Yes, they can be serious.
During his tennis career, McEnroe became known for outbursts on the court when he thought umpires had missed a call. In one classic exchange, he yelled at an official, “You cannot be serious! That ball was on the line!”
John McEnroe has got himself in trouble:
Garcia-Navarro: We’re talking about male players but there is of course wonderful female players. Let’s talk about Serena Williams. You say she is the best female player in the world in the book.
McEnroe: Best female player ever — no question.
Garcia-Navarro: Some wouldn’t qualify it, some would say she’s the best player in the world. Why qualify it?
McEnroe: Oh! Uh, she’s not, you mean, the best player in the world, period?
Garcia-Navarro: Yeah, the best tennis player in the world. You know, why say female player?
McEnroe: Well because if she was in, if she played the men’s circuit she’d be like 700 in the world.
Garcia-Navarro: You think so?
McEnroe: Yeah. That doesn’t mean I don’t think Serena is an incredible player. I do…
Do you see the problem? Of course, you do not if you put on your rational thinking cap. But put on your “everything is about race and gender and white privilege; context is irrelevant” cap, and the problem will jump out at you in spades.
Let’s revisit:
McEnroe: Oh! Uh, she’s not, you mean, the best player in the world, period?
Garcia-Navarro: Yeah, the best tennis player in the world. You know, why say female player?
Garcia-Navarro clarified: “…the best tennis player in the world.” Period!
Serena Williams responded via two tweets:
Dear John, I adore and respect you but please please keep me out of your statements that are not factually based.
I guess one could make an argument about “700”; is this the issue? Because I cannot imagine anyone who knows anything about tennis would say that Serena Williams is the best player in the world. Better that Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, or Roger Federer?
No one would say this, not even Serena Williams.
I’ve never played anyone ranked ‘there’ nor do I have time. Respect me and my privacy as I’m trying to have a baby. Good day sir.
It wasn’t McEnroe that invaded Serena’s privacy; it was Garcia-Navarro.
You can imagine the backlash in the media – mainstream news media and mainstream sports media. For example, today McEnroe was given a chance to apologize – very nice of CBS news to offer this opportunity.
“CBS This Morning” co-host Norah O’Donnell asked McEnroe whether he’d like to apologize. McEnroe replied, “No.”
McEnroe turns the table and asks Charlie Rose, and I will paraphrase: Charlie, you play a lot of tennis, I see you on the courts. Where do you think Serena would rank on the men’s circuit? Rose ran away from the question like Ebola.
More from McEnroe: we are talking about something that I can’t believe we are even talking about.
Well, maybe in a rational world, John. But this is CBS (and I am sure it will be the case wherever you go). Believe it. They insisted to keep talking about it.
The first portion of the interview ended: “No apology to Serena, really?” “I’d be happy to apologize to Serena if that makes you feel better.”
Because, after all, that is really what matters.
Conclusion
McEnroe should run for president. He would win in a landslide.
Reprinted with permission from Bionic Mosquito.
