I don't follow a "home" football team normally. In the World Cup/Euros, I want all the British teams to do well. That's not unusual.

I am actually sad Murray is out as I wanted to un-support him in the final. Now I don't care (except wanting the dashing Federer to win, obv).
UQD you CANNOT be serious about supporting Scotland in the footie, surely? No England fan would ever do such a thing; it's patronising really, like saying 'oh, it's my baby/second team, I do so hope they will do well'. What I mean is supporting a football team is a serious business, unlike the idle pleasure one has in being free from patriotism in tennis and therefore rooting for whoever the hell you like.
Disclaimer: have had wine.

Apparently the 'anyone but England' comment was aimed at Tim Henman who had been slagging him off about Scotland going out.

Honestly if you asked any 20 year old Scottish lad they would probably have said the same thing. Why tar everyone with the 'miserable Scots' tag when they don't automatically start supporting England once Scotland is out? Do Liverpool fans support Everton if their team gets kicked out?????

What I can't understand is why you would stop supporting someone just because of a throw away tongue in cheek comment?

I'm half Welsh and half English, which occasionally makes rugby tricky!

sorry my reply was to unquietdad

'The miserable Scots, on the other hand, think it is big and clever to support "anyone but England." '
It's not just the Scots. Have you ever been to Australia or NZ? You frequently see t-shirts with 'I support NZ or whoever Australia is playing' or vice-versa. Scotland and England are just old rivals, it's the same the world over between neighbouring countries.
In my experience the Welsh can be pretty anti-English too but most are very nice to the Scots - with possibly you being the exception!

I don't know many people who've got to the top of their particular trees without that level of self-belief. Never met the Pope though - perhaps clerics are an exception.

Self-doubt is charming but it doesn't win many matches.

All this regional tribalism is silly. I wanted him to win because he is British. He's playing for Great Britain. Same way I wanted Henman to win because he is British.

I want the English football team to do well and I want the Scottish football team to do well. When England play Scotland I support England. I'd expect Scots to support Scotland. I support Wales and England at rugby.

If you go into an English pub during an international football match where Scotland are playing, you'll find a group of Englishmen rooting for them. The miserable Scots, on the other hand, think it is big and clever to support "anyone but England." (If they hate England that much, why watch the World Cup? Why not just watch a video of the last time Scotland did well? OK, it would mean dusting down the Betamax machine, but all the same...)

Great! The final with a preppy girl and a chap with an annoying baseball cap.

well you got your wish

I can't say Im a fan but wouldn't begrudge him winning .

Couldn't stand Henman - and his 'slamming' of a ball into a ball girl has been lost when we were all supposed to love n worship at the feet of tiger tim ......or the 'Chickenman' as we called him !

And Murrays comments re England/World Cup ..... and? Do you seriously think that all the Scots/Welsh & Irish cheer for England? In the little town I come from in Wales the shop that sells welsh dolls, costume, rugby shirts etc sells t-shirts saying "I support whoever England are playing"

Roddick invited his driver to his wedding - so guessing he's not got too much of an attitude!

Ok. Time to fess up. I don't even follow the tennis, not at all. I just thought I would try to be clever and throw in a comment I hear from the in laws day in and day out!! That's all I ever hear them go on about, Murray and that comment. But I'm too nice so I'm taking it back

As you were ladies!

My friend is a Wimbledon driver and takes the players back to their houses / hotels after matches. She says many are horrid, with a 'master and servant' mindset definitely in place. But Federer always charming and thoughtful, apparently (and un-smelly, unlike some ...).

I need to sound her out about Murray ...

Hey TimeForMe did you click on the link in that article backing up your point?

If you had you'd have seen this which kind of shows that you totally missed the point

I feel a bit sorry for Murray and all this expectation. I don't think tennis players really feel they are representing their country when they play, and yet everyone (well, the media) has decided that he's "doing it for us". These guys (and gals) play tennis all year and nobody gives two hoots about most of it.

Equally, because tennis players don't really do it to represent their country (unlike, say, the football team who play under the banner of 'England'), I see no reason why British people should automatically get behind the British player. I do hope Murray wins today, but a lot of that is down to me really objecting to Roddick. If Hewitt had beaten Roddick and were in this semi, I'd find it hard to choose, as I have a big soft spot for Lleyton.

So it's not unpatriotic (if that matters) to not support the Brit. Support the individual whose game or personality you like.

Hurrah for Mumsnet and their sensible views!

Makes the-other-forum-I-use look very bad and petty with regards to a similar thread...

Murray is a fantastic player and his matches at this Wimbledon have been very entertaining. Shame he's not also eye candy though, like Roddick, Hewitt and Nadal.

Hope Roddick has to change his T shirt many, many times this afternoon!

TBH I think its a bit weird not to support Murray if you are British. As an Australian - I don't much like Lleyton Hewitt's public persona but if he got to the Wimbledon final - of course I would support him!!

