Hero Rob has heart of a giant
IF there has been a more moving, inspirational, uplifting and upsetting documentary this year, I have not seen it.
Rob Burrow: My Year With MND was a heartbreaking yet life-affirming short film that told a wider public what everyone who has followed rugby league for the past couple of decades already knew.
Burrow (above) is as spirited, as brave, as compassionate, as tough as they come. For his services to the sport and to Leeds Rhinos he should have been honoured a long time ago.
Now, if you believe in the system, Burrow should get all the recognition possible for his work on behalf of the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Just as Doddie Weir is, just as Stephen Darby is, Burrow is fighting the cruel disease and raising awareness and research funds, but would not want to be saluted for it.
After the programme was aired on the BBC, Burrow thanked people for their messages on social media and added: “I only hope we don’t lose sight of one thing – there are people out there suffering from MND with no help. I love you all. #hope.”
A beloved husband, a father of three young children, but not feeling sorry for himself. Only concerned with others.
A rugby league player who was small in stature, huge in heart. Now struck down wickedly by this debilitating illness, yet still a giant.
#hope, indeed.
ANDY MURRAY and Rafael Nadal have been playing tennis against each for two decades.
They were at the same academy in Barcelona as teenagers.
Their careers have been inextricably linked.
Last Sunday, Nadal, 34, gave one of his finest performances to beat Novak Djokovic in the French Open final and collect his 20th Grand Slam title.
A couple of days later, 33-year-old Murray was knocked out of the bett1HULKS Indoors event in Cologne by Fernando Verdasco – three years his senior, ranked 61st in the world and with a 4-13 losing record against the Scot going into the tournament.
Murray has earned the right to wind down in the way that makes him happiest. But a struggling end to a wonderful career is still sad to see.