John McEnroe versus Bjorn Borg...1980 U. S. Open Finals

[klacr]

I remember Borg's match against Kriek. Kriek was talking himself up really big before that match, saying he would run every ball down and match Borg shot for shot and rally for rally...and he did for two sets. He was in the best form of his life at that point and really fancied his chances of toppling Borg. But he couldn't keep up his form of the first two sets and lost the next three 6-1 6-1 6-1.

Anyone else remember that one...?

Let your racquet do the talking. Borg did that quite nicely. Humility is a real skill.

I've been incredibly fortunate in my life to have met and hung around some truly great players as well as some really good players. It's funny what I've picked up. I've never heard a great player say that they were great but I've heard many really good player say they were great. Funny how that works.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[stotty]

I remember Borg's match against Kriek. Kriek was talking himself up really big before that match, saying he would run every ball down and match Borg shot for shot and rally for rally...and he did for two sets. He was in the best form of his life at that point and really fancied his chances of toppling Borg. But he couldn't keep up his form of the first two sets and lost the next three 6-1 6-1 6-1.

Anyone else remember that one...?

[don_budge]

The Draw Sheet for the 1980 U. S. Open...

Here is the singles draw for the 1980 U. S. Open...Björn Borg had tough come from behind wins in the quarters and the semis. He faced a booming left handed serve with Roscoe Tanner in the quarters which should have served him well in his preparation for John McEnroe. He came from two sets down against Johan Kriek in the semis to get to the finals.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Share/Event-Draws.aspx?e=560&y=1980

McEnroe for his part defeated Ivan Lendl in the quarters and then gutted out a tough five set win over Jimmy Connors in the semis. A great match in its own right...I considered writing about this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4YfqSg-NzI

Keep in mind that Johnny Bad Boy also played in the doubles. He and his partner Peter Fleming lost in a tough, tough final against Stan Smith and Bob Lutz in five sets. In all he played 16 additional sets of tennis that two weeks at the Open. Considering that he played Connors the night before and got off of the court around 8 PM or so it is rather remarkable that he performed at the extremely high level that he did. Perhaps he wasn't given the credit that he deserved in some respects. No wonder he "appeared" to be ornery at times.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Share/Event-Draws.aspx?Year=1980&EventId=560&Draw=md

Side note: See the name Francisco Gonzales in the doubles draw...Johan Kriek's partner. I lost to him in 1977 in a dual college match with Ohio State. He had a win over Connors at some point. I have played some pretty good competition...just in case you were wondering. But I have always considered myself to be a better teacher than a player. I started rather late...14 years old was the first time that I touched a racquet and we didn't have indoor courts until I was 18 years old in my town. But enough about me. Let the match roll...Action!

[don_budge]

Jiminy Glick and John McEnroe...the transcript

Comic genius...perhaps Jiminy's best. John McEnroe is the perfect foil for Glick's double entendres and sardonic wit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rK_1xGp7cg

JG: Hi...I am sitting here with an absolute living legend...and I know this because he told me to say that. So if he said it, it must be true. The wonderful John McEnroe.

JM: Don’t lie to your fans here and your viewers that I had told you to say that...you are...can I say bad words here?

JG: Say it...go ahead.

JM: You’re bullshit.

JG: Ha ha, wonderful. But you know what...we’ve set the level so just try and keep it down. I know that’s your gimmick and it works...it’s like an old stripper who has beads or something.

JM: You’re not going to get me going.

JG: And you just kept going up to those linesmen when you were playing raquetball or whatever sport you did...and you would go up and say, “you’re full of...you’re an idiot...you’ve got to be kidding... or what was that phrase?”

JM: (In his best reverberating voice) YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!!!

JG: So that was kind of in the eighties...”you look marvelous”...it was like your catch phrase, wasn’t it?

JM: You’re damn right.

JG: You have these temper tantrums...was this a publicists idea or do you really have mental prob...

JM: It was really for...

JG: ...lems.

JM: hahaha...is there a third option?

JG: No...I think that’s enough boy.

JM: I think I’d go more with the second than the first.

JG: Mental issues?

JM: Mental issues...

JG: Mental issues.

JM: I don’t have a publicist.

