James Scott Connors, Forgotten Talent ?

[Tshooter]

Anyone remember this guy ?

Apparently he played back in the 70s/80s AND 90s. Which sounds ridiculous but, hey, it says so on Wikipedia so it must be true.

I think he had a habit of dragging his toe when he walked between points but that's all I can gather about him. Also he used a T2000. If anyone else has heard of him or even knows someone that saw him play, tell me about him.

Thanks.

 

[JCat]

Anyone remember this guy ?

Apparently he played back in the 70s/80s AND 90s. Which sounds ridiculous but, hey, it says so on Wikipedia so it must be true.

I think he had a habit of dragging his toe when he walked between points but that's all I can gather about him. Also he used a T2000. If anyone else has heard of him or even knows someone that saw him play, tell me about him.

Thanks.

Yeah, I remember him very well. In my opinion, he is the most unforgettable player ever. I miss him.

 

[encylopedia]

Insert cut and paste stats here, as well as some ideas I picked up on past threads about said player.....

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Sounds vaguely familiar. If memory serves, I believe that this guy might have been a lefty and hit a 2-handed backhand back in the day when 1-handers ruled the planet. Substandard serve motion IIRC but was pretty decent at getting other guys serves back.

 

[hoodjem]

Anyone remember this guy ?

Apparently he played back in the 70s/80s AND 90s. Which sounds ridiculous but, hey, it says so on Wikipedia so it must be true.

I think he had a habit of dragging his toe when he walked between points but that's all I can gather about him. Also he used a T2000. If anyone else has heard of him or even knows someone that saw him play, tell me about him.

Thanks.

Nope. Never heard of him.:wink:

But I have heard of the T-2000. I had one: worst racquet ever made.

 

[Tshooter]

Nope. Never heard of him.:-?

But I have heard of the T-2000. I had one: worst racquet ever made.

I think there was only one person that could control that thing. But a lot of kids tried anyway.

 

[hoodjem]

I think there was only one person that could control that thing. But a lot of kids tried anyway.

Yep, I was one of those kids.

 

[krosero]

Did stats for this Connors guy some years ago. Haven't thought about him since then but if I look through my files I'm sure I could dig up some info on him! I think he was heavy on the winners and light on the errors (or maybe the other way around...) Pretty sure he had a monster serve. Gotta check.

I'm 100% certain his career was cut short by World War II.

Everyone from that time period said he was an unbelievable competitor. Today we all talk about how great a competitor Pancho Gonzalez was, but I can tell you, this guy Jimmy played before Pancho's time, and well, he was Pancho Gonzalez before Pancho was Pancho Gonzalez, if you know what I mean.

 

[hoodjem]

Today we all talk about how great a competitor Pancho Gonzalez was, but I can tell you, this guy Jimmy played before Pancho's time, and well, he was Pancho Gonzalez before Pancho was Pancho Gonzalez, if you know what I mean.

Maybe he was Pancho Segura before Pancho was Segura.

"The child is father to the man." The student is teacher to the coach.

 

[krosero]

Maybe he was Pancho Segura before Pancho was Segura.

"The child is father to the man." The student is teacher to the coach.

You may be right!

 

[carpedm]

Dude!!! How can you not remember him?!?!?! He was a god! A legend!!!!

Whatshisname was the guy who married the 1978 Playboy Playmate of the year!!!!

I think he played tennis too.

 

[hoodjem]

You may be right!

Those are most interesting picture choices.

I think the top one is of Segura hitting a forehand, and the bottom one is of Connors hitting a backhand.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Dude!!! How can you not remember him?!?!?! He was a god! A legend!!!!

Whatshisname was the guy who married the 1978 Playboy Playmate of the year!!!!

I think he played tennis too.

Her I remember quite well. Him, not so much.

 

[krosero]

Those are most interesting picture choices.

I think the top one is of Segura hitting a forehand, and the bottom one is of Connors hitting a backhand.

I know, it's interesting, and a little confusing to me, because Pancho and Jimmy have their hands placed in the same way. Pancho was right-handed, so on his famous forehand the dominant hand would have been his right hand. It makes sense to call it a forehand -- even though the right hand is placed above the left, exactly as Connors did on the BH.

 

[Tshooter]

Dude!!! How can you not remember him?!?!?! He was a god! A legend!!!!

Whatshisname was the guy who married the 1978 Playboy Playmate of the year!!!!

I think he played tennis too.

I think she was 1977.

 

[USS Tang]

Let's leave all the joking behind:
I saw Jimmy Connors in person play when he was still a squeaky-voiced 18-year old freshman at UCLA.
It was February 1971. He was playing in the U.S. National Men's Indoors in Salisbury, Md. Connors beat Hans Kary of Austria in the 1st round then lost to Ilie Nastase, the defending champion, in a 3-setter in the next round.
An older fellow, who I hit with on a regular basis at that time, was at the tournament. He told me that he had once been a ball boy at Forest Hills when Bill Tilden was in his prime. He said that Connors hit the ball even harder than Tilden! It was obvious to me at the time that Connors had great potential.

