Hitting Back.

Count Zero · Tennis legend

RE: Hitting Back.

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

An extract from Jonathan Overand's blog from Paris:

* A few extracts from Andy Murrays autobiography started seeping through during the day. Murray is said to be critical of fellow British players who, amongst other things, dont want to practice much at the weekend at the gleaming National Tennis Centre in Roehampton. LTA office workers reacted with surprise: Im here more than Andy Murray at weekends said one.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Ratty wrote:

Surely you're all not so naive that you think that Andy Murray (that legendary man of letters) actually "wrote" the book?

No, I took it for granted that it was "ghosted", though whether the ghost writer is credited with his (her?) contribution will be for those who shell out the £18.99 cover price (

) or who stumble across it when they're browsing in the better-stocked bookshops to discover! Wonder if he'll turn up for a signing session at Waterstone's in Leadenhall Market between now & the end of Wimbledon... idea

Salmon · Tennis legend

I don't see a problem with a 21 year old writing a book. Surely 21 years of memories is enough to fill a few hundred pages? It's about how well a book is written, not about what the author (or alleged author) has done in life.

I think I'll buy it when they release the softcover (if it comes here, that is - not a fan of buying things online).

Ratty · County player

This is how these things work.

1. Murray's agent and a publisher see money-making opportunity, and sign a deal.

2. Publisher hands over cash (I'd guess £250,000 for this one).

3. Ghost writer interviews Murray for 3-4 hours over a couple of days. It has been agreed that Dunblane is on the agenda.

4. Ghost writer writes book. Like TV reality shows, controversy (slagging off LTA and other Brit players) is "bigged up" to increase publicity and sales.

5. Publication 3 weeks before Wimbledon is no accident - just as 90% of cookery and other "gift" type books are published in November.

Just like all sports players' biographies (with a few honourable exceptions), it will be utter crap - a book for people who don't like reading.

gjr · Club Coach

Ratty wrote:

This is how these things work.

1. Murray's agent and a publisher see money-making opportunity, and sign a deal.

2. Publisher hands over cash (I'd guess £250,000 for this one).

3. Ghost writer interviews Murray for 3-4 hours over a couple of days. It has been agreed that Dunblane is on the agenda.

4. Ghost writer writes book. Like TV reality shows, controversy (slagging off LTA and other Brit players) is "bigged up" to increase publicity and sales.

5. Publication 3 weeks before Wimbledon is no accident - just as 90% of cookery and other "gift" type books are published in November.

Just like all sports players' biographies (with a few honourable exceptions), it will be utter crap - a book for people who don't like reading.

Sadly that about sums it up.

The same with all the footy 'biogs' after the World cup. Never bought or read a biography in my life. Sadly some people will buy this one and others of the same ilk.

helki · Futures qualifying

You can buy it for half the price at Waterstone's, or so I've read. wink

Shan't be buying it.

Drew · Jun 7, 2008

I read bios / auto-bios of people who have lived and achieved.

As I have said before I will wait until Murray is late 30's and retired before I read anything of his.

Im a great fan of Andy but he is poorly advised at times.

If anyone wants to be inspired by a fairly normal bloke who did some fairly incredible things then can I suggest you read 'Rocket Man'. The life story of Pete Conrad.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

From Matt Dickinson, Chief Sports Correspondent of The Times, in today's edition:

Getting a better read on Murray

To save you the time, energy and expense, I skim-read Andy Murray's (first) autobiography at the weekend. As premature memoirs go, it may just have set a British record, usurping Wayne Rooney's My Story So Far, aged $½. It says everything about the book's shortcoming when the opening chapter tells how Murray once lost a five-set match to David Nalbandian at Wimbledon. Three years ago. In the third round. It would have been a lot better had Murray waited until he had won something - anything - before going into print. But if there is good news it is that the book does give you hope that a great triumph will come.

The voice is of someone intelligent, creative, ambitious and fiercely determined, not least when he explains why he missed a Davis Cup tie in Argentina in February, to the wrath of team-mates and commentators. Faced with a choice between pleasing everyone else or protecting his health and career, Murray chose himself, even though his entourage repeatedly gave warning of "repercussions". To hell with what everyone thinks, he concluded. I found myself admiring his single-mindedness rather than dismissing him as a stroppy brat.

* That second sentence had me !

Drew: who the hell's Pete Conrad?

-- Edited by Stircrazy at 15:15, 2008-06-10

Drew · Jun 11, 2008

Stircrazy wrote:
From Matt Dickinson, Chief Sports Correspondent of The Times, in today's edition:

Getting a better read on Murray
To save you the time, energy and expense, I skim-read Andy Murray's (first) autobiography at the weekend. As premature memoirs go, it may just have set a British record, usurping Wayne Rooney's My Story So Far, aged $½. It says everything about the book's shortcoming when the opening chapter tells how Murray once lost a five-set match to David Nalbandian at Wimbledon. Three years ago. In the third round. It would have been a lot better had Murray waited until he had won something - anything - before going into print. But if there is good news it is that the book does give you hope that a great triumph will come.
The voice is of someone intelligent, creative, ambitious and fiercely determined, not least when he explains why he missed a Davis Cup tie in Argentina in February, to the wrath of team-mates and commentators. Faced with a choice between pleasing everyone else or protecting his health and career, Murray chose himself, even though his entourage repeatedly gave warning of "repercussions". To hell with what everyone thinks, he concluded. I found myself admiring his single-mindedness rather than dismissing him as a stroppy brat.

* That second sentence had me !

Drew: who the hell's Pete Conrad?

-- Edited by Stircrazy at 15:15, 2008-06-10

Who is Pete Conrad ???

He loved rockets, planes & motorbikes !

He was the 3rd man to walk on the moon...amongst other things...a real one off!