Practice Makes Perfext

What can I say other than I'm writing this at 11pm because I've been celebrating with friends and doubt I'll manage to post early in the morning so I'll delay publishing until then. 

Don't let anyone forget that, after Andy was 14 years old, no taxpayers' money was used to help him achieve this pinnacle of excellence.

Congratulations Andy.  A well deserved and superb victory.

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Ah, Recognition Of Scotland As A Country

click to enlarge

I was pleased to see yesterday that the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) recognises Scotland as a country. Aye, the ATP may be small fry in the great scheme of things, but every little recognition counts.

When I suggested on a tennis forum that the ATP ( for men only) should combine with the WTA (Women's Tennis Association) there was fierce opposition, with the main reason being administration of the game would be impossible.

That excuse was unacceptable to me and I explained to the objectors that golf was once similarly divided but now most clubs find combining the administration of the game easier than it was when they had two separate groups.  The objectors weren't interested in any other sport's examples and stuck to their guns.

However, I tried one more time and said online searches for top class games would be much easier if the top players were under the one banner.  Once I received a few replies the penny dropped.  The ATP and WTA are brands as well as associations.  Improving access to online tennis news mattered little, if anything, to them.  As one responder said, "Tennis professionals like having the two associations. Men's tennis differs from women's tennis." That closed the conversation.

My reason for commenting on the forum was not to beat the equality drum but to  discover why the professional tennis world doesn't offer a united front online. Someone wishing to see the progress of our tennis champions has to jump between the ATP and the WTA.  What I found was that, in this era of political correctness, there are a few organisations who are determined to operate the way it suits them and not any pc establishment.  I found that refreshing.

I can't write about tennis without mentioning Andy Murray's purchase of Cromlix House near Dunblane. 'I'm pleased to be able to give something back to the community' he says.  

Some years ago I visited Cromlix House for various reasons.  Then it was what is now called 'shabby chic' with more emphasis on the shabby and I wasn't surprised when I heard the business had gone into liquidation.  Twenty years ago it was poorly managed and service was the slowest I've ever experienced in what was then a 4 star hotel.

It appears Andy intends to offer a reasonably priced menu and support local businesses. His new acquisition will not become a 'local' for the people of Dunblane because it's situated 2 to 3 miles east of the town and off the beaten track, but if his venture employs local people and uses local suppliers, it should succeed with the will of Dunblane behind it.

Of course the refurbishment will ensure Cromlix House once again becomes the 'overflow' hotel for Gleneagles (8 miles further east. I don't think there is any love lost between the 200 bed Hilton Dunblane Hydro and Gleneagles). Having such a close relationship with Gleneagles will be good for trade, as long as the new managing company are clever enough to keep a balance between the local population and Scotland's most famous hotel.  Andy can't afford to completely leave a management company in control.  He needs to show a substantial interest in his new project and that could be difficult when he's also committed to travelling the world in search of even more success.

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Where's Tennis?

While this morning's papers report on Chris Hoy's delight at having a brand new velodrome emblazoned with his name and ready well in advance of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014, my thoughts turned to another sport.

It's tennis.  Scotland has the best tennis player since records began yet tennis isn't included in the list of sports for Glasgow 2014.  For years it's been on the list of approved optional sports and has featured in every Commonwealth Youth Games programme, but it didn't make an appearance in a full Games programme until the 2010 Commonwealth Games when Jocelyn Rae and Colin Fleming (both Scotland) won gold in the mixed doubles.  Then a total of 23 nations were represented by at least one player in either the men's singles, women's singles or mixed doubles.  Scotland provided 2 in the singles and 2 in the doubles.

There may be problems achieving the attendance of the 'big' players owing to their 12-month international schedules, but surely that should not have deterred the decision makers from including the sport in the Glasgow programme.  Sadly Rae and Fleming will now not be able to defend their title.

Cycling is, like tennis, another optional sport. In 2010 Scotland won one gold, one silver and one bronze and on the back of that result a new velodrome was built.

I admit I'm an ardent fan of Andy Murray but I'm saddened to note that his own country decided not to include his sport in the 2014 programme.  It doesn't say much for the politicians and others who have recently been standing in line to praise Andy's superb achievements does it?

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Ball Games

In yesterday's Scottish Review Kenneth Roy was scathing about the 'amorphous mass adulation of Olympic medal winners' and described it as an increasingly odd phenomenon, yet he insists the hero worship given to Jock Stein is perfectly normal human behaviour. Football managers Willie Waddell and Jock Stein are still regarded with affection, even reverence he write yet his article suggests no Olympic medalist is worthy of such adulation.