Jeez, if I didn't support Australian sports stars because they were arrogant/annoying/drunked/bleached-blonde-texting-sex-maniacs, what would I have to be proud about?

tongue planted firmly in cheek

Murray all the way. Yes he was arrogant when he was younger enough to sack his first coach but where did that get him? Nowhere.
He now has a fantastic coach who's worked wonders with Andy's attitude, fitness, focus etc.
I wouldn't say he's arrogant at all now, just completely focussed and highly competitive which you have to be if you're to get anywhere in his game ('scuse the pun).
During one of his first interviews at this year's Wimbledon he was asked, now that Nadal had pulled out, whether he thought it was "in the bag". His response? "I think you're being a bit disrespectful to the other players if you think that"...
Nuff sed.

OMG of COURSE I am supporting Murray. Why is it that everyone has to act like a friggin' celebrity with PR machines and everything. Appreciate him for his tennis.

There are too many celebrities who people "lurve" who become famous for NOTHING. This guy has put in hours and hours and hours of work to get this good. Stop being so shallow and support him for Christ sake! You don't even know him - you are basing your opinion of him on one comment. I laughed when I heard the England comment!!!

YABU.

He IS good. His arrogance is irrelevant really, it's how he performs on the court that counts.

to the OP: Of course I'm supporting Murray. I think he's a great player. Yes, there is something arrogant about him BUT I think you actually need some arrogance to get the top of your game (think John McEnroe and, apparently the lovely Roger Federer when he was younger - used to get kicked out of tournaments for breaking his racket!)

Tim Henman seems like a super nice guy but he also wasn't such a fantastic tennis player. very, very good yes but one of the top? sadly for him, no.

As for not supporting Murray because he's not good-looking? That's just downright strange, IMO.

And as for his England/football comment, I have heard that comment ('anyone but England') from sooooooo many Scots. Given Murray's high profile it was perhaps a big ill-advised but hey, he was very young when he said it.

Give the guy a break and get behind him. I find him soooooo much more exciting to watch than the previous British number 1 (sorry, Tim).

And I have to add, I think it's a bit sad for some grown men and women to hold such a grudge (I'm not talking about people on MN, but the other forum I use)

As I recall, I think Andy had just turned twenty when all that happened. The amount of stupid crap I came out with at that age makes me embarassed, and MY stupid crap was never broadcast on the news and in the papers. Thank Christ. When I hear men and women in their forties and fifties still huffing and sulking about it, it has me rolling my eyes and muttering, 'Pathetic'

Quote from TimeForMe ^Andy Murray lost a lot of fans when Scotland got knocked out of the World Cup. A reporter asked him who he would now be supporting and he replied whoever is playing England. He has made his opinion of the English very clear IMO. So I don't think you are BU or unpatriotic.^End quote

As I said before, Andy responded in kind because the interviewer asked him if he'd be supporting Scotland in the World Cup, KNOWING that Scotland had been knocked out. Funny how THAT'S never mentioned.

I want him to win for Britain - how great to have the championship with a British stamp on it for a change.

I think the comment regarding England was said in jest as far as I know.
In any case he's not playing tennis for Scotland but for Britain and that includes England. Go Andy am supporting him all the way.

YABU

electra - exactly! The media criticized Tim and now we have Andy showing some arrogance and ruthlessness, they don't like that either!

As for his comments about England in the football, he said it as a teenage Scottish football fan! There is a rivalry between the two teams and I don't believe he was being anti-English or anti-British.

I'll be cheering on Murray this afternoon

And just to back up my statement

andershanson.wordpress.com/2009/06/28/will-we-ever-forgive-andy-murray-for-his-anyone-but-england-co mment/

Andy Murray lost a lot of fans when Scotland got knocked out of the World Cup. A reporter asked him who he would now be supporting and he replied whoever is playing England. He has made his opinion of the English very clear IMO. So I don't think you are BU or unpatriotic.

YABU - how mean spirited of you, OP. I would not 'hope' that any player didn't make it to the final.

I don't think Andy Murray is arrogant....but it seems you can't win - Tim Henman was often accused of not having enough strength of character to win.

hmmm...yet another reason...

Ooooh ! Get you Buch - wrong side of bed this morning?

Oh yes, the tour de France, let's all go ga-ga over a load of drug addicts.

The only good thing about Wimbledon is that when it's over the Tour de France starts

OP YABU. The media hype him up because he is that good. Do you play tennis, have you ever given it a go? I think not, otherwise you would have a bit more understanding and admiration of what it takes to get to where he is.

Support him, don't support him, it's your choice but don't dismiss him without taking into consideration his obvious class and pure talent.

I'd want him to get to the final, dare I say it, I'd like him to win. It would be brilliant for British tennis, for all the kids coming through the tennis academies all over Britain, also as a boot up the Council wotsits to put more money into providing indoor tennis courts. Look what Chris Hoy has done for cycling!! Hopefully, the Murray effect could do the same for British tennis.

'Muury is ugly and a twat!

Go other boys!'

