FOLLOWING Andy Murray's achievements on Sunday, Prime Minister David Cameron was quick to offer his praise for the historic win.

However, he went much further in articulating his view that in relation to the question of "Sir' Andy and the possibility of a knighthood, he couldn't think of anyone who deserved it more.

Andy is an outstanding tennis player and just six months ago was awarded an OBE for his services to tennis and in particular, his win in the US Open and his achievement in lifting Olympic Gold last summer.

The frenzy of people seeking to bestow a knighthood upon him began within minutes of achieving victory.

Such a frenzy was as predictable as it was disappointing but it gives us a clear view on the value of the existing honours system and of the desire to further devalue it by pandering to popular politics.

Don't get me wrong, within the context of recent similar awards to both Chris Hoy and Bradley Wiggins, Andy fully deserves his knighthood.

Given David Cameron's comments and the fact that the award will be decided by a committee chaired by former Conservative MP Lord Coe, ably assisted by Tim Phillips, former Chairman of the English Lawn Tennis Association, I would regard the award of the knighthood as game, set and match. Andy's own self-effacing view on the matter will go unheeded.

However if we just pause and indulge in a Hawkeye moment of reflection, we need to examine the elevation of sport to its current height of importance in our society.

I am reminded of the award to the entire 11 man Ashes winning England cricket squad in 2005 of MBE's. According to England cricketer Graeme Swann, if the England team can gain a white-wash of Australia in this year's Ashes, they should all receive knighthoods.

Now in the current climate maybe he's right, however if our honours system has become a popularity award, where does it stop and will we soon see the winners of X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and even Big Brother heading for the Palace.

In relation to honours, I have been repeatedly humbled by the actions of those special people highlighted by the Evening Times Community Champion Awards.

I PRESENTED these awards for many years to true heroes carrying out selfless work, unpaid, for decades across our city.

Few, if any, received the recognition they deserved.

I was also struck by Tuesday's Memorial Service for the 19 firefighters who were killed in the Arizona wild-fire. The death of these courageous men reminded me of the deaths of 19 of our own brave Glasgow firefighters who lost their lives at Cheapside Street. There were no posthumous knighthoods awarded here, not for the men or for their families.

If the purpose of the honours system is to recognize the common good, the selflessness of our citizens and the unrecognized achievements of those who seek no fame, then Graeme Swann is wrong in his assertions – in fact some of us might just be persuaded that in the devalued currency of the existing honours and awards system... it's just not cricket.

WHAT will the legacy of Andy's historic Wimbledon win be for Scotland and for those seeking to emulate his achievements?

Will we bask in the reflective glory of provid-ing the 2013 champion, or reflect that had he not moved to Spain as a 12-year-old, it is highly unlikely he would ever have achieved his dream.

The Scottish Government's decision to invest £5.8million in tennis development is as welcome as it is unconvincingly co-incidental in its timing.

However, if this sports daft nation of ours is to go on to achieve its future sporting ambitions, then surely the legacy of Andy Murray must be that our talented youngsters are able to be developed in this country and not abroad.

We need to look carefully at the range of facilities across all of our sporting interests, not just tennis and not just because a Scot won Wimbledon.

The wholesale sell-off of football pitches and public spaces for uses other than sport, must be reversed. Our national curriculum for education must make more time for sport and this must be reinforced against the pressure of a desire for ever increasing academic achievement.

If Scotland wants its future generations to think carefully about diet, its relationship with alcohol and smoking, and lack of exercise, let's make sure we become addicted to something more rewarding – SPORT.