 

[encylopedia]

A lot of you might not know, but he played with a notoriously difficult racquet: the t2000...I believe it had liquid metal.

I felt like he also had a never say die attitude that' what I remember the most. I also believe he was infamous for arguing with the chair umpires - even as bad or worse than John Mcenroe!!!

Once he said he'd "fall of the ends of the earth to play someone again". He was a real go-getter.

He had a great 2 handed backhand - after years of careful observation, I believe it was even better than his forehand - he sometimes had trouble with low balls I noticed.

1977 BocaWest Pepsi Grand Slam F -
Bjorn Borg d. Jimmy Connors 64 57 63
Jimmy Connors d. Dick Stockton 67 61 64 63
1977 Wimbledon SF -
Jimmy Connors d. John McEnroe 63 63 46 64
1977 Wimbledon Highlight Film -
Virginia Wade, Betty Stove, Sue Barker, Chris Evert, Bjorn Borg,
Jimmy Connors, Vitas Gerulaitis & More
(51min) (Quality: Great)
1977 Wimbledon Greatest Hits - BBC Program Highlighting 1977's Greatest
Guillermo Vilas d. Jimmy Connors 26 63 76 60
1978 New York Masters F (January) -
Jimmy Connors d. Bjorn Borg 64 16 64
1978 BocaWest Pepsi Grand Slam F -
Bjorn Borg d. Jimmy Connors 76 36 61
Jimmy Connors d. Vitas Gerulaitis 97 62 61
Bjorn Borg d. Jimmy Connors 62 62 63
Jimmy Connors d. Bjorn Borg 64 62 62
1978 US Open F -
Jimmy Connors d. Bjorn Borg 64 62 62
1979 Memphis US National Indoors F -
Jimmy Connors d. Arthur Ashe 64 57 63
1979 BocaWest Pepsi Grand Slam F -
Bjorn Borg d. Jimmy Connors 62 63
1979 Montreal Challenge Cup RR -
Jimmy Connors d. Ilie Nastase 75 64
1979 Montreal Challenge Cup F -
Bjorn Borg d. Jimmy Connors 64 62 26 64
1979 French Open 1R -
Jimmy Connors d. Terry Moor 61 62 63
1979 French Open 2R -
Jimmy Connors d. Ramesh Krishnan 61 61 64
1979 French Open 4R -
Jimmy Connors d. Manuel Orantes 46 61 63 61
1979 French Open QF -
Jimmy Connors d. Eddie Dibbs 62 26 64 62
1979 French Open SF -
Victor Pecci d. Jimmy Connors 75 64 57 63
1979 Wimbledon SF -
Bjorn Borg d. Jimmy Connors 62 63 62
1979 Frejus, France Invitational SF -
Jimmy Connors d. Guillermo Vilas 64 76
1979 Frejus, France Invitational F -
John McEnroe d. Jimmy Connors 64 63
1979 US Open SF -
John McEnroe d. Jimmy Connors 63 63 75
1979 Las Vegas Alan King Classic SF -
Jimmy Connors d. John McEnroe 75 64
1979 Las Vegas Alan King Classic F -
Bjorn Borg d. Jimmy Connors 63 62
1979 Puerto Rico WCT Tournament of Champions SF-
Jimmy Connors d. Ilie Nastase 64 65
1979 Tokyo Seiko Indoors F -
Bjorn Borg d. Jimmy Connors 62 62

 

[dominikk1985]

I think he was a Little bit overshadowed by borg. definitely one of the greatest Players ever leading the world ranking for a Million weeks but borg and later mac were probably just a Little bigger historically.

 

[Dedans Penthouse]

When he did come to net it was usually off a great approach shot (often using 'inside-out' sidespin) which set up a fairly easy volley.
Solid return of serve. First to boink Chrissy.

 

[JCat]

I think he was a Little bit overshadowed by borg. definitely one of the greatest Players ever leading the world ranking for a Million weeks but borg and later mac were probably just a Little bigger historically.

I disagree with you that McEnroe was a little bigger historically. Borg, yes probably, but not McEnroe. Connors won one more major than McEnroe and way more titles overall. He brought attention and big money to tennis like it had never seen before. Then, when everyone thought he was done at 39, he had that famous run to the U.S. Open semis in 1991 that people still talk about today.

 

[pc1]

Those are most interesting picture choices.

I think the top one is of Segura hitting a forehand, and the bottom one is of Connors hitting a backhand.

