Give Andy Murray a knighthood...

F

forthegame

Hall of Fame
I've been away from TTW for almost a year, Andy's performance enough to bring me out of hibernation!

He deserves a knighthood for giving the UK its first Davis Cup title in generations.

The entire team deserves plaudits but Andy Murray's contribution all the way through was just phenomenal!

Arise, Sir Andy!
 
xFedal

xFedal

Legend
forthegame said:
I've been away from TTW for almost a year, Andy's performance enough to bring me out of hibernation!

He deserves a knighthood for giving the UK its first Davis Cup title in generations.

The entire team deserves plaudits but Andy Murray's contribution all the way through was just phenomenal!

Arise, Sir Andy!
Click to expand...
Why din't he get knighthood when he won Wimbledon? Disgusting even after winning Olympic Gold, Wimbledon after 77 years and Davis cup after 80 YEARS he still din't get Knighthood. Government forgot to honour this great son of their soil.
 
Mainad

Mainad

Bionic Poster
xFedal said:
Why din't he get knighthood when he won Wimbledon? Disgusting even after winning Olympic Gold, Wimbledon after 77 years and Davis cup after 80 YEARS he still din't get Knighthood. Government forgot to honour this great son of their soil.
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He received the OBE (Order of the British Empire) medal for winning the Olympic gold. After he won Wimbledon the following year, the British Prime Minister, David Cameron did propose that he be given a knighthood but the Honours Committee (which makes the final decision in these matters) decided against it as he had only just been given the OBE. As I just said, it's probably best if they wait until he retires anyway.
 
sbengte

sbengte

G.O.A.T.
Mainad said:
Agreed. To be honest, it would be a bit of a millstone round his neck if he got it now. He would be teased mercilessly by the rest of the tour if he were to become 'Sir Andy'. He'll get it in due course when he retires.
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He, he. I am trying to imagine what the umpires will refer to him as .

'Game Sir Andy Murray'.
'Sir Andy Murray would like to challenge the call, the ball was called out'.
 
Levi_Ackerman

Levi_Ackerman

Legend
He might turn it down. Andy strikes me as a down-to-earth type. He might not want to be a "Sir".

Also why has OP written "Give Andy Murray a knighthood...." as if to say anyone here on TTW has a say on the decision. Lol.
 
Minion

Minion

Hall of Fame
I'm a Murray fan, and although his results can be a bit disappointing at times, he made his mark in history. He will never win the amount of slams like Djokovic etc..hell, he might not win another slam (hope he does though), but winning Olympic Gold, Wimbledon and Davis Cup, and more importantly - what these titles meant under the circumstances - is pretty damn special.
 
O

Oakel

Semi-Pro
xFedal said:
Why din't he get knighthood when he won Wimbledon? Disgusting even after winning Olympic Gold, Wimbledon after 77 years and Davis cup after 80 YEARS he still din't get Knighthood. Government forgot to honour this great son of their soil.
Click to expand...
Knighthood is granted by the crown, it is a title of great honour there are far more people in the UK that deserve that title over a sportsman even one as good as Andy.
 
MonkeyBoy

MonkeyBoy

Hall of Fame
Oakel said:
Knighthood is granted by the crown, it is a title of great honour there are far more people in the UK that deserve that title over a sportsman even one as good as Andy.
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Mick Jagger was knighted for freaks sake. Make a lot of money for the country = get knighted.
 
Achilles82

Achilles82

Professional
forthegame said:
I've been away from TTW for almost a year, Andy's performance enough to bring me out of hibernation!

He deserves a knighthood for giving the UK its first Davis Cup title in generations.

The entire team deserves plaudits but Andy Murray's contribution all the way through was just phenomenal!

Arise, Sir Andy!
Click to expand...

Of course he should. He won wimbledon, olympics, and davis cup. He is the greatest british tennis player in last 50 years.
 
PDJ

PDJ

G.O.A.T.
I can actually speak from experience from a job I once had- what has Andy Murray actually done in charitable endeavors and work outside playing tennis? This will play a large part in being recognised with a KBE whilst still playing.

The two high profile sports people I can think of immediately that have been recognised with KBE and DBE also worked considerably behind the scenes with numerous charities and promoting sport on a global scale (and grass roots) - Beckham and Holmes.

This is not to say that Murray is not deserving I'm just not aware of what's he's done outside of playing tennis - he may well have done and the Cabinet Office are aware of it.

