Marcelos Rios v. John McEnroe Today

"I've been waiting a long time for this...The more he get mad, the more I try to kick his ass, man." said Rios, looking to embarrass the American who as a television commentator was critical of the Chilean during his final years on tour.

Sure there's bad blood, but come on, dude! He could be your father. I must say, though, thank god for the senior tour; there's not all that much smack-talking these days (at least on the ATP Tour ;-)). I still think Djokovic will change all that once he makes his breakthrough.

Rios Talks of McEnroe Ass-Kicking in Senior Final

Audio: Marcelos Rios / John McEnroe

Blake to McEnroe: 'Bitch, Please'

Ok, not exactly, but close: John McEnroe and others have piled on American tennis lately, and Blake was predictably assailed with questions about the Demise of American Tennis after his loss to Gasquet. Blake was clearly irritated at Johnny Mac's (secondhand) assertion that the Americans players lack the necessary drive:

"He's got the right to say that," allowed Blake, "[but] I don't think he's ever seen me on the practice court. I don't think he's ever seen me working out in the Tampa heat."

"I don't think he's seen Andy working out in Austin. I don't think he's ever come to one of our Davis Cup practices where we're pushing each other for hours on end. If he questions that drive, it's his prerogative."

Ouch. I think that qualifies as Mad as Hell for Blake; I've never seen read him so agitated. Also, funny that John McEnroe was (in)famous for not being an avid work out/practice type. You sort of get the feeling that Blake knows that story.

Read 'Blake denies US in decline'

McEnroe and Word Team Tennis

Nice piece on how Johnny Mac can still bring da noise.

McEnroe Academy?

No, this isn't a skit idea for a comedy sketch show, it's actually a pretty good idea.

Choice quote: "I've always talked about opportunity and availability and affordability," McEnroe said during an interview Sunday. "I think in other countries they do a better job of that, and I'd like to see that change."

Read 'McEnroe Envisions a Namesake Academy for Youths'

"You Can Quote Me on That"

I just got this in the mail today and it's pretty great. Here's Ivan Lendl  on John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors in 1987:

"I think Connors believes he has to hate everybody he plays [in order]  to play better, and McEnroe hates just about everyone who can beat him. He used to hate Jimmy Connors and me. Now he has to hate the top 50."

Ouch. Man, I miss the days of smack-talking tennis! I think I'll post a good quote every couple days.

Check out author Paul Fein's site www.tennisquotes.com for more info about the book and to get an autographed copy!

Video: McBrat Then and Now

A look back at classic John McEnroe and McEnroe spoofing himself in a recent tv ad. My god, I love John McEnroe.

McEnroe Backs the Women's Campaign; talks Serena's Acting

McEnroe Supports the Ladies, Makes Carillo Cry

Also, McEnroe on the Williams Sisters and Serena's acting, allegations of domestic abuse, and anger management.

McEnroe on Henman-Federer, Murray, Roddick

Call me crazy, but I think Henman has a shot (Henman thinks so, too). Henman still leads their head-to-head 6-4 and was the guy who knocked Federer out right after he took out Pete Sampras at Wimbledon in 2001. Roger has said that the way to beat him is at the net. That's Henman's game when he plays it (he didn't play it as much against Soderling) and this is Henman's surface and crowd. Sure Center Court may belong to Roger, but the country belongs to Tim.

John McEnroe on Wimbledon(BBC) /John McEnroe on Roddick (LA Times)

Nice McEnroe Interview

Great John McEnroe interview from the Times UK.

You Don't Have to Win Them All
John McEnroe on Andy Murray, tight shorts and why Wimbledon is easier than caring for children

McEnroe reteams with Bjorkman

What fun! They'll play doubles at the Stockholm Open in October. Here's more info.

McBrat Talks

John McEnroe's done an interview for the Tennis Channel's Center Court program; Tennis Week's printed portions of it on their website.

Choice quotes:

On playing Davis Cup doubles with Sampras in '92: "We turned it around and ended up winning in five sets. Pete he may not admit this, but he hugged me and he told me he loved me."

...

"Do I think on a given day I could beat, the best woman in the world? Yes I do. Do I think on a given day that I could beat some guys on the right surface under the right conditions for a set or two? [Yes.]"

Here are the excerpts.

*photo from bashof.org

Have You Seen 'The French'?

Have you heard of photographer- filmmaker Willam Klein's documentary of the 1981 French Open, "The French"? It sounds like a classic and is available on DVD from ARTE Boutique. (Here are some stills and French audio commentary from Klein). Factoid: Klein turned down an offer to do a documentary of the Rolling Stones for this.

Here's a little of what Large at the No Mas blog has to say about the film:

For those of us obsessed with the huge tennis stars of the 70’s and 80’s (meaning just about every tennis fan on the face of the earth) it is essential viewing, just for what intimate access you get into the players offcourt universe in a Grand Slam setting.

Here are the conclusions I drew from this film:
Borg was the coolest motherfucker of all time. He was a cross between Humphrey Bogart, a Swedish porn star and a lazy but talented leopard. He cared little about tennis even though he was the greatest player of his era ...

