Another different sport comes under the ghostly spotlight today, the favourite game of those who hate sport, yes, it’s anyone for tennis today. All because we must properly recognise the efforts of Scotland's favourite son in getting GB to the Davis Cup final single handed. Or as near to single handed as makes no difference. I am warming to Mr Murray. He may generally adopt the demeanour of a man who has found a pound and lost a tenner, but he can play the game. And he certainly has a fighting spirit. He must have to have carried the bunch of turkeys he has to call team mates as far as he has. But it looks suspiciously like falling at the last hurdle doesn't it? Against the sporting super power that is modern Belgium? Looks like a bridge too far to me. Hope I'm wrong of course. And they will be playing indoors, so I suppose the chances of old Cliff getting up to give us a tune when it rains are limited....
It’s easy to take the proverbial though, credit where credit is due, he's the best we have had for a long time. Andy not Cliff I mean. Best in fact since Fred Perry, well known for his shirts. Andy gets better treatment in the tennis world than old Fred did back in the thirties. Wrong side of the tracks was Fred as far as the chinless of Wimbledon were concerned. Not one of us, as they say. Eventually he got sick of the class divide, turned pro and headed off to Hollywood, where he spent the next twenty years teaching actresses and models his best tricks. He even married some of them. It’s a tough life.
No, overall I can't warm to tennis, though I can recognise the quality of the top pros nowadays. It’s just all the nonsense that goes with it. But at least it has a short season, two weeks is fine I reckon.
Anyway a final thought on the football, here on the Meadow. All going very well don't you think? That of course will have torn it. But very creditable so far, against a back drop of endless injuries and absences. Lots of the fighting spirit, as mentioned above re Andy Murray. It’s a pleasure to watch, keep it up, keep it up.