The Miracle of Murray: A Repost
Note: We are coming up on the anniversary of my first blog. Since Wimbledon starts on Monday, I thought it would be neat to repost my first blog about the 2013 Champ Andy Murray.
I'm not sure we understand. In fact, I am not sure we can understand.
Watching the world's greatest tennis tournament from across the pond and seeing Andy Murray win was fun. It may have even brought a tear to a few of our eyes. But we still don't get it.
How can we? We have no stick to measure it by.
Since this is my first blog, I will imagine a reader in Chicago raising their hand and saying, "Us Cub fans get it!" But they don't.
Closer still, Buffalo Bills fans from the early 90s will also claim to understand the pain, but they don't.
And just a few hours east on the 401, Leaf fans have stopped reading and decided whatever I have to say cannot be relevant any longer. But sorry budheads, you don't get it either.
Here is the why; Great Britain has been hosting Wimbledon since 1877 when Spencer Gore defeated William Marshall to take the title. (There was no ESPN footage to share, sorry.) Every year, outside of the ten cancelled due to world wars, they have hosted the tournament. Fans have come from all over to witness some of the greatest tennis ever played. Yet, no British man has hoisted the Wimbledon Cup since Fred Perry did in 1936.
We know Cub fans you have waited longer but you don't host the World Series every year. You don't have to watch someone come to your party and leave with the top prize as you think about what could have been.
The atmosphere was desperate as Murray served away three championship points yesterday. As all their residents held their collective breaths, I am sure some were considering the leap off London Bridge if he failed to close it out. But he did and it was wonderful.
And as he did, we witnessed something that I am not sure we will ever witness again. Andy Murray had his best moment ever and we got to share it with him. He will never get any higher than he did yesterday. All at once, he accomplished his greatest dream; to win the Cup for Great Britain and drown their tennis suffering once and for all and as he dead, he laid to rest many of his own demons as well.
So today I hope he is flying high. I hope he looks at the Cup and realizes what he has done. And while he is up there he can wave to his fellow Brits and maybe hand them the pitcher. I am sure there were a few justifiable pints poured last night.
Good on ya lad!
July 8th, 2013
Try watching the ESPN Andy Murray/Dunblane Story by Tom Rinaldi and then rewatching the final point without getting a lump in your throat! I couldn't.
Dunblane
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQe8JUJNTvE
Final Point
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lww-hJ4LdTo
