I've got that impression sometimes - and in John McEnroe's autobiography, he said that some of the kids he went to school with thought tennis was a "sissy" sport.

I can kind of see why someone would think that, as it's not as powerful a game as football (American football.) But I don't think it's a sissy sport; the guys do have to do a lot of running about out there on the court, and there's strength behind those powerful serves.

Anyone who doesn't like tennis would probably like to have watched John McEnroe play in the 1980s. He was great; he used to lose his temper, throw his racquet, scream at the umpires...my Dad said he once swung his racquet and broke his opponent's chair; another time, he swung his racquet and knocked a load of drinks off the table.

Then there's his famous "You CANNOT be SERIOUS!" line.

He seems to have mellowed a bit now, though. I like him.

I consider GOLF to be a sissy, worthless sport.

I consider GOLF to be a sissy, worthless sport.

I have to disagree with that. I'm not interested in golf myself, but golf obviously gives many people a lot of entertainment and pleasure, and as long as something entertains someone, I don't think it can truly be called worthless.

I love tennis, anyway. Especially Johnny Mac.

I enjoy playing both golf and tennis, but I hate watching them. Tennis is cool when it's two great stars like Venus and Serena going at it, but otherwise, I just don't care for it. I don't think they're sissy sports though, I just think that like hockey, they can be boring to watch at times.

Growing up in the late '70s and early '80s, I can see why tennis was considered a sissy sport.

The lack of physical contact, plus the non-teamwork element, plus the self-absorption.

and those freaking really, really short shorts.

Beyond the shorts, has anyone not at least once doubted the best players being heterosexual?

and those freaking really, really short shorts.

John McEnroe liked those shorts. :)

Brad, you'd probably have enjoyed some of Mac's games. He used to make it so entertaining when he got angry.

"You CANNOT be SERIOUS! That ball was on the line! Chalk flew up! It was CLEARLY in! How can you POSSIBLY call that out? How many are you going to MISS?...Everyone knows it's in, in the whole STADIUM - and you call it out? Explain that to me, explain that to me!"

Then there was his "You are the absolute pits of the world!" statement, and many others. I posted John McEnroe's Top 10 Outbursts somewhere; I'll see if I can find them.

I think I'll start a thread for Mac himself soon.