Monday 10 July 2017

I rather like him

I came across a lady of advancing years (not Aged Parent) who informed us all that she "couldn't stand that Andy Murray." On further enquiry, it was established that she hadn't ever actually met him. This was not a surprise as she is a lady who has rarely left her home town and he is a man who has possibly never visited her home town. It is the way of the world. On enquiring about the reasons behind her negative judgement upon Mr Murray and all his camels, she informed us that she had seen nothing about him that made her like him. Leaving aside the question of whether it is Mr Murray's responsibility to get us all to fall for him, I have to tell you that, despite a dearth of face to face evidence, I rather like him. As it is Wimbledon fortnight, I thought I might tell you why.
1. The dog incident
In 2014, on the way to Wimbledon practice, Andy spotted a runaway labradoodle in the road. He immediately stopped his car, ran into the busy road and rescued the dog by pulling it into his back seat. This immediately marks him out as a top person.
2. Dunblane
In 2013, when speaking about the Dunblane massacre (Andy and his brother Jamie were actually in the school when it was happening) he didn't speak about himself although he did say that he had been affected emotionally by it, he only became tearful when he talked about the town and the way they had been affected and said he was so pleased that he had been able to do something for them. 
3. Losing in the Wimbledon Final
In 2012 after losing to Roger Federer, he fought back tears again and told the Wimbledon crowd "I'm getting closer" He managed to be graceful in defeat while letting us know how upset he was. 

He seems to me to have nice manners and I was very taken with his habit of wearing his wedding ring on his shoe laces. I was also rather charmed when, after winning Wimbledon for the second time, he collected his trophy and then found time to tell Benedict Cumberbatch that he was a big fan of Sherlock. So, he doesn't play the game of trying to make everyone adore him. I know he sometimes gets annoyed with himself  when he messes up but so do most of us. The difference is that usually only the dog sees me grunting with frustration whereas he does it with thousands of people watching. He seems to be a natural introvert and I am not sure why he should be any different just to please old ladies he has never met. 
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6 comments

  1. I felt we all got to know Judy Murray very well when she was a Strictly Come Dancing contestant, and that gave huge insights into Andy Murray - obviously our mothers influence us considerably. A trier, I thought, determined and brave, sensitive and able to take criticism, quick to learn, not someone to wear her heart on her sleeve so she found the dramatic, sexy, emotional parts hard to do. But always game, gracious and dignified. I thought someone like that would give her all to her children but expect a lot of them too. Quintessential achievers. I didn't know about the dog or Dunblane. How interesting.

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    1. Yes and there is Jamie too. A family of achievers.

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  2. Absolutely. He strikes me as a Jolly Nice Chap, a Good Sport, and a believer in kindness and loving families. I wish some sections of the media would stop being nasty. Actually that last sentence is always true, not just about AM, but I suppose they would argue it sells newspapers.

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    1. I mean you never really know do you but they do seem like a nice family

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  3. He's a clever young man, but he's also very rude to umpires.

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    1. That's certainly true. I think there seems to be more full on aggression these days

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