Fed's ugly and a twat, too.

Go Andy!

Piffle probably remembers how awful I was to poor Fed on the finals thread here last year .

Err no 48 winners in his match stats prove otherwise
Federer is pure class, if he faces Murray it promises to be a great final
But if you are talking about shagtastic players
Tommy Haas, bad boy he oozes sex appeal

Snagging would be like eating an orange with the skin on.
Not worth the effort

I think Jamie is better looking than Andy actually.
Federer is yuck yuck yuck though.

I have to disagree.

I hope that Murray does not make it to the final because he is such a boring player. All he does is wait for the other player to make a mistake. I was watching a ladies' game the other day and they had tons more aggression and fire than Murray.

Yes McSnail, me and my mum both commented how similar his girlfriend looks to his mum! you are not alone.

OP you are entitled to support whoever you wish but I think your bit about Murray being arrogant is incorrect. Like many of the others have said he is young and determined.
I do like Andy Roddick but I will definitely be cheering Andy Murray on all the way.
He has a very dry sense of humour and I think he finds the media circus too much. He's just not interested in sleb status he's just interested in tennis.
<go Andy go >

So you don't count yourself as british in any way then madame castafiore ?

CilC, my patriotic spirit was left somewhere at the gates of Wimbledon.

The competitors are playing for themselves not their country - the prize money is £750k, therefore I support who I like not because I am patriotic. In addition, I believe Murray has declined to play for his country in the Davis Cup because it interferes with his personal schedule.

YABVU. Murray is class.

He is not representing my country at all I am English/Greek!

I just can't warm to him. On the other hand I love Federer watching Federer play and it would be really nice for him to break the record and win 6 wimbledons, he is so graceful and elegant. I can even forgive his gold bag. Murray can have a go next year!
Also Murray used to go on about being Scottish and come across as a bit anti-English, which didn't hugely inspire patriotic feelings in my English blood. He doesn't seem to do this any more, wonder why [sceptical]

I think YABU ok you dont like him but he is damn good at what he does, he is also representing our country and when everything else is grim at the mo it gives us something to unite together for, if he won it would be fab but he has done a great job up to now.

Muury is ugly and a twat!

Go other boys!

nadal is ugly

federer is a twat

go murray!!

Hi - just wanted to clarify that Andy Murray was at the school where the massacre happened but was not directly involved. I also went to the same school though and it was a very difficult time for everyone.
But hey what a great tennis player! Never would have imagined he would grow up to be such a sports superstar!

Madame.Did you just insult kilts?

Wow YABU. He is representing Britain. Anyone who works that hard and plays well deserves success. I am not even British and now that Hewitt is out I am supporting him. Gosh some people are miserable...do you have heat stroke? Where is your sporting spirit?

He was a kid in the Dunblane massacre-Scottish/English/Serbo Croat whatever-good for him to emerge as a super talented young man.I want him to win-mind I'd rather Tim had won just once-he is so sweet.

Tommy Haas MC

yeah seriously...he's really like him

Oooohhh who the sexy dude daftpumk?

no joke harley?....i'm on my way over!

he looks like one of my mates punky!

rofl LL

Just as with Nadal, you'd have to put a bag on his head. AND he's smiling.

Yes it is!

Erm and I didn't think Carey Grant was that manly! here

Nadal does look like he could chuck you up against a wall and be a bit animalistic!

who is Cary Grant & Gordon Brown...not my Tommy!......just been looking at a picture of him with his top half off.....oh yessss.

'And as for a scotsman making any sort of judgement on fashion?'

It's a damn good thing then, that I'm neither a man nor a Scot.

He is tennis's answer to Gordon Brown I think.

I much prefer Federer - as I prefer Cameron - all the arm pumping annoys me - it is just not Cricket, or tennis for that matter!

And as for a scotsman making any sort of judgement on fashion?

'sis think he's like a tennis-playing Cary Grant, oozes old-school style Hollywood glamour.'

he wears embroidered-monogrammed clothing!

can you see the manly Cary Grant in embroidered-monogrammed matching clothing?!

LOL Expat i do remember the threads from last years tennis threads.

And you are right about Rog btw.

Tommy Haas is kinda cute

Nadal looks like he should be playing the Jacob werewolf one.

Expat et al - really, is he not even remotely handsome then? My radar must be off. Dashing maybe? Me and my sis think he's like a tennis-playing Cary Grant, oozes old-school style Hollywood glamour.
Nadal has a certain - animalistic - kind of charm also.

But maybe I should lay off the crystal meth for a while .

Amphibian? Hmm - I think he looks quite chip-munky (in a handsome kind of a way though)

i was downright cruel to Fed on here during the final last year.



i was about 5 months pregnant and was so keyed up i thought the baby was going to come out through my throat!

i seem to remember someone on MN describing Nadal as being a bit amphibian looking...I'd have to agree actually

Federer looks a bit gnome-like.

