But Seriously: An Autobiography

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In this memoir he reflects on his playing years but also on his life since, developing new careers in broadcasting and art dealing, and bringing up a large family. A pretty frank and illuminating portrayal of the life and times of one of the greatest and dare I say most infamous professional tennis players in the Open era. In the same chapter, McEnroe defends equal prize money for female tennis players, and he praises Serena and her older sister, Venus, for the challenges they’ve overcome as black female athletes. John comes across as competitive, angry at times, egotistical but overall a devoted father and a fun person to be around. John McEnroe doesn't pull any punches and doesn't sugar-coat anything, but that's what makes it such a compelling read.

My legs felt more and more like Jell-O and, with my strength draining fast from my body, I lost my grip on the match. A Seller has stated it will dispatch the item within 1 working day upon receipt of cleared payment - opens in a new window or tab .The result is a personal odyssey, a mixture of anecdote and reflection which re-evaluates the meaning of success. I started reading Serious because I wanted to find out a bit more about his early years, and I’m glad to report I wasn’t disappointed. Usually I don't read many biographies, but John McEnroe is a legend I've followed since I was a child.

That's not to say he doesn't ever stray back in to the twentieth century (his pain regarding the 1984 French Open is still fresh as ever), but tales of the past function here to complement stories in this era. P. Putnam's Sons in 2002, with the paperback being released a year later by The Berkley Publishing Group in the U. Altra faccia del tennis rispetto a quello descritto da Agassi in Open anche se periodo di poco antecedente. McEnroe comes off as very self-centred – there are all manner of justifications in this book for his many temper tantrums and outspokenness on the tennis court. Tennis fans looking for more insight into the game will not be disappointed, as McEnroe rails against the sport’s elitism, the distraction of 'grunting,' strategic bathroom breaks ('totally out of hand'), and the 'annoying habit' of doubles partners opting to high-five 'after missing a shot or double faulting.

As gifted as he was as a tennis player,his on court tantrums will probably be remembered even more than his victories.

In spite of a turbulent and well-publicized start, few can deny that Mac is a no-nonsense, articulate insider of the game, and hey, who doesn't enjoy a little celeb lore in a fun summer read? There are some great examples of this in this book and yet you have to give the man grudging respect for the fact that he believed and owned his ability and his views of right and wrong. se la concede a ogni match, per dare lo spettacolo che gli spettatori si aspettano da lui (buon tennis e intemperanze). What would you do to shake up British tennis/ American tennis/Australian tennis, Mac (select according to the hosting country)?Interestingly, I did once win an auction to have my portrait painted by him but he died before he could hand it over.

He is a legend however and I continue to be interested in his opinion of tennis and the improvements he envisions. He definitely made enemies - I noticed Jimmy Connors didn't make it to the thank you list in the back of the book. La sensazione, purtroppo, è che abbia un po' voluto seguire le orme di Andre Agassi e della sua bellissima autobiografi, "Open" (consigliatissima a tutti, anche ai non appassionati). Or that he is a major collector and dealer of contemporary art, and hobnobbed with Andy Warhol and other celebrities as a young star in New York. They say that winning your first tennis major is always the toughest but most memorable achievement.He becomes irate in the late 1980’s when Steffi Graff pulls out of a doubles competition with him in Wimbledon – without realizing that doubles competition is a very poor cousin to singles competition – can anyone remember who won a doubles competition at a Grand Slam event?