John McEnroe was once the top men's tennis player in the world. He won 77 tournaments during his hall of fame career and earned more than $12.5 million.
Even though he plays competitive matches against other legends in the PowerShares Series, which made a stop at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock in April, his prime playing days would seem to have been some time ago. But that didn't prevent McEnroe, 56, from proclaiming he could beat arguably the best female tennis player in the game today.
During a Wednesday night appearance on the ABC late night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live, McEnroe was asked whether or not he could win a serious match against Serena Williams.
"I believe that I could still take her," McEnroe said.
Keep in mind that McEnroe wasn't talking about facing Williams while they both were in the prime of their careers. He was talking about the here and now.
Later in the interview, McEnroe talked about an offer he received to face Williams on the tennis court.
"Fifteen years ago, Donald Trump ... made an offer which I felt like was not enough," McEnroe said. "And I think he was humoring the two of us. And Serena, she's got a lot to lose by losing to an old [guy] like myself. And I've got a lot to lose because if I lost to, God forbid, a woman, then I'm not allowed in any men's locker room for the next 15 years, or possibly the end of my life."
Kimmel then suggested the two face one another in another sport, like boxing. That was an idea McEnroe quickly shot down.
"I don't think I could take her in the ring. I think I could take her on the court," McEnroe said.
Let's play Maria
Speaking of taking on tennis legends, fans at the U.S. Open later this month will have that very opportunity.
Thanks to virtual reality technology, fans will get the chance to swing a racket against former U.S. Open champion Maria Sharapova.
"As a tennis player, I know how emotional and physical the sport is," Sharapova told Jonathan Scott of Tennis magazine. "And virtual reality is all about the details of our movement, and the power, and the explosiveness. I think that will really show the fans how powerful we really are."
For all she has accomplished in her career, Sharapova said she enjoyed the experience of creating the game.
"I'm no actress, but you feel like you're part of The Matrix in a way," Sharapova said.
A real symbol
Toronto Raptors forward Patrick Patterson has set a very high bar for any player wanting to display his affection for his team. Instead of a tattoo or other symbol of loyalty, recent photos of Patterson's home in Toronto show the third-year veteran has a raptor skull on his coffee table.
"The Raptors clearly believe in the power of props in building team pride," Eric Freeman of Yahoo! Sports wrote.
Sports quiz
How many times did John McEnroe win the U.S. Open?
Answer
Four (1979, 1980, 1981, 1984).
Sports on 08/21/2015