It’s the
time of year again when you feel it is both reasonable and necessary to spend 2
weeks watching the TV –Wimbledon is back. The luscious green lawns, the all
familiar purple and green surroundings and of course the strawberries, Pimms
and cream. Or, if you’re not that optimistic about Wimbledon… a sea of
umbrellas on Henman Hill and another year of disappointment for the British.
Yet in
recent years it’s felt like all of this could change,
and I’m not talking about
the roof over centre court. Andy Murray, the Scot (so he tells us). Miserable
or Misunderstood? We all have our own opinions and as with many sport stars,
the media has fuelled many of these opinions.
Is it his
open mouth and aggressive face or his monotone post-match interview that has
made him, some might say one of the least popular sports stars? Was it his
comment about ‘supporting any team that was playing England in the World Cup’
that caused eyebrows to raise and his support to fall? Or is it in fact the
media, focussing on his every miss-spoken word and printing photos of him when
he has just lost a vital point, or is trailing in an important match?
The recent
BBC documentary ‘The Man Behind the Racket’ gave a much needed insight to the
man who we believe we know. For once it felt like the media were giving both
sides to the story as opposed to one. Just like the summer of 2012, where
Murray lost to Federer in a 5 set Wimbledon final, his tears at describing the
Dunblane disaster showed how, underneath his steely exterior is an emotional
and compassionate human being. What touched me most about this documentary was
his friend Ross Hutchins describing how, when Murray found out Ross had Hodgkin's
lymphoma, he researched into causes, treatment and emphasised to Ross the other
athletes that had both suffered from this disease, but also recovered from it. Surely
this isn’t something a supposed arrogant, selfless Andy Murray would do?
In my opinion,
Murray is focussed and he knows the public’s and his own expectations. This can,
and has come across at times, as aggressive and arrogant, but no one can take
away from him that he is one of Britain’s most successful tennis players. After
all, if Murray were to win Wimbledon, whether he call himself a Scot or a Brit,
I feel the general public would embrace his achievement and perhaps misjudged opinions
would change.
Andy Murray
plays for a place in Wimbledon’s 2013 final tomorrow. So, which side of him will
be shown in the media? And more importantly, which side will you see?
