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Original poster

To Support Tsonga, NOT Andy Murray?

114 replies

frillylemons · 05/07/2012 16:38

I really don't like watching Murray play. That, and he appears to be a miserable bastard.

Tsonga, on the other hand, seems lovely. He plays well and is really nice in interviews.

My conclusion: I will be rooting for Tsonga in the semis of Wimbledon unless guilted into supporting Murray Grin

OP posts:
AmIthatbad · 07/07/2012 20:35

from Allie Yeah. But presumably you were not interviewed on live tv by Tim Henman at the age of 19. And Murray did not get into that position overnight either, so he must have known he could not just say any old thing that came to his mind.

Sorry, I thought you said in a previous post that you could remember the actual interview - if you remembered it, you would remember that it wasn't on TV and Tim Henman wasn't interviewing.

Still, facts don't matter

And as for Communistmoon - way to generalise.

And as I left primary school in 1976, I'm out Angry

Shenanagins · 07/07/2012 20:37

Op when i read the title thought you were being unreasonable, however you did make some valid points re Tsonga seemingly quite nice - certainly nice to look at.

that said totally unreasonable not to support old Andy as he is British!

go Andy! very excited for tomorrow now!

AllieZ · 07/07/2012 20:44

I thought you said in a previous post that you could remember the actual
interview - if you remembered it, you would remember that it wasn't on
TV and Tim Henman wasn't interviewing
I remember watching the 6 o'clock news reporting this and the outrage that followed.

of course the English never, ever make jokes about the Scottish/Welsh/Irish, do they?
No idea, I'm none of the above. I'm just British. But I think anyone on telly/radio/wherever it was would have more sense than saying something like this from a position of being a prominent sportsman, hope of the nation etc.

why would Tim Henman be doing a PR face saving exercise?
To save the face of British (?) tennis? To help the only UK male tennis player with a chance after 70+ years to get into the final in Wimbledon. And Tim Henman was among the commentators in Wimbledon. Why on earth would he do that? Oh, wait..... money?

yellowraincoat · 07/07/2012 20:55

Actually Alliez, in a weird twist of fate, I have been interviewed several times on live TV with Tim Henman.

And believe me, I said a LOT worse than Andy Murray.

yellowraincoat · 07/07/2012 20:57

I wouldn't say taking the piss out of your neighbours is uniquely Scottish.

In fact, it seems to be rather universal.

Remember, you're not just neighbours. We also have a lot of history, not all of it pleasant. People get sick of being the poor relation.

I've never been sure why the English get so het-up about the whole thing.

CommunistMoon · 07/07/2012 20:58

^as above. Sigh.

yellowraincoat · 07/07/2012 20:59

Boo hoo CommunistMoon.

Seriously, chill out. The more you get all "boo hoo poor the English" the more Scottish people will take the piss.

AllieZ · 07/07/2012 20:59

I have been interviewed several times on live TV with Tim Henman.
Yes. And I take my tea every afternoon with Her Majesty the Queen.

And believe me, I said a LOT worse than Andy Murray.
I am sure that is to your credit. But at the minute we are talking about suppoorting or not supporting Murray. Or are you also a Wimbledon finalist?

CommunistMoon · 07/07/2012 21:01

When I was 19 I said twattish things too. I was also Scottish. Unfortunately, only one of these conditions is fixable.

yellowraincoat · 07/07/2012 21:03

Alliez, you know it was a joke.

One of those things that people say when they aren't a total grumpbag.

Ah, I see CommunistMoon, a self-hating Scot. Never mind eh?

CommunistMoon · 07/07/2012 21:04

Self-hating Scot = tautology. xxx

shesariver · 07/07/2012 21:05

Allie you still havent said what it is about the ABE comment that has annoyed you so much? As I said its not a British football team, unlike in tennis.

yellowraincoat · 07/07/2012 21:05

Not really.

AllieZ · 07/07/2012 21:18

Allie you still havent said what it is about the ABE comment that has
annoyed you so much? As I said its not a British football team, unlike in
tennis.
No. But England is part of the United Kingdom, just as is Scotland, and what with one Queen, one army and one flag (not to say Government, because yes, there is devolved administration but not everything is devolved) I would have expected Murray to have at least a tiny bit of loyalty.