Obviously very similar shots. As much as I love to watch Connors, people who have seen both shots believe Segura's forehand to be clearly the superior shot.

 

[dominikk1985]

I disagree with you that McEnroe was a little bigger historically. Borg, yes probably, but not McEnroe. Connors won one more major than McEnroe and way more titles overall. He brought attention and big money to tennis like it had never seen before. Then, when everyone thought he was done at 39, he had that famous run to the U.S. Open semis in 1991 that people still talk about today.

I'm not saying that mac was historically more significant but he is an even bigger media star. connors was a big media star too back then but mac is still a big media star now while connors is a little bit forgotten by the media.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Let's leave all the joking behind..

Spoil sport! :twisted:

.

 

[JCat]

I'm not saying that mac was historically more significant but he is an even bigger media star. connors was a big media star too back then but mac is still a big media star now while connors is a little bit forgotten by the media.

Well, you did say that he was historically more significant. You seem to be backtracking on that a little bit. Yes, McEnroe with his commentary is more of a media star, but I don't think Connors has been forgotten. After all, ESPN did choose to do a 30/30 documentary on him not that long ago, which McEnroe participated in. The show put forth a pretty good argument for Connors as the "most important" player in tennis history as far as making tennis more popular and more lucrative. Sometimes I wonder if McEnroe could be a little jealous of how tennis history has come to think of Connors as a more important player than him. Not all agree, of course, but I have seen Connors talked about and written about in this way many times. Also, Connors has become almost legendary as a warrior player who would never give up and would fight to the end. That is not such a bad way to be remembered, even if he is remembered for some bad behavior as well.

 

[jmc3367]

I always liked him. I had no idea so many considered him such an a** H***. I always loved watching him play. I watched every match of his at the 91 open. I saw where he is playing Aaron Krickstien at the country club where Aaron is working. That would be kinda cool to watch. I am guessing it's a members only Gala though

 

[Tshooter]

...but I don't think Connors has been forgotten...

I forgot him and I wouldn't have started the thread if I didn't think everyone else has as well. However, if I did remember him I would say, without a doubt, he had a much larger impact on tennis (in the US anyway) than JMac. Not even close. But I don't remember the guy so I don't know who you are talking about.

 

[KG1965]

Connors GOAT era open con Federer.
109 titles + 8 slam (senza 5 RG + 10 AUS).

 

[Djokovic2011]

I forgot him and I wouldn't have started the thread if I didn't think everyone else has as well. However, if I did remember him I would say, without a doubt, he had a much larger impact on tennis (in the US anyway) than JMac. Not even close. But I don't remember the guy so I don't know who you are talking about.

How on earth can you forget about a player like Connors?! Just doesn't compute with me at all.

 

[speedysteve]

I'm not saying that mac was historically more significant but he is an even bigger media star. connors was a big media star too back then but mac is still a big media star now while connors is a little bit forgotten by the media.

Mc has the more media savvy / interesting personality.
Connors always came across as brash back in the day.
Great player.
I'd rather have a beer or two with Mc any day.

 

[jrepac]

Connors and the "Masses"

Connors is largely credited for bringing tennis out of the country club and into the mainstream of sports. Let's face it, his rivalry with Borg was simply tremendous in the mid to late 70's. Then Mac came in and spiced it up even more. And, Connors never quite went away with his many resurgences in the 80's and early 90's.
Heroes, villains, iceman and flamethrower...you had lots of personality in the game back then. Brash, rude, explosive, sure. But a lot of fun to watch.

 

[LapsedNoob]

As a young man of merely 35 myself I must chime in that I had heard of McEnroe and Borg long before I heard of Connors.

 

[JCat]

As a young man of merely 35 myself I must chime in that I had heard of McEnroe and Borg long before I heard of Connors.

Really? I can understand hearing more of McEnroe since he is so visible with his commentating, but I am surprised that you heard more about Borg than Connors. Connors won more tournaments than anyone else, and played from the early 70's to the early 90's. Borg was a dominating player for several years, but he mostly quit playing after 1981 or 1982.

 

[KG1965]

Il Tennis è nato con Connors

Enorme, colossus Connors.

Prima c'era il tennis.
Con Connors è nato Il Tennis.

Alien.

 

[dondropshot]

He was an even bigger ahsswhole than Johnny Mac. Really, no class trash. But, he was the most tenacious player, with the most perfect style of play. A baseliner by heart. A great baseliner. But, he'd come into the net on short balls, and he was an excellent volleyer. He had a great lefty serve too. He's very deSERVEnt of being in the GOAT discussion, as far as I'm concerned. And he's not even a personal favorite of mine.

You younger dudes really missed out on some unique greats in the 70's. Youtube him.

BTW, the only racquet mo' difficult to hit a good shot with was a T3000. Remember THAT redheaded baby...?! ;^)B