Nadal is very handsome though. Murray just looks like a typical presbyterian Scot!

bleurgh @ federer being handsome
have remembered another good reason to want him to lose-those bleedin' awful Gillette adverts

Murray is a surly twat but at least he doesn't have a poncy monogram on everything like Liberace or someone.

I always think Federer looks like a fetus on one of those spooky 4d scans.

'And he is a little bit handsome'

You cannot be serious?!

Smoking meth amphetimine and watching tennis is never a good combination.

Once you watch it without the aid of mind-altering drugs, you'll realise that, although a terrific player, Fed is definitely not the slightest bit handsome.

Of course you're not being unreasonable, you can support anyone you like at Wimbledon. Go for it, the more irrational reasons the better! I sometimes go out of my way not to support the Brits at Wimbledon, which is peverse I know, but so what?

In fact I have a weird theory that it is the only sport that people are not patriotic about (but that might just apply to me and dp). I don't even know why, I will always support England in football and cricket, but tennis I just don't care about nationality.

Plus Murray is dour which is tedious. I was a huge McEnroe fan back in the day, but I guess you could describe his behaviour as somewhat unsporting; for opposite reasons I adore Federer, he just seems the archetypal sporting gent. And he is a little bit handsome, and I love his blazered preppy look!

'Does anyone else think Andy's girlfriend looks a LOT like his mum?'

I hadn't noticed, McSnail, but everytime I see her I think, 'Why on EARTH would you want a MIL like that?'

Can you imagine?

I'd run for the hills from an adult man whose mum was around so much.

There's a (fairly) tongue on cheek thing in Scotland about supporting teams etc.

We support 2 teams:

Scotland, and
Whoever is playing England.

For most it is a laugh, some take it seriously.

(Further down the thread, someone made a comment that we should support Murray cos he is British but it would be better if he was English!)

I do think the families of all these driven sportspeople are odd.
I just can't imagine being that pushy.
Like the woman on Child of Our Time who spends all week driving "William" back and forth for tennis. She's going to be in that family box at Wimbledon one day....and it just seems wrong to me.....
I thought Andy's girly was supposed to be stunning?

Does anyone else think Andy's girlfriend looks a LOT like his mum?

According to friend whose son was in school with him, he's a very nice chap, very dry sense of humour, but has been extremely driven since he was tiny. Saw Jamie in the gym at work a while ago - he seemed lovely, and see Judy at work quite a lot.

<shameless tennis name-dropping, sitting on sofa eating panettone in most unfit fashion. I am always buying ice-cream at sports centre cafe when I see Judy. I imagine she would not approve>

He is good on Twitter, isn't he? I like this - it's almost MN-y:

got a nice letter from the queen saying well done for winning queen's. Put it in its own pile away from the bills.

oops going too quick
should have said bar norn iron/ireland

The (perceived) anti-English comment was in reply to an (English) interviewer cheekily asking Murray if he'd be cheering Scotland in the world cup that year. Scotland had just been knocked out... Murray responded in kind.

i would always support scotland england and wales over any other country (bar norn iron obv ) in anything, be it football, rugby, whatever

yes i know he was very young...still...

anyway...i wont lose any sleep over it really...be good for scotland if he wins....they never come anywhere in football.

No-one I know would support Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland if England weren't in a world cup so you can't blame him for not wanting to support England, it's quite normal for a scottish person I think!

The Dunblane thing is so sad. No one from there ever talks about it (with the outside world I mean).

FGS give the guy a break!! Anti-english remarks? Haven't we all said something we shouldn't or regret?

Can't imagine wanting an american to win over one of our own

I know dp but he was, what, 16/17 then??

eightieschick....i think it was his anti-english comments a few years ago.....not done him any favours.

YABU

Even though he is bloody boring and unsexy (Unlike Nadal!).

Can someone give me examples of this 'arrogance'? I am not at all convinced that it actually exists. It seems a lot more likely that because he doesn't say how rubbish he is all the time, how lucky he was to win, he didn't deserve it etc., that is interpreted as arrogance. If he said he was the best tennis player in the world ever, then yeah maybe, but it is hardly arrogant to be no.3 in the world and not go around being simpering and self-deprecating all the time.

I didn't even know he was involved with Dunblane in any way, so my respect for him (which is based on him being a good player; I don't have to like him as a person) is higher now given that he obviously doesn't go on about it.

Having said all that, I would be pleased to see him win as a Brit but I don't think he will. Federer is an awesome player, regardless of what you think of his fashion choices.

Murray leads head to head 6-3 versus Roddick, Murray is a great returner of serve, Roodicks biggets asset is his serve, Murray can get into the game and Rodduck simply does not have enough shots to beat Murray
Nor after that slog fest of tennis with Hewitt where he was pummelled and had to hustle to win, he will be knackered.
Murray to win in 3 maybe 4 sets
I don't see it as a close match at all.

I don't really care who wins, but if Murray wins my 84yo mum will be very very happy...

I love JM too. Cannot abide Andrew Castle. He ruins Wimbledon for me.

