McEnroe Vs. Williams

McEnroe Vs. Williams

A cranky opinion for

CRANKY OPINION SATURDAY

The following is the opinion of a cranky old man.  Opposing opinions are welcome, but they are wrong.  As always, please, no name calling, and that means you, you big stupid-head!

John McEnroe was a great tennis player, probably one of the top twenty to ever play the game.  I never really liked him that much.  He was a bit of a baby, complaining about every call and he threw tantrums almost every match.  I do have to admit I watched him a lot; he was entertaining.

Serena Williams is a great tennis player, possible the greatest female player to ever play the game.

Recently McEnroe was being interviewed, I believe because he is releasing a new book, and he was asked about Serena Williams.  He said unequivocally that she is the best woman tennis player ever.

He was then asked how he thought Serena, the best woman tennis player ever, would do competing with men.  McEnroe said she would probably would not be ranked in the top 700.  The media got very upset.  How dare McEnroe claim Serena, the best woman’s tennis player ever, not be ranked better than 700 in men’s tennis?

There have been countless movies and TV shows where women easily defeat men in competitive events.  As a matter of fact, I can hardly think of a movie or TV show today where woman do not consistently outperform men in just about everything. 

It has been pounded into our psyche that men are stupid and lazy and cannot compete with woman at anything.  Now McEnroe claims that the very best woman to ever play the game could not be competitive with any of the best 700 men today.  This is heresy. 

If I was Mr. McEnroe’s publicist, I would have recommended a better answer.  An answer that would not imply that a woman could never compete on an equal footing with a man in most sports.  That is unacceptable!   I would have had him say, “Serena is great, it would be interesting to see how well she might do on the men’s tour.” That would be the politically correct answer that would not upset anyone.

McEnroe has never been politically correct.  It is his feeling that Serena is successful because at 5’9” tall and maybe 160 pounds, she easily overpowers her female competitors.  On the men’s tour, 5’9” and 160 pounds is tiny, undoubtedly smaller than any of the top 700 male players, so she could not win with her strength.

Speed is important in tennis.  Serena is fast.  She may be almost as fast as some top men players.  Tennis can also be a mental game, Serena is probably as mentally strong and knowledgeable about tennis tactics as any of the very best men players…how would her mental strength stand up when her main strength, size and power were no longer anywhere near that of her opponents?

How would Serena, the best woman to ever play the game do on the men’s tour?

I think politically incorrect McEnroe is right.  Serena would probably not win on the men’s tour.  She would probably be embarrassed. 

The tennis world is demanding McEnroe apologize for answering a question about his opinion with his real opinion.  He will not, that is not who he is.

Regardless of what many movies and TV shows would tell you, women have a distinct physical disadvantage against men in most athletic endeavors.   When the best play the best, women cannot compete against men.  It is not a crime to say that, it is just a fact.

Could Serena play against a very good country club player?  Hell yes, she would clean the clock of almost any amateur, but against a men’s professional? 

I think Serena is a terrific tennis player.

I think John McEnroe is a jerk.

The jerk is right, Serena could not consistently beat a single player on the men’s tour.

The preceding was the opinion of a cranky old man and not necessarily that of management…Mrs. Cranky.

AFTER THE BLOG:

A little research found this tidbit that backs up McEnroe:

1998: Karsten Braasch vs. the Williams sisters[edit]

Another event dubbed a "Battle of the Sexes" took place during the 1998 Australian Open^[34] between Karsten Braasch and the Williams sisters. Venus and Serena Williams had claimed that they could beat any male player ranked outside the world's top 200, so Braasch, then ranked 203rd, challenged them both. Braasch was described by one journalist as "a man whose training regime centered around a pack of cigarettes and more than a couple bottles of ice cold lager".^[35][36] The matches took place on court number 12 in Melbourne Park,^[37] after Braasch had finished a round of golf and two beers. He first took on Serena and after leading 5–0, beat her 6–1. Venus then walked on court and again Braasch was victorious, this time winning 6–2.^[38] Braasch said afterwards, "500 and above, no chance". He added that he had played like someone ranked 600th in order to keep the game "fun".^[39] Braasch said the big difference was that men can chase down shots much easier, and that men put spin on the ball that the women can't handle. The Williams sisters adjusted their claim to beating men outside the top 350.