fourth round win over German Sabine Lisicki at the Australian Open, where it seemed like she was grunting louder than ever before, has provoked us to come up with an unscientific list of the most annoying noises in sport.

1.Vuvuzela  - Thank god this excuse for an instrument has faded out of the sporting landscape since the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The droning horn, which has been measured at 127 decibels, was ultimately a collective effort by obnoxious fans to ruin the footballing experience.

2. Cow Bells - Forget tradition people of the Waikato! You have abused this rattle for far too long and have you ever wondered why no one turns up to your games?

3. Appealing for the sake of it - This is not exclusive to one team in the cricket world. Oh no. This is every Tom, Dick and Harry. But appealing when the batsman is blatantly not out - especially with technology these days - is just plain stupid.

4. Saying "Get in the Hole" - A cliché of support from the PGA tour which is so, so wrong.

5. Chanting  "All Blacks, All Blacks, All Blacks"  - They may be world champions but let's get real - their supporters really need a lesson in creativity.

What do you think the most annoying noise in sport is? Comment below.

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