And fwiw, I don't think Andy Murray will be in the final anyway. Roddick's playing better. Although of course I'd like him to be and he is the world no. 3 after all.

"Actually, I quite LIKE the fact he's a dour, miserable so-and-so. TV-Personality-Cheesiness is hateful"

i really like that about murray aswell. he's a tennis player and couldn't seem to give a shit about being a polished tv persona, which shows he actually has a personality of his own.

yanbu,i'm not british but i wanted him to win before the tournamnet started but as soon as it kicked off and the media and fans got involved it just makes me want to see him lose so i don't have to listen to all the rubbish spouted in the press and the "murray mountain" fans cheering at every mistake his opponent may make regardless of the it's relevance to the match. exactly the same thing used to happen with henman who i really liked and the english football team in the euro's or the world cup, as long as they're not playing ireland, i want them to do well because i like a lot of the players. but then the fans and the media get into full swing and it really does make me want to see them lose just because i want the fans to shut up.

I think JM's hilarious. I enjoy his irreverence.

He's pretty good on camera here... How many 22 year olds do you know that would be good being interviewed on TV, under so much pressure (especially straight after a strenuous match like the other night?)

I love JM now too (and did when he was playing) but he was obnoxious until the pressure was off, now he can just be normal. But he won tournaments being incredibly focused and arrogant, that's what is needed in top level sport.

I love the way JM corrects Andrew Castle all the time (after all what does AC know?)

You can't possibly win if you don't have a certain amount of arrogance and self belief, which was always Henman's problem. Although Andy is definitely better than Henman, his game has improved so much since last year.

i don't particularly like him either, i have warmed to him a bit this year, but wouldn't think twice about wanting him to win.

I did feel sorry for him after his marathon match on monday being interviewed in front of thousands of people, when all he probably wanted to do was collapse with exhaustion and relief. is it any wonder he was a bit mono syllabic!!

He shines on the tennis court. Does he also have to shine in front of the camera? Not everyone is comfortable being in the spotlight and playing up to the camera. I know I wouldn't be.

But not supporting him because of that is mean.

YABU imo.

of course I haven't read the thread, I hate tennis but even I will watch the final if AM gets through

PMSL @ Boris Broomcupboard. I'm going to start using that! Oh, man, and all for three minutes? His divorce cost him a bomb, he has two sons by his first wife, who is American, so he'll be paying on them until they're at least 18. Plus he's had to pay out the other gal.

Ahundredtimes thank you for caring what I think, tis a rare occurence.

To clarify, of course I don't know him at all, as indeed neither do the people who are supporting him. I have no idea if my assessment of him as a person is a good one, as I have said, the same as everybody else who is giving their opinion, I don't know him. I don't actually have an assessment as I haven't thought about him that much, sometimes you just have a gut reaction to people and that is my reaction to him. Obviously others' gut reaction is that they do like him and want to support him. I respect their opinion. I really am no more complex than that I'm afraid.

I heard JM on the radio the other day talking about how Michael Jackson had a teenage crush on Tatum O'Neal when they were both on telly in the states in the Jackson 5 days. DD (just 5) keeps getting Andy Murray and Michael Jackson confused, she knows they're both in the news atm and they are both being talked about in the playground but she can never remember which one has just died and which is playing tennis

Yes Tim is a dull commentator. Bet Andy would be even more dull though, even if he is the better player.

I don't know where this arrogant accusation comes from where Murray is concerned. A bit mumbly and inarticulate - absolutely, but he seems the opposite of arrogant. He just has an incredible drive to win which people seem to take issue with. Not really very British is it?

I think he is fab and I hope he wins.

As many have already sad, I think its a bit tragic that we expected incredibly driven and talented sports people to perform as celebrities.

Oh that broomcupboard, me too - in fact DH calls him Boris Broomcupboard ..... I think BB is on record as describing it as an incredibly expensive three minutes! (wow - the staying power ...)

JM has six kids! He really started to grow up when his first wife, who was on drugs, left him with their three children to go and find herself and re-surrect her acting career (she's the child of Farah Fawcett's long-time partner and her half-brother is now in prison for drugs offenses).

lol expat...most top tennis players are from rich families...it's not cheap to have tennis lessons.

i love boris
he's very funny

tim is a very dull commentator isn't he? no surprise i guess...

although i do quite fancy roddick so I'll be a little torn tomorrow...

I think Becker just got married again. Or maybe is it engaged? I can never look at him without cracking up thinking of him sprogging up that gal in teh broom cupboard at Nobu. Of course, his ex-wife certainly didn't find it so funny.

It's the kind of blazer a middle aged American woman on a cruise would wear...

federer deserves to lose because of that ridiculous white jacket and poncey bag of his alone

andy is just a little dour bless 'im
can't see him winning but it would be nice

I'd forgotten his blazer.
It's not even a nice blazer.
It's absurd. Does he only wear it at Wimbledon or whichever tournament he's in?

