1978 John McEnroe interview

[@swalterstennis]

Great interview. I never liked John for his on court antics but he sure is gracious and humble and entertaining here. He’s an athletic genius and an intelligent man. Thanks for posting.

[@paulfrost8895]

Everyone has their faults ' John was young and brash back in the day being the center of media attention so young ' but has matured over the years ' and is among one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

[@RossBayCult]

I miss Bud Collins, he was the tennis encyclopedia. I grew watching his commentary on tv and i learned so much about the history of tennis through him.

[@martinhall932]

That was really cool to see and hear. McEnroe with a teenager's voice but same clearheaded, jaded attitude... like an old soul in a young man's body.

[@themypillowguy1685]

my exact thoughts while watching this.

[@56AngelFallen]

Love John, an absolute genius of the game.

[@vwmalzahn]

He was so young there......and kinda cute, too! I loved it when he came in carrying all those tennis rackets :-)

[@madamhummingbird]

This was a really fun interview to watch. I had such a crush on John as a teen girl. I will always have a soft spot for him lol.

[@casheasy]

wow this was fun to watch. Loved the way Bud admitted he had just been ripping John seconds before he came on. And McEnroe was honest and insightful as he always was in his interviews. Great stuff.

[@positivelastaction3957]

I grew up watching tennis and Bud was always honest and also a straight shooter during interviews. Despite this, he was beloved by most of the players.

[@texluh]

​@@positivelastaction3957John has gone on record as saying he never liked him, but it wasn't about that. John has high standards and I suspect it was the 'jock' approach they Bus took, but acting like his was very knowledgeable at the same time. Patronising the youngsters basically

[@fakeyoutubechannelname]

I was 13 and a hothead myself in 1978 when I fell hard for Johnny Mac. I could not have cared less about tennis at that time. But then one day lying on the living room floor flipping channels with my toes (no remote control in those days!) I happened upon a tennis match and was unable to flip to the next channel before catching John yelling about who knows what. I watch those matches just to catch him. I understood what he was going through and I just knew that if a guy like him could make it in the world, then maybe I could too. Even with the seemingly unsurmountable flaw of a hot, hot temper. I found a poster of JM in my brother's Sports Illustrated and pinned it on my bedroom wall and I dreamed about having a successful future, even though I had meltdowns sometimes.

[@yoshpeters3079]

Exactly! John McEnroe is my idol I have a temper like him and can blow up but I will use it to my advantage. I am going to be a champ fighter bodybuilding champion and wrestler. Not so much bodybuilding but fighting and wrestling having a temper can be entertaining. Like trash talk and getting in guy’s faces and causing scenes and drama my meltdowns will be entertaining. Johnny mac’s blowups and press conferences are hilarious. Just because you have a temper problem doesn’t mean you can’t be an extremely successful athlete actor and or whatever. Especially in this pc baby day and age crying over hurt feelings me being like Johnny Mac in the 2020s 2030s lol. Fuck your feelings I will be talking trash and stirring things up and blowing up like him lol who cares what people think? Be like Johnny mac and Dennis rodman just not as crazy with the later and bizarre tattoos and hairstyles lol. It’s ridiculous athletes too cough cough Naomi Osaka getting butt hurt over doubters. There will be haters at every turn no matter how big you get people will always hate and say you can’t do it. Fuck them and prove them wrong be strong.

[@bleacherz7503]

His honesty was amazing

[@Schrittwieser]

Great candid interview with a young John McEnroe. great post!

[@toddlee933]

Great interview.

[@perisville]

what a legend

[@brianboucher4248]

I miss Bud Collins so much...

[@kennethbrady]

Fantastic!! Thnx for posting this!!

[@messiahcommunitycounseling6694]

Those New Yorkers tell it like it is. That is part of his charm and why people love him!

[@alessiasalzano8660]

Oh wow, this is priceless! Never seen this interview before, thanks! If you have others from these early John's years please upload them, I would like to watch them.

[@JohnMcEnroeChannel]

Thanks for posting!!!!

[@simpleagain1]

Wow he looked so young. Still a teenager

[@liverneck2001]

i miss bud collins.....

[@Unsung_Earth]

Later on In McEnroes career he only struggled against some opponents because of the power training they did, not there skills IMO

[@wotdoesthisbuttondo]

Mac's always had that winning focus.

[@TomTrix99]

Thanks for uploading! Gotta love Johnny! It would be really cool of you to upload the whole match if you got it! Thanks!

[@Unsung_Earth]

18or 19 here

[@RevAlKhemy]

never forget Lendle trying.... to out argue MacEnro...LOL Mac the ultimate New Yorker and his dad was a lawyer....Mac was totally correct about a around the post shot. Lendle threw in the towel after a minute.

[@kenarthur6253]

Very cool video!!

[@kingarthurusatenniscoach1415]

McEnroe loves weed A pot head as chrissie Hynde said of the pretenders

[@obyvatel]

A naturally cool hothead

[@erikshen1107]

NEWK!!! WHO REMEMBERS THE RAWLINGS JOHN NEWCOMBE TIEBREAKER RACQUET?

[@timwoods3171]

Absolutely do I remember the Newcombe racquet!! Astounded that Rawlings, of all U.S.-based companies, with to my knowledge no presence at all in the tennis industry, would attract a World No. 1 such as Newk… it really caught me attention. Same with Rosewall and his Seamless Seamco racquet…

[@uncletony6210]

I'm guessing the live feed was airing in the clubhouse and Mac either heard or got wind of Bud's criticisms before he decided to go up.

[@GBHArchives]

@tjbartlett314 It's too long. Maybe in the future I'd post the highlights.

[@uncletony6210]

we'd love to see it!

[@uncletony6210]

2nd request.

[@Daemon1995_]

that moustache

[@tjbartlett314]

Love to see this match--do you have full match?

[@jeromelevillain9301]

Is that possible to watch the mactch until scanlon ?

[@peterbrown6434]

Cool!!

[@kurtg3891]

i cant remember but now i wonder, did he end up to make it into the NYC masters top 8 in 1978 ?

[@seattlegolfer]

He ended up winning the Masters Grand Prix that season beating Arthur Ashe in straight sets.

[@WebSolutionsMediaDesignAgency]

Exactly :D

[@surfshack2]

This is in October 1978?

[@chrispaul1117]

No sound

[@echt114]

@Chris Paul: When that happens you should probably turn up the volume.

[@jasonpeters9865]

Best rivalry in sports history. Who knows why Bjorg stopped. I think it was McEnroe

[@he-mansfurrytrunks4399]

Tennis is wank McEnroe did the impossible and made it interesting

[@jeffreymacintyre2711]

F Bud Collins

[@charliethemaddawg]

There's a reason it's called the Association of Tennis PROFESSIONALS.

[@kingarthurusatenniscoach1415]

Yes it was this lady who called max a pot heqd He peaked at 25. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrissie_Hynde