Andy Murray: Far Too Scottish for Some Brits

Andy Murray may have failed the masses at Wimbledon, but he has not failed me. The 22-year-old Scot has been backed by ‘most’ of the great British nation during this years event but was unfortunately outplayed in the semi final, where he lost in four sets to a vintage display from Andy Roddick.

It was, however, inevitable the loudest voice, the day after the defeat would come from so called Brits saying ‘well we don’t support him anyway.’

I am a proud Brit as well as being a proud Scot and was saddened to read the posts of thousands of Englishmen criticising Murray for everything from being an arrogant Scot, a media hype, unpatriotic, and most shockingly of all, for having a c**t of a mother, according to the mainly English posters on the Facebook group ‘I hate Andy Murray.’

So I thought I would answer a few of these criticisms as not only a Scot but as a patriotic Brit.

Let us start with the claim Andy is unpatriotic

A few years back Murray made a stupid comment about supporting ‘anyone’ against the English football team and he continues to take criticism for it but why?

For a start, the world No. 3 has insisted ever since that it was a comment meant in jest. But even if it was not, I see no problem with it.

Britain is in my blood and when it comes to the Olympics, tennis (I supported Tim Henman for a decade) or any sport Britain competes (such as this years British and Irish Lions tour) I am full heartedly behind them.

However, Britain does not play football: Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland do. If you are Scottish with no recent English heritage, no matter how British, you can still not represent England on a football pitch.

Therefore, when it comes to football, Murray supports his country’s team. Just like all Englishmen, Welshmen and Northern Irishmen.

Murray unpatriotic: I think not.

A small matter of arrogance

Self belief is an absolute must in the world of professional sport as is determination and Andy Murray is guilty of both of them but it does not make him arrogant.

It helps him to be confident in matches and has helped him achieve the success he already has.

‘But he is so petulant’ I have read so many people say. My answer to that is, I have seen an incident in just about every match at Wimbledon in 2009 where a player has slammed his or racket, questioned officials, or ticked themselves off verbally in front of the crowd. Why should Andy be singled out?

It is after all a competitive sport with plenty at stake.

The Media Hype

Britain’s media is famous for going on and on and on and on about any success Murray or any British person or team has but how is this the Scot’s fault?

I even read someone saying it was Murray’s own fault and he should just tell the media he has no chance. What utter nonsense, Murray is more than capable of winning a slam one day and probably one day soon so why oh why should he tell himself he cannot do it?

Murray mania will be around for another decade god willing if he is still competitive in his early thirties and therefore the only option for anyone offended by all the hype is to get a thick skin.

But it will die down now, at least for a month or so, before he is again built up and up by the press in the run to the US Open.

Mother of a star

While either of the complaints above could easily be misconstrued and people are always entitled to their opinions, there is no excuse for the savage attacks on Andy’s mum, Judy.

A topic in the aforementioned anti-Murray Facebook group is ‘His c**t of a mother’ and is extremely shocking at best and proves English anti-Murray sentiment has little to do with Murray supporting or not supporting England’s footballers.

The topic was started by Englishman James Harper who said: “That leathery old hag really grinds my gears. Am I the only one here who gets wound up by the sight of Murray's mum?”

It was followed by even more shocking abuse from London’s Lawerence Riley who said: “Ginga c**t. Sent Andy away aged 15.Who the f**k does she think she is? Great champions like Borg,Federer, Sampras never had an old hag like her f***ing glory hunting.”

So even Mum’s can be glory hunters now. Supporting your son at what he does is more than honourable and many British parents could certainly learn something here.

The worst was yet to come however when Mike Paul of Chantry High School which I believe is in Ipswich, England shockingly had the following to add to the classy debate.

He said: “Why does the BBC feel the need to show her after every single point won?!? just because shes shouting like a skinny scottish c**t! She needs to go home, have a cup of tea and kill herself. Help us all mate.”

Now, I’m no expert in racism but this is certainly pushing those boundaries and is a whole lot different to a man deciding not to support a sports team.

Why the mother of a tennis player who brought up her son to not only be a a great tennis player but also a gentleman should be attacked so viciously escapes me.

Every mother, girlfriend, and coach is picked up by the camera’s countless times in all matches and what a person looks like has absolutely nothing to do with tennis or that person’s son (who in this case is Andy Murray).

This all saddens me as I know many Englishmen support Murray and they have given him their all on Centre Court over the Wimbledon fortnight but I couldn’t stand by and let Andy’s ill thought words of the past be constantly used against him as an excuse for non support.

The truth is many Englishmen don’t support Britain’s No. 1 tennis player because he is Scottish and not because of previous comments, the media hype or his so called arrogance.