JG: You went to Stanford University.

JM: That’s correct.

JG: And you didn’t graduate.

JM: (Nods in the affirmative)

JG: You flunked out!

JM: I didn’t flunk out. They would have kept me anyways even if I had flunked out because I could hit a stupid tennis ball over the net, alright? My kids tell me this...they say you wouldn’t have gotten into Stanford if you didn’t play tennis.

JG: They speak like gangsters...your kids?

JM: Did that sound like a gangster?

JG: You didn’t go to Stanford...until you go...that sounded like we were doing a production of “Guys and Dolls” and Lorna Luft was late for her cue. Now let’s see...we’ve discussed your limited brightness. You won at Wimbledon...what was that like? I never played at Wimbledon...that’s in England.

JM: That’s correct...it’s a tremendous feeling. The tradition there is fantastic. And sometimes even the Queen and King show up.

JG: The King and Queen showed up.

JM: You know that I knew Princess Diana, right?

JG: (Sobbing)

JM: See...you feel the same way I do.

JG: Did the Queen kill Diana...answer me yes or no?

JM: Uhhh...I refuse to answer that on the grounds that I may be incriminated.

JG: I am referring to Queen Latifah...there is a rumor that Queen Latifah killed Diana....

JM: That I hadn’t heard.

JG: She hit her...she hit her with a...with a...

JM: ...hit her with her ass?

JG: Hit her with her ass...that’s what I heard.

JM: (imitating JG’s voice) That’s it you got it.

JG: Hahaha...you’re doing me now. And you said you were limited in your craft.

JM: (clenching fists) I’m doing it!

JG: You can do it...you just shouldn’t do it for lots of people. That’s all...

JM: (raging at camera) Then that’s the perfect show to do it for.

JG: He’s losing it...he’s losing it! This boy is losing it! Oh that’s good...this has been fun. (Big yawn)

JM: Get him an expresso.

JG: Do you know who I love? That Anna K...Kr...Kurna...Kurnakatetawho.

JM: Kournikova?

JG: Kornokovagavea...she’s a...she says she’s a virgin.

JM: If she’s a virgin then I’ve never questioned a call in my life.

JG: Hahahaha...that’s wonderful! Prince...yea...whatever those expressions...that’s wonderful.

JM: I’m going out on a limb there.

JG: But you know she’s with Inglesias...

JM: Enrique.

JG: Enrique...he’s Julio’s son.

JM: Not Julio?

JG: No, no. Julio’s about 77 years of age. Enrique’s current...he’s dating this girl Anna Korn...Kornocav...kornea.

JM: I predict them to last another two months.

JG: How come John McEnroe?

JM: Musicians and athletes...

JG: Oh...it never does last does it?

JM: Oh that’s right...I’m married to a musician.

JG: And this is your book which is a wonderful...wonderful...book.

JM: Thank you...that’s what I wanted to mention.

JG: It’s called...it’s called John McEnroe...

JM: ...YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!!! (in his best reverberating voice)

JG: Oh that’s wonderful...and look at you looking moody...you’re looking moody.

JM: I’m look pretty alright...right?

JG: You look good...you do.

JM: Compared to you...you fat turd!

JG: Oh no...more of your rage...more of your anger. This has been fun John...I want you to come back again.

JM: And next time you’ll promise right...next time you’ll promise that...will you’ll ask me some nice questions next time...some better questions.

JG: You’re telling me that I didn’t ask you nice questions.

JM: They were out!

JG: They were perfectly on the line!

JM: They were in.

JG: You have got to be kidding me!

JM: Come here and kiss my ass!

JG: I don’t want to kiss your ass unless there’s money involved!

JM: Give me a break!

JG: You give me a break!

JM: You give me a break!

JG: You stop it...and you hear me out...you hear when I say and speak to you. You stink!

JM: I’m outta here...I’m outta here.

JG: Oh you’re outta here...how about you were out of here before you sat down.

JM: Thanks man...

JG: Oh man! Suddenly we’re in a beatnik movie. God...I wish Björn Borg was in town. He is. Let’s get him over here.

JG: Oh man! Suddenly we’re in a beatnik movie. God...I wish Björn Borg was in town. He is. Let’s get him over here.


