The people that are trashing Jimmy are really making a pretty good case to slam him. I can't really recall ever thinking him an a**hole. I did remember thinking Mac to be an ahole for his abusive antics, but, I haven't ever felt like taking a swing at McEnroe. If Jimmy ever did what he did to me...I'd take a swing at him. He had no business showing up the ref on my side of the court and, inadvertently, making a fool out of me.
I think the only thing that will save tennis is for the existence/reemergence of pure rivalries. One great men's rivalry will not save the entire sport of tennis. We need many, many, many rivalries in all the draws--womens, doubles, mixed. You can't just hope that rivals will meet in the finals, with the title on the line. There has to be interest placed in someone knocking someone out in the Semis.
With all the money and sponsorship consideration around the game..it's unlikely that rivalries will ever exist. Players don't want to risk offending a politically-correct sponsor. Look at all the time Nadal and Federer meet outside of tennis. They're too friendly with each other.
