John Mcenroe

John McEnroe always has worn his patriotism on his back, showing up for tournaments dressed in his Davis Cup USA warm-up jacket.Now, McEnroe says he wants to represent the United States in tennis at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain."

Melanie Oudin is 18 with sparkling green eyes, a long, blond ponytail and the youthful enthusiasm that goes with a quarterfinal performance at September's U.S. Open. Her mixed doubles partner Wednesday night at Pam Shriver's 24th annual Baltimore Community Foundation Tennis Challenge was a gray-haired, 50-year-old, curmudgeonly veteran Tennis Hall of Famer named John McEnroe. "She's younger than four of my six kids," McEnroe said. "But she plays with a lot of energy, and I think that's why she did so well at the Open.

Congratulations to the U.S. Davis Cup team for bringing the cup back from France by beating the Swiss team in the finals last weekend. (Congratulations, too, to the gallant Swiss, for getting to the finals and doing so well with a two-man team.) Non-playing captain Tom Gorman picked the right lineup for the U.S., and Jim Courier, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras and John McEnroe all delivered -- the first two winning singles matches, the second two winning the doubles match.Jim Courier and Pete Sampras especially had a lot to prove, having done so poorly in Davis Cup play in the past.

John McEnroe, one of the most popular tennis players in the world, will play in Pam Shriver's BTP Tennis Challenge on Dec. 9 at 1st Mariner Arena. McEnroe is known as much for his attitude as for his volleys and shot-making. Who will forget his 1981 Wimbledon meltdown, when he screamed, "You can't be serious!" at an umpire, or his rivalries with Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl? During his playing career, which lasted from 1978 to 1992, he earned No. 1 world rankings in both singles and doubles, and he holds seven Grand Slam singles titles, as well as nine Grand Slam doubles titles and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title.

A little of the luster may have been lost from the Sovran Bank Classic tennis tournament with the loss of Ivan Lendl, but tournament officials are hoping that Andre Agassi is enough to carry the field.Agassi, the No. 6-ranked player in the world and the defending Sovran champion, will head a field of 56 players in the tournament, which will begin today at the William H. G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Washington. Qualifying matches took place during the weekend.Lendl, ranked No. 3 in the world, had been added as a wild card last week and was to be the tournament's top seed.

NEW YORK -- In a move that has been rumored since the United States lost to Australia in the first round of the Davis Cup in March, U.S. captain Tom Gorman announced yesterday that he will be relinquishing his duties after the team plays the Bahamas in a consolation round later this month.While U.S. Tennis Association president J. Howard "Bumpy" Frazer said a successor has not been named, he did say that John McEnroe will likely be a candidate for the job Gorman has held for the past seven years.

Todd Martin lost the deciding match in the Davis Cup semifinals.Jim Courier lost his desire (temporarily) to play tennis.John McEnroe lost a close friend.Yet all three of these American tennis stars will be appearing and are eager to compete at Pam Shriver's Signet Bank Tennis Challenge tonight at 7 at the Baltimore Arena. The event benefits the Baltimore Community Foundation, which helps children's-related charities."It's for a good cause. I don't care what state of mind I'm in," Courier said this week.

The Mercantile Tennis Challenge is going retro this year, as originator Pam Shriver makes plans to celebrate the 20th annual event. At least three former world No. 1 tennis stars and International Tennis Hall of Famers - John McEnroe, Jim Courier and Martina Navratilova - have already agreed to take part Nov. 14 at 1st Mariner Arena. This will be the first time since 2000 that the challenge has been played in November, and Shriver voiced some relief about moving away from a December date, saying November provides "some comfort" as bad weather is less likely and there are fewer Christmas parties to contend with.

NEW YORK -- It's been quite a five-month period for John McEnroe. First came a baby girl, then his induction into the Tennis Hall of Fame, and yesterday he was named captain of the U.S. Davis Cup team."