If you feel strongly enough:

this HTML class. Value is https://www.gov.uk/g
 
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PDJ

PDJ

G.O.A.T.
Mainad said:
He received the OBE (Order of the British Empire) medal for winning the Olympic gold. After he won Wimbledon the following year, the British Prime Minister, David Cameron did propose that he be given a knighthood but the Honours Committee (which makes the final decision in these matters) decided against it as he had only just been given the OBE. As I just said, it's probably best if they wait until he retires anyway.
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There used to be a four, or five year rule, between honours. The rule of thumb was that you receive the highest honour (especially sportsmen) once it's assumed you have achieved all that you can. Not always the case, but more often than not.
The Millennium Honours, we're used in part, to recognise those that had not been honoured previously or 'promoted' to a level more fitting to their achievements eg Dusty Springfield received an OBE. Henry Cooper and Stirling Moss, both formerly OBE received KBEs.
 
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T

tennisfan2015

Hall of Fame
xFedal said:
Why din't he get knighthood when he won Wimbledon? Disgusting even after winning Olympic Gold, Wimbledon after 77 years and Davis cup after 80 YEARS he still din't get Knighthood. Government forgot to honour this great son of their soil.
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Prince Charles would surely observe that it must be due to the climate change and global warming issues :)
 
PDJ

PDJ

G.O.A.T.
Levi_Ackerman said:
He might turn it down. Andy strikes me as a down-to-earth type. He might not want to be a "Sir".

Also why has OP written "Give Andy Murray a knighthood...." as if to say anyone here on TTW has a say on the decision. Lol.
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Actually every single person on here can nominate him, regardless of nationality.
or someone can start a petition on the Downing Street website.
it's not that difficult a process.
likewise, you can form a petition stating you are opposed to him receiving a Knighthood or write to the Nominations Unit with a similar view.
The result will be decided by others.

I suspect a knighthood will be controversial either way. There is a greater public than just those who have interest in tennis.
 
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T

Tennis_Hands

Banned
PDJ said:
Actually every single person on here can nominate him, regardless of nationality.
or someone can start a petition on the Downing Street website.
it's not that difficult a process.
likewise, you can form a petition stating you are opposed to him receiving a Knighthood or write to the Nominations Unit with a similar view.
The result will be decided by others.

I suspect a knighthood will be controversial either way. There is a greater public than just those who have interest in tennis.
Click to expand...

You have opened Pandora's box.

Suddenly all posters that hate the Scot will feel that they have power over his future.

Not good. Not good at all.

:cool:

P.S. Why isn't there procedure voiding anyone's right to play tennis, if they play ugly and unsportsmanlike? :(
 
mavsman149

mavsman149

Hall of Fame
I have to agree with @Mainad, surely he will receive that honor after he has retired. He has done so much for British tennis, ended the LONG streak at Wimbledon, Gold medal at the Olympics in London no less, and now he has put the British team on his back and carried them to victory in international competition. If actors and musicians deserve knighthood, surely Andy has done more than enough representing Great Britain in sport.
 
O

OhYes

Guest
He was so much dragged through mud and ridiculed by British press, but he could come out as knight when his tennis is done. Interesting.
 
S

*Sparkle*

Professional
PDJ said:
I can actually speak from experience from a job I once had- what has Andy Murray actually done in charitable endeavors and work outside playing tennis? This will play a large part in being recognised with a KBE whilst still playing.

The two high profile sports people I can think of immediately that have been recognised with KBE and DBE also worked considerably behind the scenes with numerous charities and promoting sport on a global scale (and grass roots) - Beckham and Holmes.

This is not to say that Murray is not deserving I'm just not aware of what's he's done outside of playing tennis - he may well have done and the Cabinet Office are aware of it.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what kind of job you had linked to the honours system, but Beckham has not got a KBE. He's got an OBE, same as Murray currently has. It's also what Henman has, but he got his after he retired. The system is supposed to be cummulative, and reflect achievement/contribution over time - and it's for all sorts. There is a committee that specifically considers sports stars, but another for the arts, and one for scientists, one for business etc. There is a whole separate system for the military.

IMO, no active athlete should get an KBE or DBE, plus Andy is far too young. As funny as it would be for the umpire to have to refer to Andy as Sir Andy, it is unworkable, and he'd not be able to enjoy it.

Traditionally, there is an expectation of waiting five years between honours, but I think a case could be made for Andy to get the CBE (the order is MBE, OBE, CBE, KBE) in the next list. IMO, Leon should get something for everything he's done over past five years, and Jamie could get something for Davis Cup this year, as well as the two slam finals and his mixed-doubles Wimbledon win. Simply being on the winning Davis Cup team shouldn't be enough, but it gets complicated with team sports. All athletes who won gold at London 2012 were automatically awarded an MBE as a minimum, but everyone in a rowing crew rows the same distance, so I'm not sure that's the same thing.
 
