It all changed three decades ago, when a cocky lean kid with a mean serve and a sweet touch cut a jagged yet imposing swath across sport and culture. Veins popping, hair asunder, amidst a shower of stunning winners our simmering suburban samurai emerged.
“Answer the question!” “You’re the pits of the world!” “You cannot be serious!”
Welcome, Johnny Mac! Attention world: fasten your seat belts.
Tennis and American life would never be the same. Back then, as a morning-in-America actor named Reagan ascended to the American throne, there was no escaping the shaggy-haired Long Island kid — such a defiant angermeister. Now, three decades later, with a young trailblazer named Barack in residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., there’s still no escaping the guy. Gray and aging, the grizzled lion stalks, an alpha male still on the prowl.
For starters, TV critics often note a simple truth. These days, if there’s a crusty clay-court battle in Paris, an into-the-dusk Wimbledon classic or a well lubricated, after-midnight special in Queens, Johnny Mac will likely be up there in the booth putting it all into perspective. So, too, he’s morphed into a bit of a corporate tsunami. Pitchman and spokesperson, he prods and implores, pushing anything and everything from grocery stores in London and the lottery in Amsterdam: credit cards and candy bars, humble cereal flakes and rental cars.
So, these days, Planet McEnroe — despite (well, make that because of) its volcanic origins — remains in full orbit, a professional personality spinning like few others. Sure, in small venues he can still be defiant and abusive, a man and athlete who — can we be candid — has yet to fully tame his inner bully. But more often McEnroe is quite user-friendly. While no Agassian sage, he’s presented to the masses with a bemused commercial shtick in which a very, very naughty boy, delightfully comes to see the light. Amazing grace. We all know the scenario. At first rebel John lobs up one of his obligatory snarls — mean and menacing — only to relieve the tension with an impish, endearing twinkle. (“Really, I can actually choose any rental car from the Emerald aisle?”) What a relief. Peace in the Middle East. Life is good.
What’s not to like in this comfy, living room-friendly message (“Gee, that jerk is kinda swell after all”), even if we have seen the sequel to the sequel one too many times.
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Over the years, I’ve kind of been the Washington Generals to his Harlem Globetrotters, a journalistic Chihuahua nipping at his ample ankles.
I’ve interviewed him in less-than-fragrant rodeo arenas and at spiffy country clubs (where a grim post-match press conference broke out as a herd of trembling reporters cowered in fear of being zapped by Mac’s wrath after one of his signature meltdowns.) We’ve hunkered down in no-frills Zimbabwean locker rooms and talked by stylish Spanish mansions and in London estates. He’s both graciously invited me to his trendy Soho art gallery (where I hopped up on his BMW motorcycle) and he’s given me a brisk cold shoulder on a back stairway at Wimbledon. And, as Royalty strode by, we both tried to be civil and sophisticated, as we chatted on the grounds of Buckingham Palace.
Then, late this March, on a dull spring morning, a curious e-mail from a PR pal of mine crossed my screen:
Bill,
I have John McEnroe available by phone for you next Tuesday, March 31 at 10:25 if that works to discuss the 50 Over 50 Prostate Health Challenge campaign and the premier of his first prostate health vignette, which will air during the Final Four on CBS on Saturday, April 4. If that time works, please let me know what phone number he should call. Thanks.
“Sweet,” I thought. But, surely, this would be the journalistic equivalent of speed dating. I wouldn’t have time to ask John how he still defies logic and just managed to beat a Hall of Famer 12 years his junior. (Jim Courier, who’d just been whipped by Mac, observed, “The tennis ball doesn’t see the age. It’s Zen. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone over 50 play like John.”) Similarly, I wouldn’t have time to ask Mac about the deliciously devious crime story of a Madoff-like art crook who swindled $88 million from investors, including the supposedly savvy Mac, who was snookered for $2 million in a ponzi-like scheme in which a respected uptown dealer sold multiple interests in paintings.
I wouldn’t be able to ask John for his take on that athletic southpaw now in the White House or, for that matter, what he thinks of Adam Helfant, who’s now the head of the ATP (a post his dad recently coveted). And I certainly wouldn’t be able to deal with the 800-pound gorilla that still lurks about the House of Mac (why, last year, at age 49, did he so totally implode on three different occasions — in Washington, Newport and London)? But still, this was my PR friend Mark, a fab cause (the critical fight against prostate cancer) and a chance to chat with the singular Johnny Mac. I was excited, even though when I got on the line, Kelly, the pleasant handler gently informed me, “Oh, yeah, you have five minutes, if that’s okay with you.”
