Andy Murray "man behind the racquet"

**HibeeMG** · 24-06-2013 03:00 PM

I was managing one of the shops in Ocean Terminal in 2010. It was the morning of our delivery so we were all busy putting stock on the shelves. The conversation turned to that summer's World Cup. I was explaining to the girls I was working with about the ABE t-shirts that were going about at the time. My supervisor (Irish) asked who I would be supporting and I jokingly said "anyone but England". A customer was in the aisle next to us and popped her head over and said that I should watch what I was saying as somebody could take offence and that she had. She walked out of the shop.

A few weeks later I was having my appraisal. Everything had been more than expected and it was plain sailing. My boss (English) at the end asked if I remembered a conversation about football. It turned out that the woman had complained to our Head Office about what I had said. Having been married to an English woman for 9 years and lived in England for 11 years, I explained that I was certainly not anti-English but just didn't support the England football team. Just as I'm a Hibs fan and don't want to see Hearts winning anything, it's just sport.

I ended up getting a verbal warning. That was the beginning of the end for me in that job. I left soon after.

***essexhibee*** · 24-06-2013 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by HibeeMG

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I was managing one of the shops in Ocean Terminal in 2010. It was the morning of our delivery so we were all busy putting stock on the shelves. The conversation turned to that summer's World Cup. I was explaining to the girls I was working with about the ABE t-shirts that were going about at the time. My supervisor (Irish) asked who I would be supporting and I jokingly said "anyone but England". A customer was in the aisle next to us and popped her head over and said that I should watch what I was saying as somebody could take offence and that she had. She walked out of the shop.

A few weeks later I was having my appraisal. Everything had been more than expected and it was plain sailing. My boss (English) at the end asked if I remembered a conversation about football. It turned out that the woman had complained to our Head Office about what I had said. Having been married to an English woman for 9 years and lived in England for 11 years, I explained that I was certainly not anti-English but just didn't support the England football team. Just as I'm a Hibs fan and don't want to see Hearts winning anything, it's just sport.

I ended up getting a verbal warning. That was the beginning of the end for me in that job. I left soon after.

How much of a pathetic loser do you have to be to go to the effort of calling a head office over that.

Some people really need to get a life (and sense of humour). Embarrassing.

***Scouse Hibee*** · 24-06-2013 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by essexhibee

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How much of a pathetic loser do you have to be to go to the effort of calling a head office over that.

Some people really need to get a life (and sense of humour). Embarrassing.

If I went to HR over some of the things said to me at work and likewise if my colleagues did we'd all be out of a job no doubt

**down-the-slope** · 24-06-2013 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee

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If I went to HR over some of the things said to me at work and likewise if my colleagues did we'd all be out of a job no doubt

...one you will appreciate (maybe

)

Doing a Jumble sale in the church hall a week past saturday - cupboard door lock is jamming and requires a bit of skill..... - scouser mate comes to me and says 'can't get into cupboard'....I point to knife...he looks bemused...'your not telling me you cant get past that lock with a knife' as I proceed to demonstrate....'you won't be able to hold you head up back home admitting this'........

Bit of banter between mates........or shocking cultural stereotyping.....

***snooky*** · 24-06-2013 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by PapillonVert

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Have been lucky enough to get tickets for No. 1 Court on Wednesday this week. Looking forward to the day out.

C'mon, Andy!

What Cabbage top will you be wearing?
Give us a wave

**PapillonVert** · 24-06-2013 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by Treadstone

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Andy, Roger and Rafa. One of them has to play No1 court on this day. Lucky you.

Well, not Rafa, unfortunately. And probably not Roger as he seems to be able to command the Centre Court.

Saw Federer and Djokovic at the ATP Tour Final at the O2 in November.

Tennis, but not as we mere earthlings understand it.

We can always go out and watch the Centre Court action on the Big Screen, if tempted. Whilst having our picnic.

**PapillonVert** · 24-06-2013 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by snooky

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What Cabbage top will you be wearing?
Give us a wave

Only got a scarf. But will give a few waves if the camera pans our way.

Andy just won!

**YehButNoBut** · 24-06-2013 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by PapillonVert

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Only got a scarf. But will give a few waves if the camera pans our way.

Andy just won!

And had his chances of winning the tournament greatly improved as Nadal has gone out in the 1st round (first time ever in a slam) which makes his path to the final easier (on paper anyway)

***Speedy*** · 24-06-2013 05:50 PM

Originally Posted by YehButNo But

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And had his chances of winning the tournament greatly improved as Nadal has gone out in the 1st round (first time ever in a slam) which makes his path to the final easier (on paper anyway)

Might've actually made it harder for him as Fed could go into the semi fresh.

