The Daily Forehand's Q&A With John McEnroe

John McEnroe needs little introduction.  I should point out, however, that the fiery seven-time grand slam singles champion is working for ESPN for the first time this US Open.

I got to throw some questions John's way before his World Team Tennis appearance in Washington (which wound up including this throwdown). 

TDF: At this point in your career do you see yourself more as an athlete or an entertainer?

John McEnroe: Um…a combination.  There are obviously people who come to see me get pissed off, or whatever. But also I obviously hope I can show them that I can still play.  But the idea is to have people leave here thinking that they’ve gotten their money’s worth.

So I think it’s entertainment, certainly, when I’m playing senior events, exhibitions.  But I mean [in World Team Tennis] I’m playing with a group of other people that are playing for bonuses, standings, and all that.  From that standpoint, you want to play hard.  But also I don’t want to feel like I’m just having a miserable time if it’s not clicking.  This is the fourth day in a row I’ve played now, so it doesn’t get any easier.

TDF: I’ve heard talk that you may enter the U.S. Open doubles with Fabrice Santoro this year.  Is there any truth to that?

John McEnroe:  It’s true that there have been discussions.  It’s probably not going to happen because physically—well first and

foremost, I’m going to be commentating.  I’m working with ESPN for the first time, and I’ve been working with CBS for quite a few years.

I can’t promise you it won’t happen.  I’ve been having some issues with my body that, depending on how I feel…

You want to be able to go hard, from a physical standpoint. Obviously it’s a business.  We could lose first round, but I think we could also win the tournament.  It’s not impossible, as far as I’m concerned. 

But you have to be ready, and I don’t know if I am. I don’t feel like it’s probably going to happen.  It’s best to have guys who still really want to play.

TDF: Have you talked to your brother [US Davis Cup team captain Patrick McEnroe] about the Davis Cup loss to Croatia?

John McEnroe: Very, very briefly.  Obviously, where I was in Long Island over the weekend, I didn’t get Tennis Channel.  Not quite sure why that is yet.

So I missed seeing them, but I kept track of them, checking to see what happened.  The first day was the killer, obviously, with two matches that could have been won.

That’s another thing that has to be dealt with, Davis Cup.   And doubles.  To me they’re like on life support as it is.  Davis Cup and doubles were a big part of my life, and I don’t know where they’re going in the future.

They need to change the schedule, at least, among other things.  There’s a lot of things I’ve suggested that have been very well chronicled—none of which have been listened to.  And by the way I’m not the only person who’s been saying it for the past thirty years.  So this isn’t anything new.

TDF: Do you have any thoughts on Roger Federer donning that number "15" jacket after he won Wimbledon, since there was some controversy about that afterwards?

John McEnroe: What was the controversy?

TDF: People saying it was arrogant, not respectful to Andy Roddick…

John McEnroe: Do you think he would have put it on had lost?

TDF: Probably not. 

John McEnroe:  Probably not…I don’t know, I don’t make a big deal out of things. 

I would actually say that it was a gutsy move.  Because, me personally, I would say that it would be bad luck, or whatever.  It would put this sort of this "man, I’m actually thinking I’m going to do this." 

So that just shows you that he’s confident, and also that he’s not very superstitious.  Because superstitious people wouldn’t do that.