Top Spin Blog » John McEnroe

U.S. Open Ratings Soar — Could John McEnroe Get Another Talk Show?

Joe Samuel Starnes — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:26:45 +0000

ESPN is touting excellent ratings, about 2.3 million viewers last night. That’s good for tennis, proving that the sport is strong enough to overcome Mary Carrillo’s idiocy and the constant babble of the McEnroe brothers.

John basically says two things about players during matches — they need to come to net more, and they need to show more emotion. He should just shout, “Play like I used to play!” I have a mental image of riding in the car with the two McEnroe brothers on the Long Island Expressway, both of them constantly critiquing how people are driving. ESPN2 would be much better off with Cliff Drysdale, who once described his own style as trying to be like the ball boys and not interfere with the match. Jim Courier and Jimmy Arias are also much more pleasant announcers. (I’m still stunned about how badly the McEnroe’s mangled the facts about Bill Tilden’s record, and U.S. Open/Championships history in general. )

My biggest worry is that this ratings success could prompt a network to give John another shot at a talk show. Here’s a promo from his short-lived show if you forgot it or missed it.

But it could be worse. Imagine if Mary Carillo got a show. Check out her obnoxious rant about Badminton from the Olympics if you want to see what she would consider entertaining.

Are these the two best people America has to talk to us about tennis?

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The McEnroes Bare Their Ignorance of Tennis History

Joe Samuel Starnes — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:17:40 +0000

In golf announcers usually know and have respect for the history of Bobby Jones, and in baseball Babe Ruth’s legend is well known. But in tennis, the history of the game is as murky to the McEnroes as the $8 beers the U.S. Open sells. Here’s a rundown of John and Patrick McEnroe’s errors when discussing Bill Tilden and tennis of that era during Roger Federer’s match on Wednesday night:

PatMac: “Tilden won six in the thirties.” No, it was 1920-1925.

Johnny Mac: “Did the winner play just one match then?” (essentially a challenge draw like Wimbledon once did and Davis Cup did until the early 70s where the defending champion automatically went to the final). No, Tilden played a full draw.

Pat and/or John (the errors were hard to keep up with): The U.S. Open was played in Boston until the thirties. No: The men’s singles moved from Newport, R.I. to the West Side Tennis Club from 1915-1920. For three of the years Tilden won the U.S. Championship, 1921-1923, it was held at the Germantown Cricket Club, a block from where he grew up in Philadelphia. In 1924 it moved to the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills.

Where is Bud Collins (or at least his Encyclopedia of Tennis) when they need him?

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With Roddick Out of Davis Cup, Fish Gets the Call

Joe Samuel Starnes — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:54:49 +0000

Andy Roddick’s marathon epic against Roger Federer left him with an ailing hip, forcing him out of this weekend’s Davis Cup match on red clay in Croatia. In his place will be his good friend and sometimes doubles partner Mardy Fish, who will fill the other singles along with James Blake, in the American team’s effort to beat the only nation in Davis Cup history against which the U.S. is winless (0-2) and has a losing record against.

Although there was some speculation earlier in Wimbledon by John McEnroe that Sam Querrey would make the team managed by Patrick McEnroe, Fish is the right choice with a higher ranking, a recent third round appearance at Wimbledon, and slightly better results on clay. He and Blake also reached the semis in Wimbledon in doubles.

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Could Wimbledon Build a Roof Over Mary Carillo’s Mouth?

Joe Samuel Starnes — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:17:45 +0000

It always rains heavily. And give us the option to hit the close button on John McEnroe and Brad Gilbert.

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