As you agreed, there is an element of what im talking about in the Scottish Psyche, and its from the same source as your perhaps overly defensive response. We'll call it small nation with a big ugly brother syndrome - and im sure everyone will know what I mean!
I do know what you mean. I guess your comments just hit a raw nerve because they seemed so negative, and at the time I was still feeling a bit shell-shocked after Andy's abysmal performance, so the nationalistic hackles were ready to rise!
Of course its generalising and there are many strengths to the scottish psyche as well, our achievers tend to be especially talented and display a lot of guile - e.g. Andy Murray! I am a proud SNP supporting Scot and Im forever preaching our record of achievement and contributers from William Wallace to Stepehen Hendry - my girlfriend is sick of it!
Well, people don't come much more guileful than Alex "Slippery" Salmond! I too support the SNP, although I can't bring myself to go along with the independence line, but at least you're being realistic by seeing the downside of the Scottish psyche as well as its more positive attributes.
But for all those mentioned there are hundrdeds who stood on the brow of the summit of ultimate success but never ascended - Colin Montgomerie, David Coulthard and every Scottish National Team (in ANY team sport!) are the ones ive especially endured.
Surely every country must have its share of sporting nearly-men as well its heroes? I can't believe that Scotland is unique in this respect. Although why our national teams so regularly under-perform is baffling.
Whether or not its prevelant in Murray's situation I dont know but there are some recognisable traits. He is also surrounded by a recognisable media and would be fans. Youll find as many mocking and jeering him as those who are willing to get behind him. This especially mirrors my experiences with the footballl team and you won't convince me the negativity doesnt hold them back. It holds the country back imo.
Its all about what level of success Murray will achieve and its very exciting. Aside from Chris Hoy and Stephen Hendry im not sure theres been another Scot in my lifetime with as much potential for sporting greatness - but the lines are thin and theres a small risk he wont fully recover from this slump - and I need to understand that so I can manage my fragile expectations. They were damaged pretty badly by the bombshell of realisation that Scotland will never win the world cup.
From the outset I've been aware of Andy's negative traits and agree that there's a chance that he may never fully get over this slump, which would be a tragedy, but he's still very young and for the moment I have to believe that he will, although I do think some expert help is badly needed, since, unless he's an exceptional person, he's going to have an extremely difficult time if he tries to beat his demons on his own, because he'll exhaust himself physically as well as mentally in the process - and I do know what I'm talking about here. One of his traits is stubbornness, to which he has admitted, but while this is desirable up to a point in someone who is determined to succeed, if he's too stubborn to accept help, then that's not good. There's a fine line between being pig-headed and being tenacious. Finally, thank goodness I'm not a footie supporter - that must be truly discouraging.
