[starrieyed]

I wrote this last year

IT'S BEEN A BLOODY GREAT RIDE  (Andy's song)

I'm a big Andy Murray fan. Coming from Scotland we don't get too much to cheer about in the sporting world. Andy has play in the golden age of tennis amongst the best players who have ever graced the courts.  Andy has beaten these great players to win Grand Slams and Olympic titles and even reached the heights of being number one in the world. Now he is injured there is doubts he will come back as strong as he was. It has been a great ten or so years.  It's been a bloody great ride.

IT'S BEEN A BLOODY GREAT RIDE  (Song forAndy)

There at the beginning
all through the years
saw it all happen
there with the cheers

all the anticipation
all the build ups
the failure, the misses
the nearlys, the cups

I will tell you this
I will tell you for nothing
it's been a bloody great ride

would it ever happen
too reach the top
playing the best
playing till you drop

it's one point to go
keep your calm
taken Djkovich out
you've got the slam

I will tell you this
I will tell you for nothing
it's been a bloody great ride

time has now come
reaching the end
same for us all
I've lost a friend

it won't be the same
the buzz is gone
boring old nothing
just one big yawn

I will tell you this
I will tell you for nothing
it's been a bloody great ride

[starrieyed]

and this one


FIRE IN HIS EYES

I have been a follower of Andy Murray since I first saw him as an 18 year old playing in Queens London. Since I retired in 2009 I have probably only missed a very few of his matches. I always find a way to stream if they are not televised.

He recently won a final in Shanghai and the Spaniard he beat in that final said  'I could see the fire in his eyes'.  Andy was closing in on being number one in the world. The next week he made it. I liked the line and here is my tribute to Andy's determination.

FIRE IN HIS EYES  (To Andy Murray)

You can see the fire
the fire in his eyes
you can see the fire in his eyes
nothing is going to stop him now
he's going all the way

this time he's going to make it
this time he'll see it through

you can see the fire in his eyes

He's tasted bitter loss before
never has he crossed that line
he'll do it for the folks back home
they've suffered far too long for this

you can see the fire in his eyes
soon he will touch the sun
higher than he's ever been
he waited all his life for this
it's taken all his hopes and dreams
you can see the fire in his eyes

This time he will make it
this time he will make it through
you can see the fire
the fire in his eyes
you can see the fire in his eyes

this time he's going to make it
this time he'll see it through
he's given everything he's got
everything and more

Andy Murray is number 1
he gave us all his heart

[althusser]

My thoughts:

Andy - transition will be hard but he's sacrificed a lot to this point for his career. Still young so now can enjoy more from wider life, including family time

Fans - tough moments and the watching of  any tennis will probably be tinged with melacholia for a number of years now. But it's all been worth it, what a ride.

Tennis - not sure we'll see anything like the 'big four' again in terms of public profile, especially since tennis now competes with innumerable other things for our attention.

Finally though, if ever a guy proved the naysayers wrong it was Andy.

[Murray Magic]

It#s been a pleasure to watch a young guy fight to achieve his dreams - he fought against adversity, he fought the biased media and won the majority of folks over.  His talent is sublime, his work ethic unquestionable and his desire and passion undeniable.   I remember the early days on here when so many doubted him and will never forget him lifting that Wimbledon trophy.
His achievements will never be repeated in my lifetime so I feel honoured to have been able to see his career unfold.  I feel privileged to have seen him play at the Braehead Arena and see his talent up close.
He is way more than a tennis player, he is an all round good guy that never forgot his roots and he has made Scotland so, so very proud that he is one of us.
Andy Murray - absolute legend thank you so much for the wonderful memories.  Time for him to take a step away then come back and find and develop "the next Andy Murray".

[blueberryhill]

My thoughts:

Andy - transition will be hard but he's sacrificed a lot to this point for his career. Still young so now can enjoy more from wider life, including family time

Billie Jean has suggested that the best may yet be to come in terms of him being inspirational  for the future generations and an ambassador for the sport .
Haven't got the exact quote.

[laundry]

All this time I wasn't believing it was the end but I think I always knew deep down that it was.

I haven't really watched any tennis since the 2017 AO. I think tennis has retired for me too now that Andy is stopping, I don't think I'll even watch Wimbledon any more. I didn't really follow tennis properly before Andy and I just can't see myself following it after as it will never be as good or meaningful. I'm pretty much the same age as Andy, started following him right near the beginning of his career - it's always been about his journey and I've felt a part of it.

It's quite amazing that the other big 4 look to have outlasted him (especially Federer) given he started competing last, of course but that's just the way sport is. He could have achieved so much more if he never had these problems with his back but there's no point in thinking about it like that.

I think this press conference will be very disheartening for Novak, Rafa and Roger. I wouldn't be surprised if all 4 of them end up retiring around the same time in the next 2 years.

In my eyes 2016 was Andy's last season and his best, ending on a high and just reaching World #1 in a climactic finish at his 1st WTFs win. He managed it just in time and pushed through the pain just long enough for the accolade before his body finally gave up on him.

He's achieved pretty much everything a player can set out to hope for and has been one of the cogs in the best era tennis may ever see.

What a player Andy has been, what a clutcher and a fighter and such an incredible talent. He will always be much higher up in my eyes than the record books dictate. He should rightfully go down as this country's greatest ever sportsman.

[janscribe]

I had hoped this wasn’t going to happen but felt it had to be the outcome after his hip operation. I really hope he finds a place at the top of the tennis  scene to help up and coming young tennis players. I, too, have been a fan for many years and wish him the very best for the future. ‘Andy, we love you for the super man you are as well as the exceptional tennis player, please allow us news of yourself and your family from time to time, we will always be fans. Hope the pain ends soon and a bright and fulfilling future emerges from the tears.’

 

[waverlybear]

I thought this was a lovely message  on Facebook from Nick Kyrgios.

https://www.facebook.com/443073005710937/posts/2268538169831069/