Sir Percival Blakeney

Sir Percival Blakeney

Professional
I wouldn't get carried away, although trying to figure out how they actually award knighthood when it comes to sportspersons is a futile effort (even age/retirement does not have to be an issue, as exemplified by Bradley Wiggins).
 
A

ABCD

Hall of Fame
Sir Percival Blakeney said:
I wouldn't get carried away, although trying to figure out how they actually award knighthood when it comes to sportspersons is a futile effort (even age/retirement does not have to be an issue, as exemplified by Bradley Wiggins).
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I know the process well. He should be recommended by appropriate structures and they will speak with him whether he would like to get it (he has to promise that he is not going to publicly decline the offer). In his case, it is done deal (it was after W2013), the issue is just whether he wants it. There are some people who rejected it for political reasons (republicans, separatists etc.). Some people reject at one point to accept it at another.
 
S

*Sparkle*

Professional
Sir Percival Blakeney said:
I wouldn't get carried away, although trying to figure out how they actually award knighthood when it comes to sportspersons is a futile effort (even age/retirement does not have to be an issue, as exemplified by Bradley Wiggins).
Click to expand...

The Wiggins award has been heavily criticised. Not because he's not achieved enough, but because he's still racing. The problem was that they'd already given him the CBE before he won another gold and the TFD, so they had no-where to go. They'd already already given one to Hoy after he won a similar number of golds, and presumably when they expected he was about to retire. The other big difference is that they were both well into their thirties when they got theirs.

There are rumours that Beckham has turned down a CBE because he thinks that would put a delay on getting a KBE, as you traditionally have to wait five years minimum between awards, especially the KBE. Yet you can go straight from OBE, or even MBE to KBE if everyone agrees.

In the case of tennis, you'd expect the LTA to put forward nominations for players they think deserve something, but it would be up to a supposedly independent committee to decide. The cyclists have got loads of gongs lately, so they obviously have a good team who are keen at pushing them as part of their general cycling marketing strategy.

You notice Andy refer to people like Hoy as "Sir Chris", or "Sir Alex Ferguson", so I'm sure he's happy with the general concept, especially if it was good for the profile of tennis, but I bet he'd hate the fuss while still playing.
 
Chicharito

Chicharito

Hall of Fame
Murray advocated the break up of the UK and actively tried to use his influence to ensure it.

The Queen would be horrified!
 
A

ABCD

Hall of Fame
Chicharito said:
Murray advocated the break up of the UK and actively tried to use his influence to ensure it.

The Queen would be horrified!
Click to expand...
He didn't. He set on the fence until the last day when he supported independence. I have to emphasise that in Scotland there is much less tension between people who want independence from those who don't want it when compared to some other places where this issue is viewed as a matter of life and death.
 
PDJ

PDJ

G.O.A.T.
*Sparkle* said:
I'm not sure what kind of job you had linked to the honours system, but Beckham has not got a KBE. He's got an OBE, same as Murray currently has. It's also what Henman has, but he got his after he retired. The system is supposed to be cummulative, and reflect achievement/contribution over time - and it's for all sorts. There is a committee that specifically considers sports stars, but another for the arts, and one for scientists, one for business etc. There is a whole separate system for the military.

IMO, no active athlete should get an KBE or DBE, plus Andy is far too young. As funny as it would be for the umpire to have to refer to Andy as Sir Andy, it is unworkable, and he'd not be able to enjoy it.

Traditionally, there is an expectation of waiting five years between honours, but I think a case could be made for Andy to get the CBE (the order is MBE, OBE, CBE, KBE) in the next list. IMO, Leon should get something for everything he's done over past five years, and Jamie could get something for Davis Cup this year, as well as the two slam finals and his mixed-doubles Wimbledon win. Simply being on the winning Davis Cup team shouldn't be enough, but it gets complicated with team sports. All athletes who won gold at London 2012 were automatically awarded an MBE as a minimum, but everyone in a rowing crew rows the same distance, so I'm not sure that's the same thing.
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Apologies - I thought he did have a KBE. I'd read about him receiving a knighthood and assumed it was in the Birthday Honours List, but now see it was speculation for this New Year- which appears to be controversial. So I was wrong, sorry
I was formerly the Honours Secretary for DCMS and can recall certain sports stars getting honours being greeted with outrage by some members of the public.
I'm more than familiar with the system and it's rarely straight forward.
 
L

Latetothegame

Semi-Pro
PDJ said:
I can actually speak from experience from a job I once had- what has Andy Murray actually done in charitable endeavors and work outside playing tennis? This will play a large part in being recognised with a KBE whilst still playing.