Quite apart from this there is additional insult in the "anyone but" part, since what it expresses is "the outcome is not important, only that x participant walks away disappointed". I think to say something like this is rude even if you have no vested interest at all. But since Murray is British (as someone here pointed out to me earlier) and England is also part of Britain, it would have been courteous, if nothing else, to refrain from such a witty (not) Scottish "joke" (not).

LottieJenkins · 07/07/2012 21:24

I posted a similar thread! I am biased due to my Wilf and i was gutted that JWS lost! Sad

LottieJenkins · 07/07/2012 21:24

I posted a similar thread! I am biased due to my Wilf and i was gutted that JWS lost! Sad

LottieJenkins · 07/07/2012 21:24

I posted a similar thread! I am biased due to my Wilf and i was gutted that JWS lost! Sad

redlac · 07/07/2012 21:25

But he had just had the pish ripped out of him by 2 Englishman about HIS countries team not being in the finals, did you expect him to show some loyalty to the UK after that? Scottish football fans, like English fans, are loyal to their teams and like I said before, for the English to condescendingly says "oh I'll support Scotland if they are in the finals" is like your big brother patting you on the head whilst looking on at you with pity, it's football FFS not gymnastics

LottieJenkins · 07/07/2012 21:26

whoops sorry! Blush

AllieZ · 07/07/2012 21:37

Redlac, let's suppose there are two contestants from my home town in X factor. One is from my ethnic group, the other isn't. The one from my ethnic group gets voted out. I have to endure mocking from my work colleagues or pub-mates, whoever, about this candidate. I will bear it with good humour - and continue voting for the other candidate from my home town. Because even though s/he wasn't my first choice and I do not feel as strong a connection as with the one from my ethnic group, this candidate is still "ours". So I will support him/her and will not say things like: anyone but him/her. And I (obviously mistakenly) thought this went without saying for everyone.

redlac · 07/07/2012 21:46

You are missing a HUGE point here. It's FOOTBALL we are talking about not something as trivial as the x factor. Football is different from anything else that requires support - for instance every single Scottish person who appeared in Big Brother has been an utter twat and I wouldn't support them just because they are Scottish - that's a shite reason to support anyone. However on football your team is your team THAT why after a ribbing Andy said ABE.

Don't support someone because they happen to be born on the same land mass as you - support them because you like, respect, are entertained by them

AllieZ · 07/07/2012 21:57

You are missing a HUGE point here. It's FOOTBALL we are talking about
I.e. an idiotic game in which 24 men run after a ball during one and a half hours? I have never watched Big Brother but I think I'd even watch that before watching football. What I'm trying to say, redlac, is that football is not more important than any other sport or competition is to the followers of each one.

However, in any case, with the X-factor example I was only trying to model the sentiment of loyalty, which is an abstract concept.

Don't support someone because they happen to be born on the same land
mass as you - support them because you like, respect, are entertained by
them
Please don't tell me that the supporters of any football club support them because they respect and like them etc? First of all, I would have to meet soneone and get to know them to respect them. If I choose, say, Chelsea, how am I going to meet all players and get to know them etc?

Also, so when the EU football or whatever is going on, why do people put Union Jacks in their window etc? Don't people support the teams simply because they are of the same nation? Also what's with Team GB? Are we not going to support these people in the olympics because they are British? So no, I don't think your argument stands, I think sportspeople are supported simply based on the colours they wear. And it is because of this that Murray should have refrained from the "anyone but England" comment.

ithaka · 07/07/2012 21:58

I find it so sad that when Andy Murray has made history being the first Brit in the Wimbledon finals for over 70 years, some people want to bitch and whine on the sidelines because he doesn't have a 'meedja friendly' personality.

He is a Scot and a Brit - the two are not mutually exclusive! As a fellow Scot and Brit and I am very proud that he is in the final and will be cheering him on all the way.

He is a dour Scot, who is probably very different with those he feels close and relaxed with. People have diffferent personalities and not everyone has access to buckets of superficial charm.

Honestly, some people would stand behind Moses when he parted the red sea and grumble that they didn't like the colour of his robe.....

JeezyPeeps · 07/07/2012 22:01

There is a big difference between saying anyone but England out of nothing and saying it to people teasing you about Scotland bombing out again.

I really dislike the ABE thing, I've seen if a lot. I think it is petty and childish at best. But in this context it's completely forgivable.

redlac · 07/07/2012 22:03

I give up. You are determined not to see past his ABE comment and nothing I say will sway you. Fair enough.

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