Raised and Confused
There seems to have been a lot of confusion and bad blood stirred up by the strange sight of Alex Salmond attempting to raise the Scottish saltire behind David Cameron’s beetroot little head in the posh seats of Centre Court after Andy Murray’s victory in the men’s final at Wimbledon (I’ll never tire of saying that).
When I mentioned that I thought it was “cheeky” I was immediately lambasted by nationalists (presumably) who asserted that there is nothing mischievous about a national leader holding the national flag in celebration of one of the nation’s sons’ successes. I understand their point but I feel the need to explore this a little further.
Was Salmond’s act akin to, say, the South African premier waving a national flag after seeing a fellow countrywoman winning an Olympic gold medal? Or Angela Merkel holding a little German flag on a stick after her country’s football team have won a European championship? Well, no. Let’s put aside the question of whether such things would ever happen. Let’s put aside concepts of the dignity of office and protocol; I’m no great respecter of either. The subtle distinction here is that Salmond, the leader of a regional parliament that operates within a larger sovereign entity, is campaigning to secede from the very political union represented and supported by the pillock in front of him. These two leaders, one national and one regional, are diametrically opposed on the future constitutional relationship between that region and the larger polity. I am willing to forego any consideration of the efficacy, advisability or integrity of Salmond’s action. I’ll let others argue over whether it was an embarrassing display of political immaturity or the advertising coup of the summer. I’ll ignore contentions that it smacked of vulgar opportunism or was a bold expression of national pride. But please, please – whichever angle you take on the independence issue – don’t tell me that rolling up a sizeable Scottish flag and secreting it in your bag to hoist behind the British Tory prime minister’s head after a Scot triumphs in that bastion of conservative Englishness, the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club – isn’t “cheeky”.
The much bigger question is: would he have done it if Murray had lost?
Isn’t he a marvellous tennis player, seems a nice chap too.
Politics! Schmolitics! Andy Murray should be Prime Minister.
Andy Murray – British when he wins, Scottish when he loses. As an Englishman with Irish and Scottish roots, I shake my head with nationalism whether it is celebrated or denied. We’ve ceased to be tribal, yet we cling on the symbols that define our tribal ancestry. We support our football teams now, not as part of geographical tribal instinct, and more by ‘wow they won, they must be good’ bandwagon-ing. Yes Alex raise that flag but also acknowledge that there is really only one tribe – the human race.
If you weren’t so lovable JC I’d give you a right royal flogging. You wanna know why? I’ve got 3 words to say to you: HERE’S MY WILLIE!!!!!!! My God I saw the clip this morning and now it is permanently etched in my brain, if that was the intended effect then I give you an A+ because you definately succeeded. I wonder what Shakespeare would think think of it? I must say though I got a little excited when I saw the title but then was bitterly disappointed, you should never get a girl’s hope up like that! As for the other clip I’m lost for words except it was a nice shirt you were wearing. Where was poor little Abdul when you were doing this? I bet she was outside enjoying the sunshine with her paws in her ears in the foetal position saying ‘Please take my crazy daddy away’! Apart from all that though you look and sound great. Maybe you should come up with a little ditty about Andy’s win. I bet you were clutching that statue of the other JC or on your knees kneeling before the other JC while watching the match but I do have to wonder why an athiest would have such a thing like that in one’s house? I noticed too that you have your fan in the room, it must be a very hot summer. Oh no here it comes again, HERE’S MY WILLIE… It’s like a car crash, you know you shouldn’t look but you do. Damn you Justin, but I still luv ya! xx
Looking back on the first rally of the match at 20-odd strokes, you knew it was going to be a brutal examination of the two best players in the world
Tennis is gladiatorial, it tests one mans heart, lungs, head and body against another. He’s trying to do to you what you want to do to him, but harder faster and more fatally.
You can have the most beautiful shots in the world, massive, and powerful (See Verdasco’s forehand) but if you don’t concentrate, if you cant last four hours, if you are not lightening quick it means nothing.
This is the golden age. The 6foot10 monoliths are banging at the gates, and it no matter how much we rage agaist the machine it will never be the same again. Savour it, drink it in. You don’t know what you’ve got until its gone.
Andy Murray is a National Treasure. It doesn’t matter if you live in Livingston, Leeds, Llanelli, or Limerick, but here’s the thing it doesn’t even matter if you’re from La Paz or Lisbon. This is a global game.
So enjoy it for what it is.
Oh you asked about the politics
Cuntish behaviour is just cuntish behaviour Mr Salmond, and so your attempts to appropriate the beauty and majesty of the triumph mark you out for what you are, and if that’s a sad, insular individual. I cant help you Mr Salmond, god I cant even care about your pathetic attempts at manipulation sad as they should be. Sport like music should bring us together, you tried to make them work against those nobleallegiances, how petty. How small. What Pseodo-ignominious behaviour
Glad you enjoyed the match Justin, I was rooted to every point. I love to see excellence whether its your beautiful music, or Murray sprinting this way and that in the teeth of Djokovic’s relentless onslaught, and still having the poise, the balance, the grace, and guile to feather a drop shot over the net.
The whole world is smiling.
I forgot to say that there is an even bigger question that needs to be asked-how much have you had to drink since he won? I tell you what that Tomintoul whiskey sounds like a nice drop. Could use some right now with the cold winter nights we are having.
In Australia? You don’t know cold. Try Canada’s winter! Then you will know ‘cold’
I’d say he wouldn’t have. Congratulations to Andy Murray. He won the US Open now Wimbledon let’s hope he goes for the trifecta by winning the Australian Open next January, he was runner up this year. You should cross your balls more often Justin, hope there is no long term damage to them!