(haven't seen any matches yet, am flying back to UK and teararsing up A1 hoping to catch at least some semi-final action....hence forgetting the blazer....)

I have a bit of a JM crush. Becker too

He is quite annoying, but then that's tennis players for you.

It would be very exciting to have a Brit in the Wimbledon final.

'Well I hope that Federer doesn't win Wimbledon because he used to have a stupid ponytail.'

oh, yes! i forgot about that.

LOVE JM as a commentator, especially when he's working with Becker or Navratilova.

I love how he and Becker still slag each other off whilst commentating.

i look at fed and think, 'bet he wears a terry-towelling dressing gown, pajamas and slippers with that dumb ass embroidery on it, and has servants to lay them out for him every night.'

no denying he's a great champion, but to say he's not arrogant? puh-leeze. he's from a wealthy swiss family. they do ponce in a way unknown in backwards britain.

verygreenlawn...yes, i agree..both very good.

I don't like him either.

He has no charisma and it wouldn't hurt him to smile a bit more often.

it's a lethal combination harley...

Well I hope that Federer doesn't win Wimbledon because he used to have a stupid ponytail.

So there.

oh and it bugs me when the media twist what he says- esp the thing he said ages ago about the England football team that was twisted to sound like he hated the English and that wasn't waht he said at all.

(sorry I went on a bit, can you tell I love him and had a 'discussion' with an anti-Murray man the other day at work?!)

daftpunk, I would add that JM is also a fabulous commentator - Becker too.

'Federer is HEIGHT of arrogance with his twatty embroidered blazers and ghastly tank top'

i'm so glad i'm not the only one thought that!

i can...

mcenroe had arrogance and charm....not many people can pull that off.

I like him and really want him to win. But if he playes Federer in the final (assuming he gets there) and Federer plays at his best then I think Federer will win.
I do like his style of tennis too, it's very good to watch.

Of course he is arrogant, I think you need to have some arrogance to be able to be a professional sportsperson who wants to be the best. I don't think he is over arrogant though.

He doesn't interview well but that shouldn't have anything to do with what you think of him as a tennis player. And actually he did a big interview on Radio 5 a couple of weeks ago- just before Wimbledon started- and he was really interesting and quite funny.

Ferrero is a very good player but yes it wasn't a shock that Andy beat him. He is meant to be the 2nd best person in the competition.

Hopefully he should beat Roddick without any major problems.

he is great value on twitter worth noting. I think he dons a persona to cope with the expectation and pressure.
Good guys don't win as much
Federer is HEIGHT of arrogance with his twatty embroidered blazers and ghastly tank top
And Nadal is pure testosterone force

Murray plays great tennis and that's what I judge him on

Can you imagine the Americans 10 years ago moaning about how that MacEnroe chap was OK at tennis and all but they really hoped he wouldn't progress becasue, he was really, well, rather rude wasn't he!

They must think we are nuts.

'I hope Andy Murray doesn't win Wimbledon, I won't support him, because I don't like how cross he looks and his neck is too long and I wish he'd smile more.'

lol @ the long neck

YABU, he is an outstanding tennis player who would be a very worthy winner. Henman was always the nearly man and you never really felt he could win it but Murray seems to have something that makes you think he could go all the way. GO ANDY!

I remember once reading an article about David Beckham and how the media sneered at him for being "thick". The commentator pointed out that Stephen Hawking may have a brain the size of a planet but he's no good at football. Murray IS a world-class athlete, he's worked very hard to get where he is, and I don't see why he should be expected to court the public (no pun intended).

Popularity is over-rated anyway - I personally am pretty glad to see the back of the "Henmaniacs" - lots of middle-aged women screeching "C'mon Tim!" at every opportunity!

posie..nothing to do with national pride..alot of people just don't like him.

So. trufflepig - I care what you think.

How do you judge how well you know him? Do you think your assessment of him as a person is a good one? What makes you think this?

You don't have to support him of course. You can support whoever you like. It's not about that. It's the reason why you don't support him I find interesting.

I hope Andy Murray doesn't win Wimbledon, I won't support him, because I don't like how cross he looks and his neck is too long and I wish he'd smile more.

is it like that?

Where is national pride? Is it so mangled up with the BNP that we can't be patriotic anymore?

Tin Henman just had no 'spunk' about him.

I have warmed to Andy Murray, you can see he doesnt like all the 'sleb stuff surrounding the Tennis

So what if he comes across as dour and monosyllabic in interviews? He's a tennis player, not a PR guru. Tim Henman was apparently too nice to have the edge to win, and now Murray is being slated for not being nice enough.

I think it's rather a shame that people can't see past his interview technique.

I heard on the grapevine that lots of the top players (including Federer) hate playng him becasue he has so many different ways to change his game and attack them and has developed the mental ability more recently to just keep trying and not give up.

I liked Tim Henman I thought he was nice but I doubt if any of the top players were worried about getting him in the draw!