This is hilarious...I never get tired of it. John McEnroe demonstrates he has some comical timing as well.

[don_budge]

The John McEnroe Continental Gripped Game...

All continental...all of the time. A refresher course on the forehand and backhand strokes of John McEnroe...by yours truly...don_budge.

http://www.tennisplayer.net/bulletin/showthread.php?t=2238&highlight=john+mcenroe+continental+backhand

http://www.tennisplayer.net/bulletin/showthread.php?t=2252&highlight=john+mcenroe+continental+backhand

"It's only a hobby", said Bob Brett to don_budge at the Stockholm Coaching Symposium. "Yeah...I know. It certainly isn't life or death", don_budge replied.

Don't get your panties in a bunch you know who...I am not recommending that anyone play the game this way. But I am not going to demand that they don't play this way either. To each his own...this game was designed to be played different ways...once upon a time. As a teacher it is best to be well versed in every single facet of the game. It's a long study. A long haul. Stick with it kids...as Jack Kramer was referring to Arthur Ashe and Ilie Nastase in 1972.

It was only some mental gymnastics...well actually physical too. I actually trained myself to play this way one winter here in Sweden. I had run out of things to do. Or maybe...just maybe I did it out of love for the game. Just like I am writing about this match now.

But John McEnroe is a fascinating character...in more ways than one. Even the Church Lady could see some rather redeeming qualities about his character. Or was it Jiminy Glick?

http://www.google.se/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=jiminy+glick+john+mcenroe&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&gfe_rd=cr&ei=orjXU-CYNovK8gfp24GgDQ

To be continued...

[don_budge]

The Racquets...

The earnings and sales speak for themselves.

Really, no one wants crappy wood rackets, heavy frames, awful string, bad shoes and and slow pathetic rallies.

The powers that be created a financial machine and global superstars out of a sport that was once just a cottage industry.

The world has changed.

That pretty much describes every old school match to a T. Except the gut string, vs imperial, was not awful, just powerful.

John McEnroe using the Wilson Pro Staff wood and Björn Borg using his beloved Donnay wood strung at 2 million pounds of tension. An all wood crafted classic.

[don_budge]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZKxKWfzUic

It's evolution baby! From 1972...fast forward to 1980. From Ilie Nastase to John McEnroe...bad guys. From Arthur Ashe to Bjorn Borg...good guys. From the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills Queens to Flushing Meadows right next to the Mets stadium. There's something for everyone.

John McEnroe...The American Volcano. Smoldering genius. Björn Borg...The Swedish Ice Bear. Björn means bear in Swedish.

Another great match of polar opposites. Tennis has evolved in fact in these eight short years. The two handed backhand has grown from a seed in the imaginations of the tennis playing public...planted by Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert among others. Here come Björn to take the tennis world by storm. He has won five Wimbledon titles in a row to this point and Johnny thinks that he is the guy to put a stop to this nonsense. He's stepping up. He's creeping in...on the net that is. At every single possible opportunity.

It's not that it's a monologue. It's only that it has a theme. A concept. From the description of the Nastase and Ashe match it was my hope that readers might catch on to that theme. I think that some did and obviously some only take exception to what for all intents and purposes was only a story...a story about a wonderful tennis match between two wonderful characters that had a magical ending. Just another tennis story...and so is this. Something out of the past...in the memory banks of an "old timer" as someone so kindly put it.

But I get it. I see it from both sides now. There isn't anything that I don't understand about the modern game of tennis. Afterall...I have done my homework. I make use of this site. I have other resources too...if that's ok with you. Tennis was evolving. This was as it turns out...the end. We are nearing the end of classic tennis with this match. Although the tennis public was largely unaware of what was happening...nobody asked them. They were a bit like sheep too...like sheeple. The lambs to the slaughter...as 10splayer so eloquently put it although not in that context.

You don't have to read along...if you don't want to. Remember that...but what else are you going to do? Play tennis? Just remember it's only a game. God's gift to mankind in terms of recreation. Keep that in mind. It's only a hobby Bob Brett told me. It isn't life and death...said don_budge.

God speed all...and to all a good night.