Embarrassment for NBC during Wimbledon's post match interviews

Eviscerator

Banned
The post match interview John McEnroe did with Federer was embarrassing the way he fawned over him like a school girl, and referred to him as the greatest of all time at least twice in the short interview. What made it even worse was that after that interview, he noticed the former greats taking pictures with Federer. He said he was going to try and get them on air, and sure enough I knew he had an agenda to get them to discuss the GOAT issue.
Since he thinks Federer is the GOAT, he wanted affirmation from the other three who are arguably GOATS in their own right. So instead of just doing a classy interview, he put them on the spot in front of each other trying to get them to say Roger was the GOAT. He continued to push Sampras and admitted to putting him on the spot even after Sampras had given a gracious answer. Fortunately J Mac was unsuccessful as Laver, Borg, and Sampras all gave classy answers, without affirming or allowing McEnroe's view to dictate their answer.

On a different point related to him, McEnroe has some good insights while commentating, but he tends to allow his own neurotic mindset to seep into his interviews and commentary. While he may have been a mental basket case while playing, it does not mean that others are "feeling" or experiencing the same mental jitters he went through.

So I think NBC should allow someone with a sense of the moment who has maturity and dignity to do post match interviews, rather than the brash fool from New York to inject his personal views where they do not belong.
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ACE of Hearts

Bionic Poster
Pick ur GOAT, Laver, Borg, Sampras, Federer, i loved Sampras when he was playing but his inability to win roland garros is the only thing that hurts him.
 

Defcon

Hall of Fame
Almost everyone, including all those greats (and excluding senile old fools like Bud Collins) had already declared Fed the GOAT after the FO. After this win it is even more certain.

What did you want John to do, tell Fed he's not won enough?
 

Objective Danny

Hall of Fame
That's why Roddick blew McEnroe off and refused to grant him an interview.

He told him, "Talk to Federer. That's who you were rooting for."
 

Eviscerator

Banned
Almost everyone, including all those greats (and excluding senile old fools like Bud Collins) had already declared Fed the GOAT after the FO. After this win it is even more certain.

What did you want John to do, tell Fed he's not won enough?

Actually what I want of all interviewers is to come up with good questions and let the spot light shine on the person being interviewed. I do not want someone slipping on their own drool and trying to inject their own personal opinions into the interview.

As to the greats interviewed today, none of them were going to say Federer is the GOAT in that venue. Instead they all had the class to deflect McEnroe's crass question, and gave respect to their fellow players along with Federer.
 

tintin

Professional
oh shut your face you whiny Eviscerator

yap again the day
Connors,McEnroe,Sampras,Ashe wins in Paris
Borg didn't win either Australia or the USO
Vilander had no Wimbledon;neither did Chang or Courier
Noah couldn't win outside of Paris
Courier couldn't even make the semis at Wimbledon
Lendl had NO Wimbledon
Becker had ZERO Roland Garros
Edberg no Roland Garros for him either
Kuerten had no Wimbledon or USO

:roll:
 
I didn't see it but I cringed hearing about it. Any links out there?
Anyway I would have enjoyed if Mac asked just a simple question to those guys, "Did you enjoy the match"? then shut up and let them answer.
 

RedWeb

Semi-Pro
IMHO... McEnroe was wrong to put the greats on the spot with the GOAT question... McEnroe interjects way too much of his own "adventures" into his commentary (ie: at this time I don't really care that he and Woodford had some great 5 set match back in the day)... All great players, including Mac, have big egos, you must have to be that successful. I thought Laver has some insightful comments about the actual match (ie: Roddicks down the line backhand shots).
 

ACE of Hearts

Bionic Poster
I do agree, it would have been fun to watch these guys play each other more.I just like Roger's game because the guy makes some amazing shots.
 

kimbahpnam

Hall of Fame
i share some of the same sentiments as the OP. i do think that Mac went a little overboard with the GOAT talk and should have focused more on the actual match, but whaddaya gonna do~
 

Objective Danny

Hall of Fame
Truth be posted, McEnroe is a poor interviewer and an average commentator. He gets a pass because of what he did on the tennis court. . . But not from me!

A professional, objective person should interview the players after the match.
 

quest01

Hall of Fame
John McEnroe is one of the best commentators ever. He does an exceptional job every year at Wimbledon and any of the other tournaments.
 

RedWeb

Semi-Pro
John McEnroe is one of the best commentators ever. He does an exceptional job every year at Wimbledon and any of the other tournaments.

