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The Ultimate Unmasking of the "stone faced" Scot

On the Eve of Wimbledon the BBC aired a documentary that would hopefully cease all remaining doubts of Andy Murray being a "stone-faced" and "emotionless" player and person.

 Andy Murray: The Man Behind the Racquet presented by Sue Barker delved into aspects of Murrays tennis career from training to magazine shoots. Barker explored the Scots tennis routine and team that make him the man he is on the court and the family and "boring life" he leads when he does not have a racquet in his hands.

When the tears fell after Murrays defeat to Roger Federer at Wimbledon last year there was not a dry eye in the house. The Dunblane born lad showed the world that yes he does have an emotional side like everyone else. This drop of guard is perhaps what won over those pesky few doubters who judged Murray on his emotionless face rather than his ace winning game.

During the documentary we heard from family and friend such as Mother Judy, brother Jamie Murray and long time girl friend Kim Sears, tennis legends John McEnroe and Tim Henman. We also heard of some personal stores from actor and presenter James Cordon and legend Sir Alex Ferguson. We also saw a surprise interview with Kevin Spacey - was anyone expecting that one!?

From a young age Murray knew what he wanted in life and that was in win a Grand Slam title or two or five. So to do this he knew that sacrifices and risks would need to be taken in order to succeed with his dreams. At the age of 15 Murray convinced his family to let his move to a training facility in Spain to better his game and from there the rein of the Scot began.

The documentary was for sure a whirl wind of emotions on both ends of the scale. I once again bawled my eyes out when after fighting so hard and so long at Wimbledon last year he just could snatch that victory against Federer and his heart breaking speech after the match.

Then just 28 days later it was like déjà vu when both players once again stepped out onto the grass courts of SW19. However that day we saw a determined and more focused Murray than ever before and won the Gold medal singles title against Federer. Sir Alex Ferguson said "the turning point without doubt was winning the gold medal" - no argument there Fergie.  

And with that victory came even more determination and fire when competing at the US Open weeks later.  After a splash of water to the face and a pep talk to himself during a bathroom break he FINALLY won that long awaited Grand Slam title, lifting the US Open  trophy in Flushing Meadows beating long time rival and friend Novak Djokovic.

We also saw the emotional and personal battles Murray had to fight through. One which would always haunt his family was the shooting at Dunblane Primary School where he and brother Jamie were both in attendence. 16 of their fellow school pupils were shot and killed and one teacher. Until recently both brothers were very tight lipped about the incident. Judy Murray even insists Jamie has yet to say anything about it since that tragic day. You could tell the whole situation still caused Andy Murray heart ache as when Sue Barker asked him about that day he broke down and cuddled his face into his dog to which Barker said we will say no more about it but Murray was adamant to day what he wanted to say.

It was definitely not easy for Murray growing up as a Scottish tennis player under the watch full eye of the media. Every movement he made was analysed and every breath of word was picked apart, sometime very unnecessarily.  During an interview one American reporter kept referring to him as English, Murray would correct him and the reporter would brush it off with a "yeah whatever" or "same thing". The Yank also questioned Murray about why there are no good English tennis players. Who was this man and what was with his attitude problem. The other journalist were clearly getting a good giggle out of it but there was no laughing coming from Murray.

The worst was yet to come when the English media and in particular "The Sun" newspaper had a field day tearing Murray apart after a football comment was taken into wrong perspective. Murray and Henman were having some onscreen banter during an interview. Being good friends and also from across the borders from each other the friends would poke fun at each other for being Scottish and English. However during an interview when Murray was asked who he would be supporting during the World Cup he answered with "whoever England is playing", a light hearted answer if there ever was one yet the media saw this as an opportunity to destroy Murray and his fan base. Many English supports took this comment to heart and would soon find themselves cheering for whoever Murray as playing. Henman said in his interview he always felt protective over Murray as he knew what he was going to go through.

