Rooney is nothing compared to Murray

ANDY MURRAY is arguably the finest British sportsperson ever. But Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney wants more respect.

Let that sink in for a moment.

Now before the hordes of Surrey-based acne-covered Manchester United youths clog social media with bile in support of dear Wayne, he got a lot right and a lot wrong in his post-match rant on Saturday.

He was right when saying what has been going on has been “disgraceful”.

His ‘crime’ was being soppy enough to be photographed three sheets to the wind. The reaction was over the top; from some aspects of the media, yes, but also from football officials.

The Daily Express published a piece defending him, so his generalisation of the media “writing my obituary” is equally over the top.

Failure to prove to club and national managers that you are worthy of a place in the starting XI is akin to writing that “obituary”. That is not the fault of the media.

But where he went more wrong was the classic ego-fuelled, don’t-you-know-who-I-am comment: “It shows a lack of respect.”

Pardon me? A blue-blood now are we? A higher specimen of the human race, perhaps? Sorry Wayne, no. No lack of respect. Each time anyone on the face of the planet – bluebloods included – says they are being shown a lack of respect it should be a green light for showing them no respect whatsoever.

But it is not just Wayne Rooney’s rant. This comparison applies to the sorry state of England’s ‘finest’. The preening. The excuses for failure. The disrespect shown to their own sport while expecting bucket loads in return.

Contrast all this with the king of British sport. The man who does deserve respect but has never asked for it. Andy Murray.

Remember the time he put bad performances down to being tired, despite travelling all around the world playing tournaments? No? Me neither.

Remember the time he took a 220-mile round trip between Grand Slam matches to visit a strip club? No? Me neither.

But surely you remember the time during one of his many defeats by former world No1s Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal that he spat obscenities into the TV cameras berating fans? Can’t recall it you say? Me neither. Because he didn’t. Win or lose, struggle or succeed, criticised by fans and media, or praised, Andy Murray conducted himself quite brilliantly. And it is a crying shame that only now has he begun to receive the acclaim he so richly deserves.

That tiresome gag about being Scottish when he loses and British when he wins still, even now, gets used in some circles. But here is a man who deserves better than that. Much better.

Here is a man who recognised his weak point and revitalised himself as a stronger athlete, in an incomparable era of his chosen sport, to become the world’s best. At almost 30 years of age.

Here is a man who treats his sport with the utmost respect in his unwavering quest to excel.

Here is a man who, without any shadow of doubt, deserves our respect.

For all that the furore over Wayne Rooney was over the top, his demand for respect was simply laughable. – Express Newspapers