tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8948801468516043822.post9162124644908137045..comments2023-07-25T10:37:32.127+01:00Comments on Tennis Is Served...: Why you should give Andy Murray’s musings on boxing a fair hearing.Zafarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11909444215193865334noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8948801468516043822.post-67690816356824887402011-11-17T14:32:17.586+00:002011-11-17T14:32:17.586+00:00@c048c808947d8b8544e317904767200d
Agree with you...@c048c808947d8b8544e317904767200d <br /><br />Agree with you on Andy,particularly re dissonance.Personally I think too much is made of his grumpy persona by the public at large. At the same time however, theres no doubt that it has demonstrably damaged him during matches.He seems to have found a balance recently, making light and even laughing at his silly errors. But the real test, as he knows better than anyone else, is in a Slam final.Its also nice to see the Barcelona comparisons - he appreciates his lack of a GS is down to playing in one of the most competitive eras ever. Far from resigned acceptance, my hope is this realistic assessment will actually help his GS chances - he's far too competitive for us to think otherwiseZafarhttp://tennisisserved.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8948801468516043822.post-53649913986564989742011-11-16T23:27:10.120+00:002011-11-16T23:27:10.120+00:00Really great piece...I have to admit that though I...Really great piece...I have to admit that though I am a huge fan of Andy's that I often tune out automatically whenever he begins to rhapsodize about boxing or fantasy football (more often the result of my own distaste for the sport than anything else). What intrigued me even more than Andy's visceral reactions to boxing (shaking with fear when watching someone he know) was his fixation on the public and private eye. He said that he appreciated the rawness of boxing (with Haye training with normal people though a champion) away from the publicity of the matches and that he liked having a close group of people to turn to during the intensity of matches that he knows are not judging or criticizing him (that know what he is like in private and so don't judge him based on his on court behavior). I have always felt that there was a dissonance with Andy's persona- he is perceived one way, but in private is another way. It's almost like he wants to create a little protective bubble around himself during matches with his box (where he feels like he can vent his frustrations, self flagellate etc. without any danger of his persona being damaged because those closest to him know him to his core) while to the larger public, clearly his behavior has a detrimental effect on how he is seen and perceived. One's vulnerabilities are most apparent in really high pressure situations and with Andy it is particularly so. The small outward signs of psychological release with Andy such as his mouth twitch and tugging at his shirt/short when under pressure/anger are obvious. But verbally, he may see his box as the one entity that is devoted unconditionally to him- the scrutiny of the rest of the public that leads to him feeling self consciousness is absent with them- perhaps why he turns to them so often and so quickly in anger and frustration. They give him the benefit of the private eye in the midst of the public one. Anyways, I feel like I have rambled a lot, but Andy really is such an intriguing personality and this interview really brought out those facets of his character.Sherinnoreply@blogger.com