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When I came on the tour, I thought, 'Why don't they treat tennis players the same way they look at football players?' Because I've got news for you: when they are on the pitch, they are not saying, 'Hello, how are you?' out there.
John McEnroe
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I'd love to see all the guys play their best because I think it's better for tennis.
John McEnroe
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Do you have any problems, other than that you're unemployed, a moron, and a dork?
John McEnroe
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If Roger stopped right now and never won another match, to me he'd already be one of the greatest players to ever play the game. To me, he's the greatest all around talent that I've ever seen.
John McEnroe
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I can't speak for other people, but I still hate losing. When I did lose, I found it easier to yell than to cry. Guys aren't supposed to cry, are they?
John McEnroe
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If, in a few months, I'm only number 8 or number 10 in the world, I'll have to look at what off-the-court work I can do. I will need to do something if I want to be number 1.
John McEnroe
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I am someone who gets pretty worked up.
John McEnroe
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I would put tiebreakers in the fifth set, no question about it.
John McEnroe
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I'm sure a lot of players say it, but winning is almost so you don't lose. The thrill of winning is not as great as the pain of losing.
John McEnroe
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I remember when I was younger taking more pride in Wimbledon than the French. That and the U.S. Open - they were the ones I wanted to win.
John McEnroe
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The best thing I ever did was when I was offered a million dollars to go play in South Africa and didn't take it. I was 21 years old, and part of it was like, 'Well, if they're offering me this obscene amount of money just to play one match, there must be something really wrong.'
John McEnroe
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I can't advocate people not liking each other. But... I'd prefer it.
John McEnroe
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Sometimes my negativity worked to my advantage, and early in my career, it got me going. But you need to understand that you're not just fighting opponents, you're also fighting yourself.
John McEnroe
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What is the single most important quality in a tennis champion? I would have to say desire, staying in there and winning matches when you are not playing that well.
John McEnroe
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I thought doubles was a good way for me to practice and get some reps in - I didn't like to train in the gym as much as players these days.
John McEnroe
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They should be required to be in less events; there should be less events for the women. It seems it takes an actual meltdown on the court or women quitting the game altogether before they realize there's a need to change the schedule.
John McEnroe
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Tennis was a white, upper-class sport, and I wanted it to be treated like other sports were.
John McEnroe
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You hit a wall at some stage when you don't want it so bad, but you don't know when that's going to be - as far as competition or as far as health is concerned. Sometimes it's just natural. You just taste it, and you want it so bad that you find other gears.
John McEnroe
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You're asking too much of the women. They shouldn't be playing as many events as men. If tennis is best served by women playing events with men, so be it.
John McEnroe
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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
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Roland Garros is the only one of the four majors that is 15 days, and that is too long.
John McEnroe
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I'm going to vote for Obama. I'm going for the change.
John McEnroe
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The perception is I didn't get along with umpires, obviously, and I didn't, on the court. But off the court, we had a good vibe.
John McEnroe
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When I was 15 and playing in Kalamazoo, I ran into a light pole on the side of the court and was knocked out for a little while - when I woke up, I was seeing stars!
John McEnroe