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INSIDE TENNIS: Congrats on your great win in Rio [where John recently beat Courier].
JOHN MCENROE: Yeah, that was something. Fifty is the new 40.
IT: You’re involved in this great campaign to raise awareness for prostate cancer. Do you really want everyone over 50 to get check-ups? Would that actually include Claus Umlaut [the famous official and foil featured in McEnroe’s celebrated AmEx ad]?
MAC: Yeah, it includes everyone — even Claus. Spread the word, I’ve come this far. [Laughs]
IT: In the new ad campaign, you, of course, use your go-to line, “You cannot be serious!” Many players are known for particular phrases. (Lleyton Hewitt is known for his self-motivating admonition, “C’mon!” For Billie Jean, it was, “Go for it, Billie!” Justine Henin always screamed, “Allez! C’mon!” and Pat Rafter’s go-to phrase was the apology, “Sorry, mate.”) But has any other athlete had a more universal phrase than “You cannot be serious?”
MAC: People say it to me all the time. The original time was at Wimbledon in ‘81, the Gullikson match. That one time. Everyone thinks I said it all the time or something. But it was really just that one time. I don’t think I said it for 10 years. But it’s folklore now. It’s even on YouTube.
IT: Now you’ve tweaked the phrase. It’s not just the rage, it often has a comedic twist, an irony.
MAC: Which is sort of what I do with the commercials. It’s sort of full circle, which is ironic.
IT: You’ve done so much charity work and so have a lot of others: Agassi, Ashe, Blake, Noah, Andy, the Bryans. Many have given back. Yet your old tour mate Jose Luis Clerc famously claimed that players were selfish and vain.
MAC: You have to be selfish in order to be successful in tennis. You’ve got to put in a lot of time, especially now. It’s such a physical game. If you don’t, you’ve got no chance. As you get older and have a little more time to reflect, you realize that you’re pretty damn lucky to be a professional player. There are things that range from the unbelievably unfortunate, like with Arthur Ashe’s AIDS, the way that all transpired with him, to things and causes that make more sense. I have a lot of children, [six, in fact] so kids’ causes are important. So are environmental causes. But it’s really tennis, when it’s all said and done [that matters to me]. That’s why I’ve been pushing so hard for so many years to get this thing going at the U.S. Open, the tennis academy. It’s been frustrating because it feels like I’m banging my head against a wall, but at least I’ve been making the effort to put it out there and see what happens, but in a way I view that as the same thing — giving back, getting kids out there playing again.
IT: They have a new multi-million dollar indoor center in Flushing Meadows. What’s the problem with getting a player development academy up and running?
MAC: I don’t know the answer to that. Maybe it’s just because I’m just not a ‘yes’ guy. I’m going to try to do things my way. My model would be similar to the model I grew up with — Harry Hopman. That’s no secret. It’s just a shame that in New York that doesn’t happen. But, in the meantime, at least people see that I do some things when I’m giving back. I’ll continue to try to do that. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to continue to try to convince the powers that be that a New York academy would also be a tremendous idea. Patrick is in charge of development for the young kids, so, in a way, it seems like the timing would be pretty optimum.
IT: I just heard Patrick’s talk at the USTA annual meeting. He’s got quite a challenge. Aside from the academy, if you could snap your fingers, what would be one or two things you would like to see done?
MAC: One of the reasons why Sampras, Agassi, Courier and Chang succeeded is because they were playing against each other at a young age. That would encourage more competition. You see that in Spain and some other countries. But some of our younger kids avoid each other. So I would devise a system to make sure that happened more. Another thing would be the importance of the Davis Cup because it was something that was close to my heart. But it seems like it’s now on life support. It’s a shame to see it become something where it’s not important at all. I would address that one way or another.
IT: Speaking of Davis Cup, you would have to say we were fortunate that Roger [Federer] didn’t show up in Birmingham when we played the Swiss.
MAC: I was actually signed up to do it [TV], but I had an “out clause.” So when Roger pulled out, I did, too. It was better for my brother in terms of winning, but it was too bad in terms of the excitement.
