John McEnroe opens mouth and inserts foot.

[Swede]

He's going to regret this one.



In John McEnroe's view, the WTA schedule should be scaled back because women's tennis players do not appear to be able to handle the physical and mental aspects of the game.


"I think that it's asking too much of the women," McEnroe said. "They shouldn't be playing as many events as the men . . . The women have it better in tennis than in any other sport, thanks to Billie Jean King . But you shouldn't push them to play more than they're capable of."

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/usopen10/news/story?id=5503420&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

[Steely_Dan]

1. Uh...Okay.

[BootinUp]

2. I love John McEnroe, his spirit, his athletic skill

I say cut him a break.

Don't take this all literally. What he is saying is that bodies, both male and female take a beating from rigorous sports. He is simply stating the obvious, that there are repurcussions i.e. long term effects.

[KansasVoter]

4. His Spirit? You mean him being an asshole? He was an embarrassment to the sport!

[BootinUp]

6. lol nt

[KansasVoter]

7. The only people who defend the way he behaved are assholes like him......

I know of no one who wanted their kid or friends to act like him on a tennis court.

[BootinUp]

8. Oh get over it

no doubt his tantrums exhibted a dark side, were not a good example etc. I would argue that his lack of self control allowed him to put all his energy into the athletic side. He was an immature teenager when he was at his worst and didn't want to be role model. Get over it.

[KansasVoter]

10. I am over it. So should people defending him.

[chimpymustgo]

16. Agreed. McEnroe has been calling for parity in pay. You can't discount the number of injuries

to the top women players.

[BlackHoleSon]

3. He has a point ...

The women's game is being played at an incredibly high level these days, with the new racket and string technology allowing these large, super-athletic women to whip the crap out of the ball. McEnroe's question is, I think, are woman's bodies suited to the strain this new kind of tennis puts on them. Because, the fact is, injuries are becoming more and more prevelant among the women.

[TBF]

12. And men don't get injured? Have you heard of Nadal? Djokovic?

Please.

[Cetacea]

5. He's just repeating what many players feel, men and women

Until proven otherwise, women do not have the stamina to play best of five in the Grand Slam events.
If they do, then the game should recognize that and make them play the same amount as the men.

The tour schedule is grueling for men as well, and current world No. 1 Nadal is a frequent and outspoken critic of the grueling scheduling. Injuries are becoming commonplace amongst men and women.
Personally, I think they should all shut up and be happy that they are making a fortune doing what they love. People who are below the top one hundred have to spend their own money to stay in the game.

[TBF]

13. Many people felt slavery was a good thing - that doesn't mean he's right.

nt

[ChiciB1]

9. I LOVE Novak Djokovic! Has Nothing To Do With John's Comment...

just wanted to insert "Nole's" name!! And it's a shame that that THE MEN playing for the U.S. haven't risen to the top in many years! On the other hand the Williams sisters have truly been a force to be reckoned with!!

So much for women who can't take it!

[marmar]

11. I don't know what's more distressing, McEnroe's idiocy......

..... or the tacit approval of it in this thread.

[bigwillq]

14. There's too many tournaments, period.

For both the men and the women. But, like everything else, the sport became about $$$$$. Who wants to give up their tournament when it's making money?

[undeterred]

15. Context.