As per scripture, the Murray related jet stream continues unabated this week. Anything and everything ranging from the usual set of predictions (Borg has backed Andy over Nadal) to obscure items of trivia (he hasn't yet passed his driving test but has bought Kim Sears a Range Rover, so she can give him a lift to 'work').
It's truly deafening.
And yet, if you can look past it's schmaltziness (particularly that closing line), this piece by Matt Dickinson of The Times echoed much of what I said about Murray's slightly gruff disposition, his strained relationship with the public and the press, and having to grow up in public eye.
Yes, as unlikely as the UK press may make it seem at times, there is still some work to be done on getting the public truly behind Andy Murray.
Barking obscenities after all, is unlikely to ingratiate you with a discerning tennis loving lot, and releasing a biography at the age of 20 - a celebrity trend I reserve my most venomous daggers of hate for - was probably not the best idea. Though not as senseless perhaps, as titling it 'Hitting Back'. That has to rank as his most regrettable double fault ever.
But like I said in my recent post, much of the criticisms levied at him now are three years too late. The trouble with the tabloid hysteria generated by the whole anti-English thing, is that it ignores the progress he's made both on and off court over the past few years, which is very easy to do given that for a large body of people here, tennis is still only a 4 week season, that begins with Queen's and ends with Wimbledon.
Though I said, Brits are on the whole well versed regarding Tennis, there exists a significant body whose only recollection of Murray on his 'best' behaviour is that bicep of last year. And even that didn't go down too well.
Strangely prophetic that call to try a cardigan though?
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