**YehButNoBut** · 24-06-2013 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by deano88

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Might've actually made it harder for him as Fed could go into the semi fresh.

Somehow think Murray has the beating of Federer these days.

**chrisski33** · 24-06-2013 05:53 PM

He wont beat that croatian guy though!

**YehButNoBut** · 24-06-2013 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by chrisski33

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He wont beat that croatian guy though!

Why not, he did in New York, he's not unbeatable.

**mrdependable** · 24-06-2013 06:07 PM

He came across really well in the programme. His dedication should be an inspiration to any young Scottish sportsperson.

**Craig_in_Prague** · 24-06-2013 06:08 PM

Originally Posted by chrisski33

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He wont beat that croatian guy though!

Djockovic? he's a Serb.

***Scouse Hibee*** · 24-06-2013 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by down-the-slope

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...one you will appreciate (maybe

)

Doing a Jumble sale in the church hall a week past saturday - cupboard door lock is jamming and requires a bit of skill..... - scouser mate comes to me and says 'can't get into cupboard'....I point to knife...he looks bemused...'your not telling me you cant get past that lock with a knife' as I proceed to demonstrate....'you won't be able to hold you head up back home admitting this'........

Bit of banter between mates........or shocking cultural stereotyping.....

Funny enough folk have come to me several times in work to open "locked" drawers, cupboards or the odd door, I have some basic lock knowledge and can overcome a few without any damage, I always tell them it was on the curriculum in my scouse school!

**mca** · 24-06-2013 07:44 PM

Right.. so Chris Hoy.. gets The Sir.. thingy from the maj - and i assume its just for riding a bike...

what does andy have to do ???

***Scouse Hibee*** · 24-06-2013 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by mca

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Right.. so Chris Hoy.. gets The Sir.. thingy from the maj - and i assume its just for riding a bike...

what does andy have to do ???

Win Wimbledon

**HUTCHYHIBBY** · 24-06-2013 07:57 PM

Originally Posted by GloryGlory

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Rafa on No 1 today, so prob won't be on Wednesday.

He isn't!

**~~The Voice Of Reason~~** · 24-06-2013 09:16 PM

Just watched the programme from last night on BBC iPlayer - what a great watch

In Andy and Jamie Murray we trust

**jgl07** · 24-06-2013 09:35 PM

Originally Posted by chrisski33

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He wont beat that croatian guy though!

Who?

Marin Cilic (Croation Number One)?

Murray beat him at Queens earlier this month.

**fat freddy** · 24-06-2013 09:39 PM

Originally Posted by The Voice Of Reason

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Just watched the programme from last night on BBC iPlayer - what a great watch

In Andy and Jamie Murray we trust

I just watched it on iPlayer as well....it was very moving when he returned to Dunblane with his medals and when Sue Barker asked him about that horrible day when he was at primary school i think we saw a picture of a man with a lot of emotions bottled up inside. He says he seldom speaks of that day which is understandable and i guess he never received councilling as it wasn't so fashionable twenty years ago. I got the impression that there are a lot more tears inside of him just waiting for the right moment to come out.

**down-the-slope** · 24-06-2013 10:40 PM

Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee

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Funny enough folk have come to me several times in work to open "locked" drawers, cupboards or the odd door, I have some basic lock knowledge and can overcome a few without any damage, I always tell them it was on the curriculum in my scouse school!

....now that leads to the 'discussion' I regularly have with Mrs DTS (who is English)...which starts with me making some disparaging statement...and her saying 'you can't say that! - its a stereotype'....'no its not its a trueism.....'

Like when we were in Glasgow Central Station after I had passed comment on the youth of Glasgow....and was told off...cue a bunch of neds that would have made extras on Chewing The Fat passing by...and me with a smug look...'its a trueism dear'.....

**Dashing Bob S** · 24-06-2013 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by FalkirkHibee

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Hardly.

It was said during a light hearted segment of a press conference between Murray and Tim Henman and was only said after Henman poked fun at Murray in relation to Scotland failing to qualify for the World Cup.

It was a joke, nothing more than that, and in response to your comment with regards to how Scots would react if it was an English person making a comment about Scotland, I don't think Henman's comment that day did anything to lessen his support from Scottish tennis fans. Of course people up here love Murray more than they did Henman because Murray is Scottish, but Henman was treated very well by the British press (including the press in Scotland) during his career.

