Most of the 1981 U.S. Open Men's Final match I watched on tv. It's one of the most thrilling sports events that I ever witnessed (even if from afar). On that day, John earned a ton of glory--for his country, his city, and himself. (I like McEnroe not just because he's a winner and a great athlete, but because he's fairly humble and level-headed also.)
Tennis back in the early 80s especially on grass is now extinct. Watch their famous tie break at Wimbledon. Serve. Volley. Now watch how fast they run in. They are volleying at net from the get go. That doesn’t exist now. They are literally playing a different game.
@@douglaswaite9574 yes. It's like McEnroe was battling himself and his opponent at the same time. Did he feel like he had to fire himself up to hit through players who were great baseline players, say Connors, Borg and Lendl and struggle at times to stay in the moment? Was McEnroe self-conscious? Genius? Actually perfectionistic and shy? If so then he can be respected perhaps as an overcomer of demons that so few players have seemed to be faced with. Did he become larger than the game, in a sense? How many paid to watch his behavior as much as his incredible abilities and talent? I for one did imagine for a bit that maybe he had the potential to become the best ever. There is a solid case for him being the most riveting, entertaining athlete ever. I still wish Borg played ATA high level for let's say the rest of the 80s. But graphite rackets were really common by what 1983-4?
See the 1984 French Open final? What a great match and Lendl finally won a major after years of coming up short. The first half the match, McEnroe played like it was Wimbledon or New York, and every set Lendl won was close. Classic, one of the best tennis matches ever. Did McEnroe get tired? It was the end of a long clay court season run for John McEnroe, who was soon to win Wimbledon and the US Open in '84, for one last time each. Did McEnroe really believe he would/ could win? Interestingly lendl never won a major, losing numerous finals.
@@medievalknievel a once in a lifetime opportunity. He reached the semis is in 1985 but Wilander won it all that year. Too bad McEnroe got impatient in that 3rd set. And he was up a break in the 4th, another chance to finish lendl off. And McEnroe was married before grand slam tournaments of 1986 began, never to reach another grand slam singles final after the US Open 1985, his runs to the 1990 US Open semis and 1992 Wimbledon semis memorable as he was well into his 30s by then. At least he won the 1992 men's doubles title with Michael Stich, retirement coming very soon after. Time flies.
What’s in the water for lower upper class families in Queens, NY? Apparently the kids there are taught growing up how to be great competitors. But one of their biggest tools for winning is to tweak their competitors EMOTIONALLY. Makes them winners and respected as such. But it also makes them disliked a-holes as human beings. Two famous examples: John McEnroe and Donald Trump.
Is Trump respected, other than by people who adore wealth uncritically? I get that he's adored, worshipped even, by his base, but does that necessarily entail respect?
Loved Bjorn Borg. Never really liked John McEnroe, but, I always respected him.
Both players had such charisma. It was an effect that couldn't be missed
I don't like Macenroe, but have a lot of respect for him. A great champion.
Most of the 1981 U.S. Open Men's Final match I watched on tv. It's one of the most thrilling sports events that I ever witnessed (even if from afar). On that day, John earned a ton of glory--for his country, his city, and himself. (I like McEnroe not just because he's a winner and a great athlete, but because he's fairly humble and level-headed also.)
Tennis back in the early 80s especially on grass is now extinct. Watch their famous tie break at Wimbledon. Serve. Volley. Now watch how fast they run in. They are volleying at net from the get go. That doesn’t exist now. They are literally playing a different game.
As a young guy I felt like I understood McEnroe. I understood the need for self motivation to compete, and I felt like that's what he was doing.
@@douglaswaite9574 yes. It's like McEnroe was battling himself and his opponent at the same time. Did he feel like he had to fire himself up to hit through players who were great baseline players, say Connors, Borg and Lendl and struggle at times to stay in the moment? Was McEnroe self-conscious? Genius? Actually perfectionistic and shy? If so then he can be respected perhaps as an overcomer of demons that so few players have seemed to be faced with. Did he become larger than the game, in a sense? How many paid to watch his behavior as much as his incredible abilities and talent? I for one did imagine for a bit that maybe he had the potential to become the best ever. There is a solid case for him being the most riveting, entertaining athlete ever. I still wish Borg played ATA high level for let's say the rest of the 80s. But graphite rackets were really common by what 1983-4?
My favourite player best volley ever
The Ice Man cometh....and put out the fire.
He didn’t put out the fire for very long, did he?
What about the following year? He basically retired Borg from Wimbledon.
Norman Mailer, the fit edition
Love mac
If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat these two imposters just the same
I heard that somewhere lol
Pauly Shore plays McEnroe so good.
Ivan Lendl- The Champion No One Cares About.
SI COVER
See the 1984 French Open final? What a great match and Lendl finally won a major after years of coming up short. The first half the match, McEnroe played like it was Wimbledon or New York, and every set Lendl won was close. Classic, one of the best tennis matches ever. Did McEnroe get tired? It was the end of a long clay court season run for John McEnroe, who was soon to win Wimbledon and the US Open in '84, for one last time each. Did McEnroe really believe he would/ could win? Interestingly lendl never won a major, losing numerous finals.
@@jerryl9823McEnroe threw that game away. He still rues the mistakes he made that day.
@@medievalknievel a once in a lifetime opportunity. He reached the semis is in 1985 but Wilander won it all that year. Too bad McEnroe got impatient in that 3rd set. And he was up a break in the 4th, another chance to finish lendl off. And McEnroe was married before grand slam tournaments of 1986 began, never to reach another grand slam singles final after the US Open 1985, his runs to the 1990 US Open semis and 1992 Wimbledon semis memorable as he was well into his 30s by then. At least he won the 1992 men's doubles title with Michael Stich, retirement coming very soon after. Time flies.
Borg he retired at only 26 years old because he started to lose always Vs mc enroe
What’s in the water for lower upper class families in Queens, NY? Apparently the kids there are taught growing up how to be great competitors. But one of their biggest tools for winning is to tweak their competitors EMOTIONALLY. Makes them winners and respected as such. But it also makes them disliked a-holes as human beings. Two famous examples: John McEnroe and Donald Trump.
Is Trump respected, other than by people who adore wealth uncritically? I get that he's adored, worshipped even, by his base, but does that necessarily entail respect?
yawn
Go to sleep
It's a stupid game...not something that will have a huge impact on the world😅😅😅😅