Rob McLean - My senior moment with John McEnroe
John McEnroe's silence was deafening when it came to the Serena Williams spat with the female line judge at the US Open in September.
Any criticism of her could have led to one of the greatest examples in history of pots and kettles.
He may now be the bees-knees as far as the BBC is concerned but opinion is divided as to whether he was a genius or a surly brat, who was calculating in the way he disrupted matches in order to change the momentum of play to his advantage.
One thing for sure, he was sorely missed last week on the seniors tour, the London leg of which has just finished at the Royal Albert Hall.
His old rival Jimmy Connors helped to get the golden oldies show on the road in the US back in the middle of the 1990s, but McEnroe has taken it to the next level and his presence added credibility.
Funny that at his peak he said he wouldn't be seen dead on the circuit. At nearly 51 he is obviously winding down, realising that he can't beat the new generation of 'seniors', although his left-handed, swinging serve would still yield a few games against anyone in the world.
Two years ago, I was lucky enough to play alongside him (for four games) in a pro-am prior to the London event and he was quite pleasant but I wasn't spared the odd withering glance when I stood in the wrong position on court.
Many have speculated if McEnroe's boorish behaviour was an act, something written into his contract to entertain the fans. There has been lighthearted exchanges but generally the red mist is simply part of his DNA.
There are many examples on the internet and if the current code of conduct had been applied in McEnroe's heyday, he would have barely made it past the first set. Subsequently, he has used this bad-boy persona to make thousands of dollars from commercials.
His autobiography was called 'Serious', a word he made his own during his outburst at Wimbledon in 1981. But to have this notoriety, you must back it up with talent.
He had it all....just don't mention the 1984 French Open final with Ivan Lendl!
Taking part last week in London were Pat Rafter and Goran Ivanisevic, who had a short-lived reprise of the extraordinary 2001 Wimbledon final.
Ivanisevic won Wimbledon as a wild card and 500-1 outsider. No one, McEnroe included, gave him a hope in hell but I managed to put on £20 at 9-2 at the quarter-final stage.
Rafter had a revenge of sorts last week when Goran retired in the first set through injury, the Australian then went on to beat Stefan Edberg in the final.
BRIT WATCH: Andy Murray has a new pastime – dodging the paparazzi. After his split with his girlfriend, the tabloids are chasing him around London in the hope that they might get some kiss and tell revelations. All they have so far is Murray seen in club dancing with girls and drinking coke! Hellraiser he isn't. Meanwhile, Tim Henman has hinted he may play in the Albert Hall seniors event next year.
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Date published :
08 Dec 2009 - 10:13:26
