John Mcenroe

[wiltsman]

I like watching Wimbledon, but can't understand the BBCs love of John McEnroe.

As a player he may have been talented. but what a whingeing, whining brat he was. I went to Queens Club years ago when he was playing, and he was just constantly annoying with his challenge of almost every ball that went anywhere near the line. That night on TV he said he thought the spectators were ignorant about tennis. I'm still waiting for an apology from him, especially as I contributed to his match fee!

Now the BBC has him on TV commenting on Wimbledon! I try to avoid any match when he's part of the commentary team, although if Murray reaches the final I'll have to grin and bear it and turn the sound down.

I bet if Hawkeye had been around in his playing days, he would still have disputed its decisions!

[emmie]

didn't like him much then, but he has grown on me, and is a very good and often funny commentator. beats listening to John Inverdale

[boxtops]

He's a good commentator with a good overall knowledge of the sport. I don't mind him at all.

[emmie]

him and sue barker are a really good double act.

[boxtops]

so who WOULD you like to commentate, if you don't like them?

[emmie]

he was a very passionate player, one may not have liked him for his outbursts, but you couldn't fault his playing.

[beckersjay]

I agree. He annoyed me intensely as a player but his commentaries tend to be intelligent and humorous - like many ghastly teenagers/young men, he has grown up and turned into a fairly likeable human being.

[ChillDoubt]

From what I've seen, when he plays in the Seniors/Past Champions type events he is just reverting to type, playing to the crowd and the umpire.
Nastase used to do much the same thing.
It's obvious that most of it is half-hearted appealing.

As for commentating he is one of the best and clearly a crowd favourite. He obviously loves Wimbledon and that feeling is, in the main, reciprocated.

[wiltsman]

OK - I accept what you all say, but sorry, I can't change my mind.

Thank you for your comments

[dogspit]

I think that in general the commentators / color people in tennis tend to be really droll and despite what a whiner he was (and... YES .... he was such a cry-baby) John tends to have more to say than many of the other former players tapped to talk about the sport.

[bunkmoreland]

like others have said,despite disliking him intensely when he played wimbledon,i always enjoy his down to earth commentary now. The boy grew up and learned manners it seems. Get over yourself and live your own life now!