His taxi driver's loyalties to the Celtic team derived from its belonging to a small, identifiable community and that's exactly why the wee town of Dunblane more than doubled its population on Sunday - to congratulate one of their own back to his home town.  The Murray family are well known in the town and the rise of Jamie and Andy to the top of tennis has been followed closely by that close knit community for years.  Mr Roy's dislike of such occasions smacks more of bah humbug than congratulations.

I have vague memories back in the 50s when Dick McTaggart returned to Dundee after winning gold, as a light welterweight, at the 1956 Olympics.  He toured Dundee in an open-topped bus or tram. (Unfortunately my memory isn't too accurate about the mode of transport). Half of Dundee turned out to shout their congratulations to 'one of our ain'. I didn't go to see him then.  He lived down the road from us and was a friend of my brother so I had a private viewing of his medal, courtesy of his Mum who proudly showed it off to anyone who frequented her crowded home.

Some years later Dundee council built a sports centre to honour his achievements and it still exists today.  Dundee council have refurbished it - using a £1.8m lottery grant - and it is now to be a centre of gymnastic excellence in Tayside and Fife.  It provides for gymnasts at every level as well as offering a range of other activities.

After his five hour visit to Dunblane on Sunday, Andy Murray and his mother had a meeting with Alex Salmond to discuss a national tennis academy for Scotland.  The Herald have reported they are keen on a site in Cramond, Edinburgh for the academy and Mr Salmond stated their idea ' is in line with the Scottish Government's ambition to improve young Scots participation in sport'.

Since the SNP came to government in 2007 there have been mutterings about a national tennis centre but no action.

Tennis is not even included in the list of sports involved in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.  Why not?

The time has come for the Scottish Government to mark the incredible achievements of Andy Murray and a national tennis centre would fit the bill perfectly.  I still think it should be situated in Stirling though because so much is centred around Edinburgh and Glasgow.

If the then Labour-controlled Dundee council could provide first class gym facilities for youngsters in the early 1960s and the present Scottish Government build a velodrome named after Chris Hoy and his cycling success,  surely it can fund a national tennis centre before the independence referendum.

It would be a fitting long-term legacy of Andy Murray's fantastic achievements.

Note: The image was taken from a link on Judy Murray's twitter page.

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The 76-Year Wait Is Over

Britain has another male Grand Slam champion after 76 years and Scotland has its first. A brilliant, gutsy performance and achieved without a penny of taxpayer's money.

The fact that Djokovic had won four of the previous seven Grand Slam tournaments, including the last three played on hard courts, underlined the magnitude of Andy's achievement.

He should have the freedom of Dunblane.

Let's not forget his predecessor:

Fred Perry US Open - 10 Sept 1936

picture courtesy of the Daily Mail

More facts: Andy Murray has now become the first man in history to win Olympics gold and the US Open in the same year.

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A Well Deserved Promotion

While Scotland's rugby team failed to make it through the pool stages of the World Cup, our football team failed to qualify for even the play-offs to reach Euro 2012 and our golfers are struggling to make their mark on the world's golf courses, one young Scot was flying the flag and quietly picking up trophies in Asia.

Any Murray has now won three titles in succession and has lost only one of his last 26 matches.  His trophies are the result of winning the Japan and Thailand Opens and the Shanghai Masters. No mean feat.

After losing out in the US Open semis he was determined to strive harder and he's has, but winning a Grand Slam is his dream.  Since winning in China he has been promoted to No 3 in the world rankings, leapfrogging Roger Federer for the first time in his career. He's well aware he needs to win more matches to hang on as No 3 for the year, but I do not doubt his commitment for a second.

This is a well deserved promotion for a lad who represents Scotland and the UK with unfailing determination. I wish him well, as ever.

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andy_murrayEating in tonight and trying to watch the big bro eviction. Really trying. See you all tomorrow.about 1 hour ago from TwitterBerry

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Well done laddie!

Andy Murray, winner of the AEGON championships at Queens Club, London and first British winner since 1934. I've no idea when a Scot last won it if ever. He beat James Blake 7-5 6-4 in an enthralling match.

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A Well Deserved Accolade

Andy Murray is now rated world number 3 in the tennis world, the first time anyone from Britain has achieved such status.  I'm delighted and not just because he's a Scot.  He has shown admirable tenacity in his desire to be the best and I'm positive he will continue to bring much pleasure to tennis watchers.  Would I be biased if I said he could well make it to number one? 

Congratulations young man and lang may yer bat hit the ba'.

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