This ESPN feature on Andy Murray’s hometown of Dunblane, Scotland, and its tragic history brought tears to my eyes. Darren Cahill’s, too – he was all choked up in the studio after this aired.
It puts Murray Mania into perspective:
“He’s got to win, and he will.” Sums up the general feeling on Center Court, doesn’t it?
Andy Murray is keeping his hometown’s hopes alive, beating Stan Wawrinka today in a thrilling five setter under the lights. He’ll face Juan Carlos Ferrero in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Tags: Dunblane, Murray, Murray Mania, tennis, Wawrinka, Wimbledon
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Cahill is sick.
btw — Murray has supposedly said a number of times that he has no real memory of the event. For me that puts the media focus on it squarely into Hyperbole Central.
I remember Dunblane and the complete over-reaction after but that is another story.
Murray is on record as saying he doesn’t remember it. So I don’t think you can say it puts Murray Mania in perspective. It’s just media hype. And very disrespectful to all those that were actually affected by the tragedy.
I think that it’s not so much about Murray’s own memories but more about the town’s collective interest in him doing well and giving the town something else to be known for other than the tragedy.
Also, I like to see the grass roots support and enthusiasm.
I don’t think it’s at all disrespectful to the victims and the families — I thought it struck the right note. (And the spot was not produced by Andy Murray.) He and his family lived through the horror, but were part of it. As with Freaky, it gave me a better idea about grass roots enthusiasm, and its reasons.
i was tearing up. just because murray doesn’t remember that horrific tragedy doesn’t diminish part of the reason for his drive and the murray mania. i think it’s wonderful to see his hometown rooting and cheering for his win.
Andy who????lol!
Emotional manipulation. Damn you! *runs to corner to sob*
Nice to see the locals getting some hope out of Muz. It doesn’t really matter that he has no recollection of it.
This was a beautiful and touching documentary. Very tastefully done I must say. I am surprised by how people cannot like it. Darren Cahill’s reaction was understandable.
FWIW I don’t think Andy Murray said that he doesn’t remember the incident. He just doesn’t want to talk about those traumatic events.
Brilliant Match today. Go Murray!
What a great piece by ESPN. I love all the little kids who are cheering on Andy! He’s a great guy.
During dinner, freakyfrites mentioned a good point. These people who lived through this tragic event just want to see something positive come from their hometown and not remembered for that horrific tragedy.
I’m sure Columbine, Colorado and Waco, Texas wishes it were remembered for other things.
To be perfectly honest with you, nobody really “remembers” Dunblane. It is not a tragedy that is on the tip of everyone’s tongue, except for when the manipulative media keeps attaching it to a certain tennis player who wasn’t affected by it.
Hi ana! I honestly do see your point – when telling stories like this things can get maudlin and exploitative very fast.
But personally, as an American who hadn’t heard of Dunblane before (as you said, until Andy Murray came along) I found this to offer some interesting and meaningful biographical information on a player who I’ve found it hard to get to know. I think it was tastefully done and did not overreach in connecting Murray to his hometown and the people who have more than just a passing interest in his success. In that way, it gave me perspective on Murray Mania vs. a hometown kid trying to do good by his friends and family.
Perhaps this plays differently to people who lived through the unfortunate sensationalism that often accompanies public tragedies like this. We have our fair share of that in the States, too.
We definitely got into some good debate and conversation about personal tragedy vs. public memorial (and attendant hero worship.) So maybe we can all appreciate the video for this!
Well said Freakyfrites! It was touching without being maudlin.
I think Andy, as he was an 8 year old hiding underneath his headmaster’s desk to the sound of gunshots, definitely does remember what happened that day but chooses not to speak of it. To be honest I think that reflects well on him. I was 8 years old too when this happened and I remember how shocked the whole country was…afterwards all the schools got kitted out with high tech security etc and I think there was nationwide gun amnesty.
It’s good the people in the town have something/someone to rally around now, and I am routing for him to play his best and whatever the result, that is enough to make the UK proud
tear jerker indeed… what a painfull horrific event.
terrible kitsch and even somewhat cynical feature. sorry, i still hope Fed will take the holly grail and not Murray’s ugly Nadal-like tennis.