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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to hope that Andy Murray does not make it to the Wimbledon final...

189 replies

AliGrylls · 02/07/2009 12:08

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!

OP posts:
posiedullardparker · 02/07/2009 12:54

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.

missmem · 02/07/2009 12:56

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?

Niecie · 02/07/2009 12:57

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.

daftpunk · 02/07/2009 12:59

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.

expatinscotland · 02/07/2009 12:59

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

Original poster
AliGrylls · 02/07/2009 13:00

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.

OP posts:
Bucharest · 02/07/2009 13:01

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....

Kewcumber · 02/07/2009 13:02

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?

Devongirl · 02/07/2009 13:04

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!

Tamarto · 02/07/2009 13:04

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

funniest post i've seen today!

Kewcumber · 02/07/2009 13:05

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

FabBakerGirlIsBack · 02/07/2009 13:05

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.

pinkpetunia · 02/07/2009 13:06

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?

iamtrufflepig · 02/07/2009 13:06

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.

Devongirl · 02/07/2009 13:07

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.

Nappyzoneisabeetrootrunner · 02/07/2009 13:10

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.

preggersplayspop · 02/07/2009 13:11

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.

Kewcumber · 02/07/2009 13:13

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!

TigerFeet · 02/07/2009 13:14

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.

tiredemma · 02/07/2009 13:15

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

LupusinaLlamasuit · 02/07/2009 13:15

Even Tim Henman agrees that Murray is miles ahead of him!

posiedullardparker · 02/07/2009 13:16

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

ahundredtimes · 02/07/2009 13:17

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?

daftpunk · 02/07/2009 13:20

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

verygreenlawn · 02/07/2009 13:20

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!