McEnroe's Team Gets Fines and Suspensions

He may be nearing 50, but John McEnroe still acts like a spoiled adolescent. 

McEnroe's World Team Tennis club has been fined and suspended for "unprofessional conduct", by McEnroe, the coach of his club, and other players during a match on July 16th. 

When McEnroe hit a weak service return, opponent Leander Paes drove a forehand volley at McEnroe's partner, Robert Kendrick, hitting him perhaps in the chest or side. McEnroe and his club's coach Chuck Adams, crossed to the opponent's side of the net -- a violation of the rules -- bumping into the opposing players and screaming in their faces. Some reports claim Kendrick had previously hit a ball at Paes as they walked to the baseline, so in kindergarten jargon, it isn't clear if "he started it." 

Four points later, Kendrick hit a serve on the wrong side of the center line, striking Paes at the net. The shouting and strutting resumed. 

As online posters have noted, McEnroe has several times said when he was doing TV commentary that hitting the ball at the net player is a legitimate tactic, and that players should do that more often, particularly in doubles. 

McEnroe has continued his pattern of insolent behavior after retirement from the ATP circuit. I saw this when McEnroe appeared at a seniors event held at Stanford University several years ago. Anticipation of his behavior has created so-called fans that go to matches explicitly to bait McEnroe, yelling taunts to get him started. McEnroe then takes the bait and starts screaming F-bombs at the fans, in front of families with young children. Friends have told me they've seen McEnroe do this even at charity events. 

We've had too much of McEnroe in tennis; it's time for a time out. 

Comments

[Ehkzu]

In "In Search of Excellence" Peters & Waterman reported on hearing a CEO disparaging one of his plant managers during an onsite visit. One of his execs protested, saying the guy had "20 years' experience." The CEO responded "No he doesn't. He has one years' experience 20 times."

Additionally, celebrities are susceptible to situational narcissism when they surround themselves with toadies who only tell them what the want to hear, as Bush did with his cabinet during his second term.