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Andy Murray Faces Backlash After Taking 'Yes' Side In Scottish Independence Vote

After "carefully avoiding taking a side" on the issue, former Wimbledon champion ANDY MURRAY "changed course" on Thursday and "signaled his support for Scottish independence on the day of the historic vote," according to Stephen Wilson of the AP. The Scottish player "sent out a post on Twitter early on Thursday, just hours ahead of the polls opening on the referendum to break away" from the U.K. Murray indicated that "negative campaigning by the anti-independence side had made up his mind in favour of secession." He tweeted to his 2.7 million followers, "Huge day for Scotland today! no campaign negativity last few days totally swayed my view on it. excited to see the outcome. lets do this!" (AP, 9/18). In London, Simon Briggs opined the "big beast has broken cover, and now -- like a 12-point stag running across a highland moor" -- Murray can expect to be "the target of a few potshots." He "seemed increasingly reluctant to enter the debate." Now the deed is done, "and we can start to consider the consequences." The personal cost "should not be underestimated." Murray's graduation from nearly man to grand-slam champion "had quieted some of the hostility that used to bubble up on the online message boards." Yet this "coming out" -- if you like -- "is likely to set the project back" (TELEGRAPH, 9/18).

'PROUDLY SCOTTISH': Also in London, Simon Rice wrote there "is no doubt that the player from Dunblane is proudly Scottish." And "his countryman are proud of him -- even the very best of them." But then Murray "has also represented Britain with aplomb." Whether it be his two Grand Slam victories in which he played under the flag of Great Britain, the many Davis Cup ties "or perhaps most pertinently," the time he won a Gold and Silver Medal at the London 2012 Olympics (INDEPENDENT, 9/18). In London, Mike Dickson wrote that Murray "vowed to carry on playing for Great Britain" despite his support for independence. Murray said the result of the vote "would not affect his loyalty to Team GB" in the upcoming Davis Cup match with the U.S. His public support, however, "sparked a furious reaction" from fans who saw it as "betrayal after years of support from British fans" (DAILY MAIL, 9/18).

TAKING A STAND: In London, Dickson wrote every hint he has dropped -- "and there have been plenty -- suggested that he was a No sympathiser, reluctant to break his cover for fear of alienating some of his fellow Scots." And then he comes out on the actual day of the referendum to endorse the breaking up of the U.K. "based, he says, on the negativity of the Unionist campaign of the past few days." It "is hugely admirable from one angle to stand up for his principles and throw all that to the wind in a probably doomed attempt to help secure victory" for Scotland First Minister ALEX SALMOND, with the resulting "chill in public attitudes towards him" (DAILY MAIL, 9/18).

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