MRS. MURRAY TAUGHT HIM TENNIS IN A HURRY.

The title of the article, as any self respecting fan of the age of proper songs would know, is a play on the song by Johnny Mercer/Victor Schertzinger, Arthur Murray taught me dancing etc.,

It is so easy to criticize British sports players, who are placed in an intolerable position by endless pundits, kidding us all on that this was Andy Murray's best ever chance. As tennis followers will recall, Murray, playing a good game, edged the first set. He then commenced the next set by winning his service game, and immediately gave himself a chance to break Rafael Nadal, but flunked a forehand; from then on many of his serves were well below the net cord. So don't let folk tell you that he lost to Nadal; in actual fact, he beat himself. The suspects were led, naturally, by the ridiculous coverage from the BBC, under the command of the silly Sue Barker. When are we going to grow up as a nation, and demand that we do the talking after the event. Growing up however is not a trait easily found in modern Britain.

We had a similar scenario at the US Open Golf tournament, where many were assuming that Lee Westwood would win; which, as we now know, was won by a country mile by the young Northern Irish Brit', Rory Mcllroy. Westwood, like Murray, very much a talented sportsman, close to the top of his sport, but has always 'blown up' in the final round of a number of majors, from the cat bird seat.

Both Murray and Westwood will enjoy a wonderful lifestyle, by being in the upper echelons of their respective sport; being surrounded by personal trainers, sports psychologists and various other advisers, sometimes, even mothers. As much as they would say that they want to be the best, to keep their sponsors and fans happy, secretly, they are very wealthy, and don't need to go the 'extra mile', lacking the ultimate hunger. Well, to the chagrin of many of my friends and relatives, I'm convinced I know why.

THEY'RE PRODUCTS OF A WELFARE STATE.