Is it true the Murry will only talk to Tim Henman at the BBC and if so why has Murry and BBC fallen out?
Andy murray not talking to the BBC?
- Thread starter Captain Shaw
- Start date
I thought that had been established as apocryphal. Does someone actually have a picture of Murray wearing a Paraguay shirt?
Murray, on this subject, says:
"I am Scottish. I am also British. I am not anti-English, I never was... what happened was a little joke that went wrong.
"It was the time of the 2006 World Cup and England were due to play Paraguay. Tim Henman and I were being interviewed and before we started the journalist asked Tim about England's chances in the World Cup and asked me who I would be supporting.
"He was making the point that Scotland weren't there. I got the joke. I laughed. We did the interview and the last question was: 'Who will you be supporting?' Remembering our previous banter, I just said: 'Whoever England are playing, ha ha.' I had a smile on my face.
"It was obvious I was joking. It wasn't reported like that. They made up stories about me buying a Paraguay shirt, the whole thing was absolute nonsense."
[Either way, I'm not sure why Murray would be expected to support England when Scotland has a national team anyway. Hell, a cordial hatred of the English side might well be expected, I would think.
I'd be a lot angrier at his withdrawal from Davis Cup than anything he said about the English national team.]
On the other hand, Tim Henman, who's considered quite the gentleman (except by David Nalbandian) and picture of restraint, has purportedly been quoted calling Murray "a miserable git." Ouch.
I have a feeling, though, that all will be forgiven if he wins four matches in the next eight days. He actually has the game to do it, especially considering how he often gives Federer fits. He and Baghdatis are joys to watch.
Interesting. I tend to think he almost certainly meant it simultaneously as a joke and seriously—that is, a good-natured dig at Henman, et al.—but didn't imagine English fans would be so melodramatically pissy at the fact that a Scot doesn't much like the English side. Geez, what a freakin' surprise.
Can't rationally fault the kid for saying how he feels.
Why dubiously? The joke 'I support two teams, Wales/Scotland/Ireland and whoever's playing England' is quite a common joke amongst the Welsh/Scottish/Irish that I know. I've seen in on posters, tee-shirts and car bumper stickers. I suspect that Murray was quite surprised after the reaction he got that were people who hadn't heard the joke. I found his crawling 'you should support me, because my girlfriend and trainer are English' comments a lot worse.
"Clearly"?
That's your assumption, and by no means a verified fact. Now if you'd like to employ it as a justification for disliking Murray, knock yourself out. Fandom is by no means rational, nor does it need to be. I loathe the New York Yankees, for example, and anyone who joins their organization is tainted by an evil the depth of which makes the Pah Wraiths seem like Girl Scouts. The Miami Hurricanes' [American] football team garners much the same reaction.
Still, I wager that if the Scottish side had moved on and Henman had made the comment, "I'll be rooting for whoever's playing Scotland," Murray would have said, "Hey hey," playfully punched him in the arm and that would have been the end of it. And if instead he'd acted all offended, the English papers would have commented ad nauseaum, though rightly so, about what a crybaby he was.
It's become one of the most asinine causes célèbre of which I've ever heard.
On the other hand, it sounds like he's said and done other things that leave a body of work to be overcome if he truly wishes the goodwill of English tennis fans ... or, rather, English soccer fans who also like tennis.
Of course, a Wimbledon title will silence all detractors.
Last edited:
^Don't bring football in to this. Scottish people have been pulling this "anyone but England" act for years, without any due justification. English people have tried to rise above it and support the Scots where possible. He said what he said and then backtracked.
English fans foolishly support the other members of the Union, and even the Republic of Ireland, when we get no such support in return.
English fans foolishly support the other members of the Union, and even the Republic of Ireland, when we get no such support in return.
Hermiod said:
You are aware that football fans' reaction to Murray's comments is what started this, right? You said:
"After the Paraguay Shirt incident he should be booed off the court."
If Murray had worn a Paraguay shirt, some pot-stirring paparazzo would have snagged an actual pic of it. You know, evidence? I'll certainly stand corrected if one surfaces, but ... until then we may reasonably assume that the "Paraguay Shirt incident" never happened.
I don't think it's possible for me to respond directly without creating acrimony, and so I'll just say that the Scots may have different criteria for "due justification."
We've already established that such may or may not be true in the sense you mean it.
Evidently virtue isn't its own reward.
Last edited:
No it wasn't, it was the press' reaction. He's not getting booed at Wembley, after all. He did not receive the same warm, loving reaction from the Tennis fans at Wimbledon that they always reserved for Henman during the 2006 tournament.
We only have his quotes to go by. I did not suggest that he had actually bought one.
That they should get over. It's sport, not war.
No, it's not, which is why I do not actively support Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland when they play. I support Arsenal first, England second and then whichever team has the most current or former Arsenal players in it.
Actually, I meant in this thread.
In the same way English fans should get over what Murray might or might not have said, meant and/or done?
It works both ways or not at all.
Are you kidding? I served in England for several years, the Majority of English from the South/South East will root for anyone against Scotland.
Most celtic folks I know, as well as most of my english friends, see this friendly rivalry as just that - a friendly rivalry, and not something to get knicker twistage over.
Sure there are always assholes on both sides. Wherever I see genuine animosity toward our neighbouring countries, I find it utterly tedious and a big fat lump of
.You seem to be under the impression that the english as a whole are perfectly innocent in all this. That's bullshit.
^Most English fans I know, until a few years ago, would support the other members of the Union and even the Republic of Ireland if it didn't affect England. That is not true anymore.
I personally choose not to support any of them. I don't hate them, I just don't place them above other nations.
I personally choose not to support any of them. I don't hate them, I just don't place them above other nations.
I'll let you into a secret. The Celtic nations are quite happy to support English teams in international events. What they can't stand are the commentators. A perfect case in point is Motty. As his valedictory commentary on the Euro 2008 final clearly demonstrates, despite the fact the final was between Spain and Germany, Motson managed to mention, within 5 minutes of the match beginning, the English performance in 2004 and the English win of the World cup in 1966 (FFS).
We're all heartily glad the old git has retired. Someone not born in 1966 would be a refreshing change.
^John Motson's behaviour is not really my responsibility or the responsibility of the English FA, the Lawn Tennis Association or anyone else but John Motson.
I can see where you're coming from though, I am tired of the massive pro-Liverpool bias demonstrated by the English media which makes me dislike them more than I already do.
I am also tired of this ridiculous notion that England has many more than a few World Class players which helps to inflate the prices of those with an English passport.
I can see where you're coming from though, I am tired of the massive pro-Liverpool bias demonstrated by the English media which makes me dislike them more than I already do.
I am also tired of this ridiculous notion that England has many more than a few World Class players which helps to inflate the prices of those with an English passport.
Similar threads