The Scot is without a doubt the sports version of our very own 007 man of mystery. He has fought through every obstacle with class and dignity with perhaps a slip up or two along the way but hey we all make mistakes. I for one had enjoyed seeing this new and improved player and cannot wait to see him progress even more over the next couple of years.

Murray steps onto the courts of Wimbledon in less than 8 hours against World number 95 of German Benjamin Becker where the drama, aces and amazing stone faced determination will begin all over again...who is nervous already!?

If you've yet to catch the documentary it is definitely one to catch up on... http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b02ywyts/Andy_Murray_The_Man_Behind_the_Racquet/

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17,000 athletes from 205 countries will be competing from these beauties 100 days from now. Designed by British artist David Watkins these bad boys are every athletes dream.

The medals are 7mm thick - wowza - and their circular shape is a metaphor for the world.

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it's only right that the athletes representing our country get to have their nearest and dearest cheering them on!

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#100 Days To Go has taken twitter by storm and rightly so!

London is ready and so is the world for the biggest sporting extravaganza.

That's right guys ONE HUNDRED days to go until the greatest sporting event in the world takes place. Excited yet!? Time certainly has flown by for not only the public but the athletes and organisers of the games. I bet they are sitting today amazed at how quick the games has crept up on them. 

On July 7th 2005 London beat out Paris 54-50 to host the 30th Olympiad and with that became the first city to host the games three times. Kudos London!

Great Britain athletes have taken to twitter expressing how excited they are for this land mark day.

Oscar Pistorius ‏ @OscarPistorius

100days till the Start of the 2012 London Olympic Games today. FULL STEAM AHEAD! Want to lay it down hard and rip the track up!#makeitcount

Louise Hazel ‏ @

#100DaysToGo until #London2012 #OlympicGames, how are you celebrating?

Team GB ‏ @TeamG

Its #100daystogo until @London2012 & we have double Olympic gold medalist with us @TeamGB from 6pm for a LIVE Q&A #AskTeamGB

Naija Princess ‏ @

100 days from now my life will be very different! #Favour!#100daystogo #2012

London is definitely ready to welcome the world...

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54 home games later the leafs finally win on their own ice!

The leafs beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-3

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Adidas today revealed the GB kit for the London Olympics created by Stella McCartney. She has really outdone herself with the amazing designs and all the athletes are very positive about the outcome! 

All was revealed at the Tower of London and the athletes have taken to twitter to have their say about the design

Jessica Ennis ‏ @J_Ennis

@adidasUK all of the kit is gorgeous!!

Goldie Sayers ‏ @goldiesayers

#takethestage @J_Ennis @JNETTEKWAKYE awesome kit hey

William Sharman ‏ @williamsharman

This #Olympickit is hot! #takethestage

The designs are definitely smokin' hot! And the fact all athletes over all disciplines are wearing the same designs.

Can't not to see them in action now!

http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/columns/luke-leitch/TMG9160263/Stella-McCartney-unveils-the-Team-GB-Olympic-kit.html

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We will see a Great Britain vest however all we will hear is an American, Why is this acceptable?

I read a very powerful and attention drawing article by Richard Bath in the Sports section of "Scotland on Sunday"

Bath brings up the very important argument that "When all eyes and ears of the world are turned on us this summer, what they will hear is an American". He is talking about American 110m hurdler Tiffany Ofili-Porter, and how can this be allowed to happen considering the astonishing athletes we already have in Great Britain such as Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis and Philips Idowu to name a few.

I am not trying to take the shine away from her success as she is undoubtedly and excellent hurdler and in contention for a medal at the Olympics but as bath said "The 110m hurdler is many things to many people, but two things she is not are British, and a suitable choice to captain Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics.

It was said by Angie Thorp, " Growing up, my dream was to run for Great Britain. Ofili-Porter's dream would have been to run for America. But she wasn't quite good enough, so she came over here and took somebody's place instead. And it upsets me, because we encouraged her". Thorp hits the nail on the head with that statement. 