Nastase was fucking hilarious. There’s a great scene where during a rain delay he’s got Chris Evert and Hana Mandlikova laughing like schoolgirls while he flashes his buttcrack at them in the clubhouse.

He has even got a picture of the Ivory Coast (!) Borg stamp, and impressions of McEnroe, Lendl, and Noah.

Here's the whole review.

Also, does anyone know who the very pretty boy in the last photo here is?

Video: Borg-McEnroe Ad

John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg did some tv ad for a Swedish real estate company called Vasakronan. Funny enough, and in English where it counts. Watch It.

McEnroe Considers His Doubles Future

From the AP: McEnroe unsure of next step in doubles comeback

John McEnroe would love to play doubles at Wimbledon or the U.S. Open again and even thinks he'd have a shot at winning another major title.

What he's not so sure about: Would playing in one of those Grand Slam tournaments fit into his busy TV schedule?

McEnroe Praised for Doubles Victory

From Salon: Mac is back!

It was put up or shut up Wednesday night for tennis legend John McEnroe. Many times over the past decade, McEnroe had bragged that well into his 40s he could compete -- at least in doubles -- with contemporary players. Basketball star Wilt Chamberlain and football great Jim Brown had made similar boasts as they'd aged, but never followed up. "Let me tell you something about tennis and basketball," says John Lucas, a one-time all-American in both who played in the NBA. "Tennis is harder. You've got to play every minute. And you can't hide out there on the floor and let other guys do the work."

John McEnroe Wins Doubles Match

Do we have to start questioning the depth on the men's tour now? :)

From the San Jose Mercury News: McEnroe's magic proves worth wait

The first impression? Boy, John McEnroe looked old: All white hair, spindly legs and soft, spinny serve.

Yes, the HP Pavilion crowd roared when McEnroe was introduced alongside doubles partner Jonas Bjorkman at the SAP Open on Wednesday -- so late on Wednesday that it was almost Thursday, which is today -- and McEnroe's 47th birthday.

But you could almost hear a broad undercurrent: He doesn't look that old when he's doing TV commentary! What happened?

McEnroe Wishes He'd Been Defaulted Earlier in Career

John McEnroe is so full of it.  There was never any shortage of people telling and showing him in every way possible that this behavior was out of line.  He didn't listen because he didn't want to listen and he didn't want to change.

Nothing tennis had done differently would have changed that - he's just never going to grow up and stop blaming everyone else for his actions.

From The Age: McEnroe swears change was possible

JOHN McEnroe says he wished someone had kicked him out of a tournament for his bad behaviour earlier in his career — as he was in the 1990 Australian Open for swearing at a chair umpire.

McEnroe said that until his Australian Open experience, not only was he not aware his behaviour often crossed the line into the unacceptable, he did not even know there was a line.

Kournikova, McEnroe Exhibition

From the Ottawa Sun: Aces high: Legends a Capital hit

In a nice gesture, McEnroe auctioned off a racquet he cracked during the match with the money going to hurricane relief. He got $2,300 for it (Kournikova joined the bidding) and then McEnroe matched the winning bid with his own donation.

"C'mon, is this the cheap side?" he chastised some court-side spectators. "This is the racket I used to beat (Bjorn) Borg at Wimbledon," he said during one lull in the bidding. "Okay, maybe that's stretching it a bit." ...

"I've never been able to play well against (Novotna). I lost three straight times in singles," said Kournikova when interviewed after the match for the crowd.

"I don't like her game, too many slices for me," she said with a laugh...

John McEnroe in Canada

John McEnroe is in Canada for an exhibition along with Anna Kournikova, Jim Courier, Jana Novotna and Slam Sports has a good article on him: Bad Boy of tennis still smashing

Over dinner the other night, I mentioned I had interviewed both Anna Kournikova and John McEnroe since they were coming here for tomorrow night's Legendary Nights of Tennis at the Corel Centre.

"Oh, The Bad Boy of Tennis," said my 15-year-old daughter, Emily.

Given McEnroe's greatest glories were well before she was born, I asked her, "How do you know that?"

"He was in the movie Mr. Deeds." "He was throwing eggs at cars or something." ...

If that's McEnroe's legacy, it's too bad, because it sadly sells short his tennis.

Hingis and McEnroe Play Doubles in WTT

From Tennis Week: McEnroe, Hingis Hit It Off In WTT Win

Surveying the scene in front of her from beneath the brim of her baseball cap, the former No. 1 made her move between the lines. Slipping through a sea of fans as smoothly as a shopper sliding past a silk curtain into a fitting room, Martina Hingis hurtled by the hot dog vendor, brushed past a pair of photographers and took a sharp left turn into her desired destination. Sitting down behind a table in the media tent, Hingis greeted a small group of assembled media with the wide smile reminiscent of the way the Mona Lisa might look after she'd spent several minutes gargling with laughing gas and discussed her return to professional tennis with the ease of a player who had never really left.

John McEnroe Interview

New interview with John McEnroe in Tennis Week.