The two high profile sports people I can think of immediately that have been recognised with KBE and DBE also worked considerably behind the scenes with numerous charities and promoting sport on a global scale (and grass roots) - Beckham and Holmes.

This is not to say that Murray is not deserving I'm just not aware of what's he's done outside of playing tennis - he may well have done and the Cabinet Office are aware of it.

If you feel strongly enough:

this HTML class. Value is https://www.gov.uk/g
Click to expand...
He does his bit for charity and was awarded in 2014
http://www.andymurray.com/news/andy-awarded-arthur-ashe-humanitarian-award-by-the-atp/
The rumour is he gave his winnings from queens and a percentage from Wimbledon to the Royal marsden hospital, I do agree with others that if a knighthood is to be given it should be after he stops playing but I am confident that he will want to give back to the sport and continue raising awareness for charities he feels strongly about.
 
PDJ

PDJ

G.O.A.T.
A
ABCD said:
He didn't. He set on the fence until the last day when he supported independence. I have to emphasise that in Scotland there is much less tension between people who want independence from those who don't want it when compared to some other places where this issue is viewed as a matter of life and death.
Click to expand...
But this is also possibly a reason why some of the British public would not support a Knighthood.
The fact he was not entitled to vote won't have helped.
When I thought inadvertently that Beckham already had a KBE and Google to find I was incorrect, it lead to many articles of people saying they thought he shouldn't. Be interesting to see if he still will - although as a poster commented if it's already been offered, it's a 99% done deal.
 
A

ABCD

Hall of Fame
PDJ said:
A

But this is also possibly a reason why some of the British public would not support a Knighthood.
The fact he was not entitled to vote won't have helped.
When I thought inadvertently that Beckham already had a KBE and Google to find I was incorrect, it lead to many articles of people saying they thought he shouldn't. Be interesting to see if he still will - although as a poster commented if it's already been offered, it's a 99% done deal.
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You obviously know this better than me, but Sir Sean Connery was/is a stern supporter of independence and when he accepted knighthood it was the end of him as Champion of Independence in Scotland. Andy was much less that Sean in independence camp and knighthood would be probably quite acceptable for all interested parties, particularly after this DC win.
 
PDJ

PDJ

G.O.A.T.
ABCD said:
You obviously know this better than me, but Sir Sean Connery was/is a stern supporter of independence and when he accepted knighthood it was the end of him as Champion of Independence in Scotland. Andy was much less that Sean in independence camp and knighthood would be probably quite acceptable for all interested parties, particularly after this DC win.
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From memory - obviously not cmpletely reliable- but I think Connery got his K in the Millennium List - a list I worked on.
I saw him many many MANY times subsequently in the House of Commons with Alex Salmon after I'd changed jobs and worked for various Cabinet Ministers.
 
L

Latetothegame

Semi-Pro
PDJ said:
A

But this is also possibly a reason why some of the British public would not support a Knighthood.
The fact he was not entitled to vote won't have helped.
When I thought inadvertently that Beckham already had a KBE and Google to find I was incorrect, it lead to many articles of people saying they thought he shouldn't. Be interesting to see if he still will - although as a poster commented if it's already been offered, it's a 99% done deal.
Click to expand...
You have to be careful what you read on the Internet, and comments on these articles it does not reflect the true feelings of the public just keyboard warriors, If Andy was awarded a knighthood( in later years) you will not see the British public object, and at this point Scotland is still part of that.
 
PDJ

PDJ

G.O.A.T.
Latetothegame said:
You have to be careful what you read on the Internet, and comments on these articles it does not reflect the true feelings of the public just keyboard warriors, If Andy was awarded a knighthood( in later years) you will not see the British public object, and at this point Scotland is still part of that.
Click to expand...
I'd be very surprised if there are not some voices of dissent to Murray getting a K. Very surprised.
 
S

*Sparkle*

Professional
PDJ said:
I'd be very surprised if there are not some voices of dissent to Murray getting a K. Very surprised.
Click to expand...

There are always people complaining about every award. I can't think of a single famous person being awarded a gong without a good chunk of whiners having a moan. Some people just like a moan, but those people are not worth worrying about, so don't stress.

Murray has already done more than many with a KBE, and so long as they wait until he's retired, and he's not been caught up in any (genuine) scandal, it will be one of the quickest meetings they have. Politicians from across the spectrum are falling over themselves to congratulate him, and the royals love to be seen at his matches.

Besides, a mere Knighthood is boring. Cannonization is the current expectation of the Scottish press! ;)

CVAquZIWIAAsRFa.jpg
 
O

oneness

Professional
Couldn't care less about knighthood. So very happy that he won the Davis cup, the guy runs his own race. Love his attitude.
 
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