IT: Speaking of Roger, in your prostate cancer ads, you say, “Fifty is the new 30.” For Federer, is 27 the new 37. Do you see the mighty Federer losing half a step?
MAC: It’s funny that you say that because 30 was the age when it really hit me. In sports, 30 is the new 50. As you get older, you go, “For 50, I feel pretty damn good.” But I’m not going out there now to try to win Wimbledon. Roger’s slipped a little, which is inevitable for any human being. But I think he’ll get a lot of support from the fans and that will help him in beating Pete’s record. But if Nadal stays healthy…Roger’s so far refused to alter his game in any way to make adjustments to what Nadal does to him, he certainly needs to do that.
IT: How can Roger overcome Rafa’s imposing forehand attack of his one-handed backhand?
MAC: It’s difficult. He keeps it pretty open off the serve in the ad court. It seems like Roger should cut that ball off. On a couple of those love-40s he had down in Australia, I would have liked to have seen him be aggressive on the first or second of those break points he could come in off the second serve and get the point over with sooner so that the match doesn’t become more physical in the fifth set if it gets to that point. These are little things that may pay dividends. Nadal actually comes to the net more than Roger does, which seems rather shocking.
IT: You practiced with Rafa before the Wimbledon final — what do you see in his future?
MAC: I just hope he stays healthy. I can’t believe how good he is, how much better he’s gotten. His volleying play is really impressive. He keeps trying to add a little something. It’s quite remarkable. I’m a little worried he’s going to break down.
IT: You were coached by Larry Stefanki. Now he’s somehow getting his new man Roddick to take his game up a significant notch.
MAC: He has. Larry’s a walking espresso machine. He’s given him a shot in the arm. Andy was always strong, but now it looks like he didn’t need all that weight.
IT: In terms of Roger, he’s such a fabulous player, and Pete was, too, and you’re right there in the mix…
MAC: Thank you for lying.
IT: Whoops — a little public relations there. And, by the way, would you be more in that [greatest player of all time] conversation if you had kept your lead and won that darned French title [over Lendl] in ‘84?
MAC: When I was 25 I would take pride in the fact that I could win without being super fit. Now I actually take a lot more pride in being fit. It’s come full circle. You live and learn. But that’s okay. Ultimately, I’m a better person for it. A lot more good than bad has happened.
IT: You’ve accomplished so much on the senior circuit. It’s not the ATP Tour, but do you take pride in that you dominated?
MAC: I dominated for a while.
IT: Back on Jimmy’s tour.
MAC: I don’t dominate now. I’m happy to be competitive, where I can go out there on any given day. I feel real good about it. It’s what keeps me going. But I did my job, which was to establish [senior tennis] as a viable alternative, we’re lucky to be able to do it. Now it’s up to the Samprases. Rafter apparently came on. Andre’s talking about committing. I’ve made that transition, I bridged the gap.
IT: As for Roger, how can we call him the greatest of all time when he has wretched losing records against some of his greatest rivals — Nadal [6-13] and Murray [2-6]?
MAC: I’m not sure you can if he doesn’t win the French, but if he pulls that off, something tells me he would win some of those matches back with Rafa. Pete had a losing record against Wayne Ferreira and Richard Krajicek. There were a couple of guys who he didn’t have a good record against. This still falls into that category unless Murray starts winning majors. It’s not a great thing. You want every great player to have a winning record against everybody, but that’s not the case. I’m surprised, to be honest, he’s lost to Murray four times in a row.
IT: Do you see Murray as a [Miloslav] Mecir with power?
MAC: That’s a good call.
IT: Speaking of calls, what would have happened to your career had today’s Hawk-Eye line-calling technology been in place?
MAC: That’s the old unanswerable question. I would like to think I would have spent more time focusing on what I was doing on the court, and that it would have helped me. I already had enough energy and intensity that I don’t think I benefited from losing it at times. Certainly, later in my career, it hurt me. All in all, I still think I would have been better off not having to deal with that.
IT: You do so well broadcasting the Open, will you sign with ESPN now that they…
MAC: I’m glad you asked. Hopefully. Stay tuned. [And sure enough, the next morning, ESPN announced that they had indeed hired Mac as their lead U.S. Open analyst.]
IT: Tough luck on that art deal. What a mess.
MAC: Thanks — you can’t win them all.