I agree he is good but he has his faults. Like when Federer was pushed back deep against his forehand side and tried to throw up a top spin cross court lob. Mac cried "its going to be good/in" (or something to that effect) and the stinking ball was out by 3 feet... he didn't correct his call or say he missed that, instead he actually harped on twice about how Fed barely missed it.

At least we can thank God that Carillio was not in the booth at any point during the match.
 

avmoghe

Semi-Pro
Agreed that McEnroe's question was embarrassing for everyone involved.

I also wish McEnroe would NOT mention "Greatest ever" every freaking time he interviews Federer. He did that at the French too. Its like he is trying to outdo Mary Carillo's fangirlism....

We get it - he's the GOAT. You don't need to mention it 10000 times.
 

Objective Danny

Hall of Fame
McEnore is an overrated commentator who spend too much time talking about 'me and Borg in the fifth'.

I'd much rather listen to old reliable, Dick Enberg. . . . .oh my! He call the contest right down the middle.
 

rod99

Professional
dick enberg is the worst announcer in tennis. his lack of knowledge of the game is embarrassing.
 

MsDeb

New User
John McEnroe is one of the best commentators ever. He does an exceptional job every year at Wimbledon and any of the other tournaments.

he's probably one of the most knowledgeable ones around. however, he needs to just SHUT UP for 5 minutes during a match.
 

Eviscerator

Banned
I didn't see it but I cringed hearing about it. Any links out there?
Anyway I would have enjoyed if Mac asked just a simple question to those guys, "Did you enjoy the match"? then shut up and let them answer.

That would be an impossible task for McEnroe, but that is exactly what he should have done.
 
NBC do a horrible job of any sporting event these days. The last 4 Olympics broadcasts were an embarassment of the highest order.
 

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
Pick ur GOAT, Laver, Borg, Sampras, Federer, i loved Sampras when he was playing but his inability to win roland garros is the only thing that hurts him.

Like you, I was a huge Sampras fan. I think the fact Federer not only won the French, but won it in a year he also won Wimbledon makes it even more special.
 

380pistol

Banned
oh shut your face you whiny Eviscerator

yap again the day
Connors,McEnroe,Sampras,Ashe wins in Paris
Borg didn't win either Australia or the USO
Vilander had no Wimbledon;neither did Chang or Courier
Noah couldn't win outside of Paris
Courier couldn't even make the semis at Wimbledon
Lendl had NO Wimbledon
Becker had ZERO Roland Garros
Edberg no Roland Garros for him either
Kuerten had no Wimbledon or USO

:roll:

Maybe you should do the knowledge before telling someone to shut their face.
 

Keifers

Legend
McEnroe was indeed all fawn-y with Fed in the interview, but at least he asked some good questions and then let Roger answer.

His interview with Borg, Sampras and Laver was amateurish, to say the least -- he acted like a cub reporter all giddy at the prospect of putting a "tough" question to the great men he, by pure luck, found himself interviewing. Thank goodness they deflected his question, showing just how much more classy and thoughtful they are than he is.

Embarrassment for NBC? Imo, this was one of many embarrassments that NBC inflicted on itself broadcasting Wimbledon this year.
 

Annika

Semi-Pro
I use to enjoy listening to McEnroe but lately he just never shuts up. But there also was a time when nobody talked while they were playing. Bring back those times!
 

380pistol

Banned
You need to just ignore people like that as I did.

I suspect he is very young and a big fan who is letting his emotions get the better of him.

I hear that, but it's funny how he's elling someone to shut their face, all while proclaiming Courier could not even make the SF at Wimbledon.
 

devila

Banned
:oops:It was impossible to have this failed abortion and Federer troll, John, stop insulting Roddick to make Federer look really classy in every way.
He blatantly boasted that Roddick should never believe in making himself very talented like Djokovic, Murray and Federer. He wanted so badly to see Nadal go down in the Slams to bring Federer to great popularity.
How proud he is to be a vile liar and evil piece of manure masterpiece, just like Federer. I was glad to hear his angry complaint when Tatum O'Neal mentioned his arrogance. Perfect gentleman and encyclopedia commentator.
 

Mick

Legend
I use to enjoy listening to McEnroe but lately he just never shuts up. But there also was a time when nobody talked while they were playing. Bring back those times!

yep. i'm really surprised that the nbc commentators would talk while a point was in play. That guy Ted something is the worst offender.
 
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