The reaction from the English tabloids to that incident was absolutely ridiculous, in particular describing him as a racist was just outrageous.

I would suggest that anyone who continues to hold a grudge against someone after they made a light hearted comment seven years ago when they were just 19 years old seriously needs to get a life and grow up.

It is totally without justification and I would go even further to suggest that the real reason why some people down south will never support Murray is because they are jealous of the fact that the best British tennis player for 70 years is Scottish and it is more about their own prejudices than anything Murray has said in the past.

The comment in 2006 is just a convenient excuse for them to keep clinging on to.

Great post.

The way Murray was set up by the English media and the eagerness of many middle-Englanders to jump on this nonsense shows an unedifying anti-Scottish at heart of their psyche. Yes, there are Scots who are just as brainless and bigoted with regards to the English. However this particular incident reflects much, much more negatively on a section of English society than it does on Andy Murray.

***Hibrandenburg*** · 25-06-2013 06:03 AM

Originally Posted by Dashing Bob S

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Great post.

The way Murray was set up by the English media and the eagerness of many middle-Englanders to jump on this nonsense shows an unedifying anti-Scottish at heart of their psyche. Yes, there are Scots who are just as brainless and bigoted with regards to the English. However this particular incident reflects much, much more negatively on a section of English society than it does on Andy Murray.

That about sums it up for me. If similar remarks are made by an Englishman then it's put down to their lovable eccentricity and laughed off as Jimmy Greaves like banter but if we do it then it's underlying whisky fuelled hatred for all things English.

***Scouse Hibee*** · 25-06-2013 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by down-the-slope

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....now that leads to the 'discussion' I regularly have with Mrs DTS (who is English)...which starts with me making some disparaging statement...and her saying 'you can't say that! - its a stereotype'....'no its not its a trueism.....'

Like when we were in Glasgow Central Station after I had passed comment on the youth of Glasgow....and was told off...cue a bunch of neds that would have made extras on Chewing The Fat passing by...and me with a smug look...'its a trueism dear'.....

My missus (who is Scottish) had started a new job and was involved in a conversation where one guy eventually got around to slagging all things English and then referred to a shooting story in Liverpool he had heard on the news and how that Liverpool must be like the wild west, scouse thiefs etc etc. Keeping quiet she let him rant on until he asked her opinion to which she replied...................."I'm not sure to be honest, I'll check with my Scouse husband tonight and come back to you after our weekend away in Liverpool to see his parents!
Cue lots of backtracking from the red faced clown

**hibby rae** · 25-06-2013 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee

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My missus (who is Scottish) had started a new job and was involved in a conversation where one guy eventually got around to slagging all things English and then referred to a shooting story in Liverpool he had heard on the news and how that Liverpool must be like the wild west, scouse thiefs etc etc. Keeping quiet she let him rant on until he asked her opinion to which she replied...................."I'm not sure to be honest, I'll check with my Scouse husband tonight and come back to you after our weekend away in Liverpool to see his parents!
Cue lots of backtracking from the red faced clown

One of my mates is a Manc ( also United, god knows why I'm his friend!?) and we were clay pigeon shooting a couple of months ago. When it was his turn he stepped up and the guy in charge said, "You're from Manchester?". "Yes" my pal replied, to which the guy said, "I suppose you'll have only used these sawn-off then!".

**~~Sanger~~** · 25-06-2013 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by hibby rae

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Andy Murray, he's one of our own.

Need to get that sung someday.

When he wins Wimbledon - next home game. Hampden crowd T world cup qualifier sung only one Andy Murray after he won US Open. Very moving.

**down-the-slope** · 25-06-2013 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee

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My missus (who is Scottish) had started a new job and was involved in a conversation where one guy eventually got around to slagging all things English and then referred to a shooting story in Liverpool he had heard on the news and how that Liverpool must be like the wild west, scouse thiefs etc etc. Keeping quiet she let him rant on until he asked her opinion to which she replied...................."I'm not sure to be honest, I'll check with my Scouse husband tonight and come back to you after our weekend away in Liverpool to see his parents!
Cue lots of backtracking from the red faced clown

Originally Posted by hibby rae

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One of my mates is a Manc ( also United, god knows why I'm his friend!?) and we were clay pigeon shooting a couple of months ago. When it was his turn he stepped up and the guy in charge said, "You're from Manchester?". "Yes" my pal replied, to which the guy said, "I suppose you'll have only used these sawn-off then!".

both very funny