American Idol?

Serena Williams, in her post-meltdown news conference, revealed that one of her idols in tennis is John McEnroe. I was shocked and a bit unsettled. Did she mean the tennis brat famous for his immature tantrums, tirades and threats? “Are you serious?” Did she even know about the young father and Hollywood hobnobber who was no innocent bystander to his druggie wife’s cocaine laced high life? Or did she mean the divorced father of three who overcame accusations of controlling and bullying and bravely took custody of his children? She probably does know that he has profited greatly from tennis, becoming one of the richest in the sport. And we all see and hear his commentary during the US Open where year after year he shows himself as the most insightful analyst out there. I loved John McEnroe most as a fiercely competitive and gifted winner on the tennis court. Even when he lost a match, as he did to Bjorn Borg in arguably the best match ever played, his intense effort and racket artistry made him and us, his awestruck audience, winners. So Serena, which John is your tennis role model?

Serena was being pressured by great tennis from Kim Clijsters. She was down a set and behind 6-5 in the second. She was on serve and had already fought off four match points. She was hitting the ball hard and deep, but the balls were coming back just as hard and deeper. Several of her forehands failed to clear the net. Her serve was keeping her in the set. She was acing Clijsters on the ad court with a flat, wide 112 mph bomb. At 15-30 she stepped up to the baseline, fired her second serve and was blindsided by a line judge’s call, “foot fault”. And she lost her cool. F this f that, down your throat, code violation, point to Clijsters, game, set, match. Do you call a foot fault at a crucial point in a marquis US Open match? Yeah, you do. Why? Well, not only because it’s the rules. Just as much, because, just maybe, it was the unrelenting pressure from Clijsters that told Serena she needed to hit a really good serve. That subconsciously nudged her toe forward to touch the service line. That ultimately made her snap and not default, but lose to Clijsters who did not slide into the finals but won.

So Serena, which John do you want to emulate? You’re already the most gifted women’s player out there. How about the John who has turned his life around and looks back at his past with a smile of bemused embarrassment, the rewards of a champion, the pride of a father and looks ahead every day, richer for that past, to be a good person and live life. Do you have what it takes? It’s in your court.