It’s ironic – people used to want to suspend me and talk about how bad my behaviour was, but now they like it when I shout and scream. – John McEnroe
I went to play in Brazil when I had just turned 18 and was the world’s top junior player. I got to the airport, and no one knew who I was. I couldn’t speak any Portuguese, and no one spoke English. Then someone said something that resembled ‘tennis,’ and I went with that. – John McEnroe
You have to keep persevering. An actor goes to a lot of auditions and doesn’t get the part. – John McEnroe
Why don’t they go back to wood racquets? Then we would see the best tennis to be played. – John McEnroe
I can tell you from experience that when you get that pent-up and crazed, it can be distracting. – John McEnroe
I used to take pride if my kids were playing basketball, and I’d be there, and I wouldn’t say anything. People were obviously expecting me to yell and scream at the ref and at them and everything. I wouldn’t say anything. – John McEnroe
I haven’t seen a professional player come out of New York in over 20 years since my brother Patrick came out. Blake spent a few years in Harlem, but he moved to Connecticut when he was a kid. – John McEnroe
The important thing is to learn a lesson every time you lose. Life is a learning process and you have to try to learn what’s best for you. Let me tell you, life is not fun when you’re banging your head against a brick wall all the time. – John McEnroe
I like to be close to water and the ocean, particularly. I love to get out and body surf. I like mountain biking, too. – John McEnroe
The good part of having six kids is, there’s always one who wants to hug you and say, ‘Daddy, I love you.’ – John McEnroe
It’s one thing if you live in London and you’re rooting for Chelsea or you’re in New York and you love the Giants or Jets and no matter who’s on the team you’re into it. It’s different in tennis; you’re sort of your own guy, so you have to reach out and grab a person in a different way. – John McEnroe