Kewcumber: I had heard that about Gordon Brown as well. I read in the paper yesterday that Peter Mandelson had asked him for 10p so he could 'phone a friend' and Gordon Brown said 'here's 20p so you can phone both of them'. I'm guessing this was a joke of the paper now I've written it down though, who uses phone boxes??

Some people are just not good in the media spotlight.

really re: dunblane - wow i remember that well and now feel ancient. Good on him - he doesnt have much kerb value but i will wave my flag all the same and wish him well.

Oh and Ferrero was a world number 1 who had a bad virus which knocked him right down the rankings - but still, he's a good player struggling to find form. Thankfully Andy met him on a day where he wasn't playing very well which means he can save a bit of energy for the semi, but it's not his fault that Ferrero wasn't on top of his game. You can't blame him for that.

He's also credited with having the best all-round game at the moment, and he has the mental attitude to win the crucial points, which Tim didn't have when it came down to it.

So there.

Rant over.

It doesn't matter whether I like him or not, I would be seriously surprised if anybody cared what I think. I am agreeing with the op because I don't like him and therefore don't support him.

lol Bucharest - Tim would have used PMT as an excuse if he could.

Mind you, he was a bit of a girly...

Friend is an ex-pro tennis player and says Murray is streets ahead of Henman.

Hands up all of us who wouldn't be arrogant if we were 22 and no 3 in the world?

YABU and rude and very unpatriotic.

If Andy wins I can imagine lots of children wanting to take up tennis and that is a really good thing.

Bucharest - I know people who know Gordon Brown who will keep insisting what a charmer he is...

'Nadal is not cheesy and just comes across as a really down to earth dude.'

funniest post i've seen today!

I want him to win for several reasons - mainly he's British (yes would have been better if he was English but can't have everything) and also that we could stop banging on about the last British person to win Wimbledon. Also tennis will become much more popular and it makes young kids realise that hard work can pay off, and maybe a bit more money might get put into public tennis courts rather than leaving them to become places for teenagers to get drunk in the evenings.

It would be nice if he was gorgeous/interesting to listen to etc but then maybe he wouldn't be such a dedicated obsessed athlete, which is just what he needs to be.

But having said that, support who you like, I am sure he won't care either way!

support who you like its tennis not a world war where it would matter. But you seem to be not wanting him to progress becasue of how the media treat him "I find it so bizarre the way the media always plays up how good he really is", "commentator made out Andy was some kind of demi-God for beating Ferrer".

I like watching his tennis its interesting, much prefer it to the slam serve types.

And as for those who say he really isnt that good - well blow me down with a feather - ranked number 3 in the world, has beaten Federer and Nadal. Now even if you say they aren;t quite as good as they were (maybe?) - just how bad are they! By anyones standards that pretty bloody shit hot isn;t it?

I don't like him in interviews particularly. The stroppy monosyllabic teen thing is irritating. There is no need for it, Federer was/is never like that, and nor, actually was Henman.
That said, I do hope he gets to the final, and of course I hope he wins.
I like the fact he refuses to use the Dunblane massacre or even to talk about it. I'm sure many other players would use their past trauma as an excuse for every lost match. Remember Tim? His shoulder, his knee, his pregnant girlfriend, his changing coach...there was always a reason other than his lacklustre performance.
I can well believe that in real life he is a nice bloke- Gordon Brown is reputed to be a hoot round the dinner table after all....

Notevanmousie, I knew the name had something to do with a rubbish chocolate but I could not quite remember.

I am not really disputing the fact he is bloody good, I just think the media attention he gets is sooo overwhelming. However, I do take the point about the fact there are very few really good sportsmen in the UK.

I like Federer because he disguises his arrogance. Also he has now won 15 grandslams and he has earned his right to be a bit arrogant. Murray has still to win his first.

Nadal is not cheesy and just comes across as a really down to earth dude.

I would prefer it if he covered up his arrogance a bit. It would possibly help me warm to him a bit more.

He'd better make it! DH is in a betting pool at work.

i agree...hope he gets knocked out in the semis...all he did was moan after mondays match...if it hadn't gone on till 11 he would have played again on tuesday in the heat...he is an annoying waste of time.

Agree with Wannabee.

I also think a lot of top sports people have a personality by-pass. I suspect it is to do with being totally focussed on their sport - makes them dull in everything else.

Being shy doesn't stop you cracking a smile occasionally. Can't say I have ever really seen him smile. Even when he wins it is with a scowl on his face and lots of clenched fists.

As to whether you are being unreasonable - I don't know really. I ought to say YABU but part of me agrees with you.

I wouldn't mind Federer winning - I like his poncy affectations (gold bag, waistcoat, bothering to shave before a match etc etc.) I like people who don't follow the crowd and do their own thing.

I think we need to remember that he is only 22 and has been homeschooled most of his life. That is not going to fair well for good communication skills. We also need to put ourselves in his shoes - would you want cameras and people in your face when you are trying to focus on winning the most important competition for any tennis-playing Brit?

