Connors in the broadcast booth for Tennis Channel at the USO

[Nuke]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hIoObkAOtqlQRUwqqSuUZZOKOZ4gD95VUFG00

Connors to work for Tennis Channel

Jimmy Connors is heading back to the TV broadcast booth.

Tennis Channel plans to announce Wednesday that the eight-time major champion will be a lead analyst for its telecasts from this year's U.S. Open, The Associated Press has learned.

Aside from cameos, Connors hasn't been a TV announcer for a U.S. network since 1991, when he was calling matches for NBC — while still entering tournaments as a player. After retiring from the circuit, Connors worked for the British Broadcasting Corp. at Wimbledon from 2005-07 . . . .


Connors is a legend as a player, failed as a singer (true), not so successful as a coach, but any ideas on what kind of commentator he is?

[Rabbit]

I listened to him when he worked for the BBC and I thought he did a good job, as good as PMac or Gilbert.

[VGP]

He was in the booth for NBC for one of my favorite matches, the 1990 Wimbledon final, Edberg v Becker.

Connors was doing commentary because he was laid up with a wrist injury. Good voice, good insight. Hope not much has changed.

As for working with the BBC, he says he likes that style of commentary, not too much talking....let the tennis speak for itself.

[Nuke]

As for working with the BBC, he says he likes that style of commentary, not too much talking....let the tennis speak for itself.
I doubt The Tennis Channel would let him be a minimalist commentator. American networks seem to think more is better.

[Moose Malloy]

Connors did commentary for the '90 & '91 FO & W for NBC(he was in the draw for both the FO & W in '91 as well, NBC had to wait for him to lose for him to enter the booth, he did all 4 of those finals)

He could have continued on in this role had he chosen to, but decided it wasn't for him(he said he enjoyed playing tennis a lot more than watching it)

Its sorta funny that the only reason John McEnroe became famous as a commentator for big matches is because Jimmy Connors turned down the job.
He was just as good as Mac in the booth.

I imagine Connors would probably be a more famous figure than McEnroe today had he kept that job(commentary seems to be the only way for past greats to be remembered by current fans, certainly the only way to be known by young fans)

[Rabbit]

For sure, Connors seems to be way less bombastic than McEnroe. I enjoy his style. I've heard that Connors misses tennis and just wants to be somewhere around the spotlight.

[Nuke]

I've heard that Connors misses tennis and just wants to be somewhere around the spotlight.
That's sort of the impression I got when he started coaching Roddick. He'd never been involved in coaching before, as far as I know, and this gave him an excuse to show up at the tournaments.