Ofili-Porter is eligible to run in a GB vest because her mother is English. However this does in no way means she is British at heart and she definitely put her foot in it last summer when she tweeted, " It's the 4th July!!!!!! Wishing I was in the States to celebrate this special day! I'm definitely there in spirit though". I can certainly feel the spirit if Great Britain in that tweet cant you! Ato Boldon was quick to respond with "thought you were British now lol".

It frustrates me really with this decision. Just because you are "legally" eligible for the vest doesn't mean you should wear it. If anything this reflects bad things for Ofili-Porter. What I see is not a British athlete but rather one who is in desperate need of an Olympic medal, an athlete who needs the validation to prove she is something and will do whatever it costs to get one. That means putting on a false face and fake pride and becoming a dubbed "Plastic Brit" to get one then so be it.

I think it is an absolute disgrace of a decision. It is the first home Olympics in 60 years and we put forward and American as the voice of Great Britain! It is almost as if we are saying to the world "Hey, we can not seem to produce any good athletes so here is an American girl who really just wants a medal to captain us". How do we allow and back up this decision when we have amazing athletes such as Ennis and Farah wo are dominating the Athletics world right now.

It is an incredible slap in the face to British athletes and Bath sums it all up perfectly. " Can Ofili-Porter truly look us in the eye and tell us that this is what she is?"

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This video is crazy hilarious! McIlroy swaps the green for the blue of Madison Square Gardens where he plays and wins a point against Maria Sharapova shortly after she dances with a keen fan on court. 

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Bolt will be the next to join the 'Sports Zone' at Madam Tussauds London. The Jamaicans wax figure will be revealed before the start of the games in July.

Looks like the man can stand still after all.

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Tom Daley has made his debut in Madame Tussauds in nothing but his iconic blue Adidas trunks.

The high diver who is one of the faces of London 2012 has been working with sculptors over the past 6 months to create a wax figure of himself and what a amazing job they did.

Daley can be seen suspended at a height of four meters in mid-dive from the diving board. And if that isn't cool enough you can walk right under the figure to get those angles you simply can not get when watching him in action. He joins the likes of Jessica Ennis of the newly revamped 'Sports Zone'.

Daley said, "I can't wait to see the figure and know the sculptors will have done an amazing job. I'm sure it'll be a strange feeling to see my 'twin' suspended in mid-dive - it really is an honour to be in Madame Tussauds London amongst so many sporting legends.

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Marvin Celik has been released from Rangers after failing to agree to a wage cut. This was another cut the administrators have taken in attempts to save the club.

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Wylde Leaves Rangers

And so it begins....Gregg Wylde has taken it upon himself to leave Rangers hoping his move will reduce the number of cuts made in the first team. 

http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/rangers/299909-rangers-release-gregg-wylde/?

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Administrator at Murray Park knock back players offer

There are unconfirmed reports circling Murray Park that administrators have knocked back the offer players were hoping would follow through. There is a high chance now that many first team players will be leaving Rangers and more unconfirmed reports from Sky Sports sources state that Gregg Wylde and Mervan Celik have asked to be releeased from their contract

However all these reports are unconfirmed. But after waiting since last week to hear of the official deal the administrators will strike with the players we are still all left hanging...

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It's D-Day for all at Ibrox tomorrow. Duff & Phelps told the media that all decisions regarding jobs, pay cuts etc will be made tomorrow (Friday 2nd March)

The announcement read: "Duff and Phelps, the administrators of Rangers Football Club, advise all media there will be no announcement today in relation to staffing levels in any department of the Club.

"Discussions are on-going regarding potential cost saving measures and announcements will be made at the earliest opportunity, most likely tomorrow.

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Came across this on my itunes - completely forgot all about it - such a catchy song dont'cha think guys! 

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Andy Murray ended a three match losing streak against Tomas Berdych 6-3 7-5 to secure his place in the semi finals of the Dubai Championship for the first time. The Scot will either face Novak Djokovic or Janko Tipsarevic in the next round.

There was comments made about his knee during the last sets of the game but hopefully all is fine on the fitness front.