WIMBLEDON, England -- The genesis of certain big sports events is well-known. The All-Star Game in baseball was started by a Chicago sports columnist hoping to raise charity and sell newspapers. The Super Bowl began as a peace offering between the warring football leagues.But little has been told about the beginnings of Wimbledon. It was established in 1877 because the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club was a little strapped for cash and the members wanted to raise some money. Not for tennis, but for croquet.

John McEnroe, one of the most popular tennis players in the world, will play in Pam Shriver's BCF Tennis Challenge on Dec. 9 at 1st Mariner Arena. McEnroe is known as much for his attitude as for his volleys and shot-making. Who will forget his 1981 Wimbledon meltdown, when he screamed, "You can't be serious!" at an umpire, or his rivalries with Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl? During his playing career, which lasted from 1978 to 1992, he earned No. 1 world rankings in both singles and doubles, and he holds seven Grand Slam singles titles, as well as nine Grand Slam doubles titles and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title.

The Mercantile Tennis Challenge is going retro this year, as originator Pam Shriver makes plans to celebrate the 20th annual event. At least three former world No. 1 tennis stars and International Tennis Hall of Famers - John McEnroe, Jim Courier and Martina Navratilova - have already agreed to take part Nov. 14 at 1st Mariner Arena. This will be the first time since 2000 that the challenge has been played in November, and Shriver voiced some relief about moving away from a December date, saying November provides "some comfort" as bad weather is less likely and there are fewer Christmas parties to contend with.

THE U.S. OPEN begins its two-week run in New York and on USA Network and CBS on Monday, so the question is: What is the No. 1 story of the tournament? How about: Does Rafael Nadal have clam-diggers to match the new blue court? You want a better story? Let's go with analyst Patrick McEnroe, then: "Can anyone stop [Roger] Federer?" The No. 1 men's player in the world has treated fans to stylish, dominant tennis and comes into the Open as the overwhelming favorite. The other half of the McEnroe Brothers Tennis Analysis firm, John, said Federer is approaching historic status.

Gore voted for Bush. Bush backed Gore. A "Saturday Night Live" skit? No, that's just the way it is on the Clemson football team, where Jovon Bush is a defensive tackle and Buddy Gore Jr. is a kicker. And unlike Texas Gov. George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore, the only Florida recount these players want - after the Tigers' 54-7 loss to Florida State on Nov. 4 - is never going to happen. Like the rest of the nation, the two players couldn't stop following the twists and turns of the overtime presidential election.

NEW YORK -- It's been quite a five-month period for John McEnroe. First came a baby girl, then his induction into the Tennis Hall of Fame, and yesterday he was named captain of the U.S. Davis Cup team."

The TV Repairman:Flash! Despite the fact the Penske Team, super machines driven by winners and perennial contenders Al Unser Jr. and Emerson Fittipaldi, didn't qualify for Sunday's 79th Indianapolis 500, the race will be run anyway. And ABC will be there (11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.).That's been the big story for a week now, the heavy favorites not even making the 33-car field. "And we will cover it," says producer Bob Goodrich, "but we're not going to overdo it." Good.For, as telecast host Paul Page says, "The Indy race will always carry itself.

THE U.S. OPEN begins its two-week run in New York and on USA Network and CBS on Monday, so the question is: What is the No. 1 story of the tournament? How about: Does Rafael Nadal have clam-diggers to match the new blue court? You want a better story? Let's go with analyst Patrick McEnroe, then: "Can anyone stop [Roger] Federer?" The No. 1 men's player in the world has treated fans to stylish, dominant tennis and comes into the Open as the overwhelming favorite. The other half of the McEnroe Brothers Tennis Analysis firm, John, said Federer is approaching historic status.

Todd Martin lost the deciding match in the Davis Cup semifinals.Jim Courier lost his desire (temporarily) to play tennis.John McEnroe lost a close friend.Yet all three of these American tennis stars will be appearing and are eager to compete at Pam Shriver's Signet Bank Tennis Challenge tonight at 7 at the Baltimore Arena. The event benefits the Baltimore Community Foundation, which helps children's-related charities."It's for a good cause. I don't care what state of mind I'm in," Courier said this week.