Andy knighthood knock-back not on

ALL British tennis fans, and quite a few non-tennis aficionados as well, waited 77 years for a home winner of the men’s singles Wimbledon championship. But, according to those in charge of handing out honours, Andy Murray’s thrilling win in the summer came too soon.

Really? It seems that because he received an OBE last year, it was too soon to award him a knighthood for attaining the pinnacle of achievement in men’s tennis. Good grief. Doesn’t the fact that it was 77 years since the last men’s singles champion indicate something about just how hard it was for Mr Murray to win his title, and thus what a huge achievement it was?

Conspiracy theories that Mr Murray was absent from the New Year’s honours lists because he was a Scot, or because he sometimes comes across as a bit dour, can be discounted. This reasoning, that it was “too soon”, sounds to be the authentic voice of stuffy British establishmentarianism, obsessed with observing protocols rather than recognising popular success.

honours are awarded to sports stars because they are inspirational. Cycling’s Sir Chris hoy and Sir Bradley Wiggins have inspired a new generation of thousands of young people to get off the couch and to aim to be the best.

Mr Murray’s win, in front of tens of millions of television viewers, has done exactly the same, for thousands of racketwielding youngsters.

So why wait to honour him for that achievement? he has said himself that whatever other success he goes on to record in his career will not top the grasping of that particular sporting holy grail.

If ever there was an example of humbug, this is it.