Apparently he's a very nice and funny bloke just doesn't court the media, which I think is a bonus actually. Give me a reluctant talent over an ambitious vacuous 'celeb' anyday.

I know a lady who is very good friends with his Mum, my sources are good.

Support who you like.

I, however, have the greatest respect for someone who almost got shot dead with the rest of his schoolmates (anyone remember Dunblane) and goes on to achieve all he has, at just 22.

I think he comes across as a bit shy and has had a bad press for some things he said when he was younger - I mean, bloody hell, I dread to think of the crap I came out with when I was younger but at least it wasn't captured on tape and endlessly replayed.

I want him to win - its great to have sporting success. He's worked really hard to be as good as he is, you would have to be massively dedicated as well as talented to get to the top in tennis.

of course you are not being unreasonable...support who you like.

I really like Andy Murray. I like the fact he struggles a bit in front of the camera...he is human, he is a damned good tennis player and he has worked very hard to get to where he is. He comes across as a dour Scot...so what?

I never warmed to Tim Henman at all. I just didn't like the man. So no, you are not being unreasonable, it is entirely up to you who you support.

Lol Girly yes if he gets hammered he'll be a Scot eh?

<bangs head against desk>

why does it matter trufflepig whether you LIKE him or not? What has that got to do with anything?

YANBU. I don't like him.

I don't think he's in a different class from Henman. I think the difference is that in Henman's day there were an awful lot more good players than there are now. So although Murray is good he doesn't have as much competition as Henman did.

That being said, I think it's about time that a Brit made it to the final, so if he does then fair play.

YABU.

Britain doesn't have a lot of top-class sportsmen - the fact Andy's number three in the world is something to be proud of! Who cares if he doesn't come across as humble and people-pleasing? I want him to be good at tennis, not Mr Personality.
Actually, I quite LIKE the fact he's a dour, miserable so-and-so. TV-Personality-Cheesiness is hateful.

Eh..

He is good..third in the world I believe.

And for what its worth, he will only be British if he wins

I don't have any strong views either way as to him winning - may the best man win and all that - but I do think it's a shame we expect people to perform as "personalities" rather than as athletes.

Can you imagine the inane questions that poor man probably has to put up with every day? How do you feel about winning? How do you feel about losing? How would you feel if you won Wimbledon? Are you going to win Wimbledon?

I'm a grumpy cow at the best of times but I think I'd lose the will to live having to perform in that way.

I don't suppose there can be a more 'arrogant' man on the planet than Federer. He just disguises it well.

I think this is a weird by-product of sleb culture. Everyone is so used to saying 'oh I don't like her' about people whose only talent is for being themselves.

They forget that when you're looking at people who actually have a talent that the involvement should be different.

Can I just say...





Meh.

He's a miserable git, but a bloody good tennis player,and that's what we should be concentrating on. I hope he does well.

YABVU. Do people have to be nice TV personalities to be Super Talented these days?

What nonsense. He's the best tennis player from the British Isles for a looooong time. And from Scotland, ever

Give him a bit of support you misery guts.

YABU.

Don't you think that for anyone to become a top sportsmen they have to be focussed and disciplined, they have to believe they can be the best, they have to work day in and day out to be better and better and better?

This is what you think is arrogance. It's not, it's commitment.

I hate the whole 'oh I don't like him' schtick. He's a tennis player fgs. He needs to be good at tennis, he doesn't need to be your best friend and he shouldn't need to pretend to be modest to please you either.

Well I want Federer to win because dh has got him in the work sweepstake <unpatriotic>

yabu
i dont much like him tho, he aint exactly mr personality

I would much rather see a scot win than an american too FGS!!

I know lots of sports journalists that have met him and say that he just doesn't come across well on TV - he is naturally shy and nervy in front of the camera.

They all say that off camera he is a laugh, good, self deprecating sense of humour and a nice guy.

OMG imagine someone who is good at their sport who is arrogant, what is the world coming to?

FTR I don't think he is, i think he gets a serious amount of bad press because he is not Tim Henman smarmy.

Yes YABU

I think he is a naturally dour person and I struggle to warm to him. That said, I was cheering him on yesterday, I would love to see anyone British in the final, we've had little to celebrate for so long.......

Plus DD2 thinks our mate looks like him, which amuses me.

The man's name is Ferrero.
I used to feel a bit like you about Tim Henman, because he was so erratic, but I think Andy is just another class.

If you don't like someone, then it is quite natural that you wouldn't want them to make it to the Wimbledon final.

YABU and unpatriotic.

I was talking to DH about it the other day and TBH I think he is quite shy and doesnt like the spotlight. He seems a little uneasy in press conferences and doesnt make eye contact.

I don't know why but I find there is something about him which is arrogant.

Also, I find it so bizarre the way the media always plays up how good he really is. At the end of the Ferrer match yesterday the Brit commentator made out Andy was some kind of demi-God for beating Ferrer. To me it is a match he should have won easily anyway.

Give me Nadal / Federer anyday!