McEnroe Was Such A Well-Heeled Champion
After I posted the earlier picture caption about my gardening boots (see below) I remembered a great ad slogan for Nike, back in the days when John McEnroe was carving up every opponent on Wimbledon's historic grass courts. I was a tennis writer at the time and jeepers, it was a great era to be reporting a sport I had played since I was a kid. I guess I got to see the golden era, the rivalries between McEnroe-Borg-Connors, Navratilova-Evert-Graf, Lendl-Becker-Edberg at close quarters. Of course, the most outspoken was the superbly talented McEnroe. And the Nike slogan was so simple yet so memorable: ``John McEnroe swears by them''.
9 comments:
That was the best, best, best era of tennis. Can't even pay attention now.
FHB - I totally agree!!!
McEnroe was such a legend when I was growing up - and swearing was that secret thing that you did with your friends... so he was the average kid's hero as he swore and abused figures in authority (aka umpires).
My mum was so upset with that one. We were banned from watching him sometimes!
sorry - interrupted on that last comment. My Mum was so upset with him and his swearing...
Hi FHB,
It was my very great privilege to see McEnroe at the peak of his powers.
Strangely enough, I was one of only about six journalists who sat courtside at Centre Court, Wimbledon in 1985 when he - as defending champion - got taken apart by Kevin Curren. That was the end of the McEnroe era and most of the press corps were at other courts.
Cheers
David
Hi Steph,
I hear you loud and clear! Your Mum wasn't the only parent who did so.
Cheers
David
I bet he could have sold as many Nikes as Jordan did if he would have thrown his shoes at the bench judge once.
Fond memories of a golden age, indeed.
Another one:
Fledgling BBC reporter to Chrissie Evert after she'd lost Wimbledon to Martina for the third consecutive time (I think), "Are you going to retire now, Miss Evert?"
"Why?" asks Chrissie, "I am still ranked the second best player in the world. If I retire what will the others do?"
Exit, stage-left, suitably chastised reporter!
Hi Bart-Man,
That the one promotional gimmick he never quite got into!
Cheers
David
Hi El Tel,
What a great story! Often the circus at Wimbledon was the fringe reporters' activities!
Cheers
David
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