Patrick McEnroe steps down as US Davis Cup Captain

[jamesblakefan#1]

NEW YORK — Patrick McEnroe resigned as U.S. Davis Cup captain after 10 years on Monday and will leave after the Americans' playoff against Colombia this month.

McEnroe led the United States to a Davis Cup title in 2007. But for the first time since 2005, the Americans must win in the playoffs to secure a spot in the top tier of the Davis Cup.

"Obviously it's mixed emotions for me because of what Davis Cup has meant to me for 10 years, to the players that have supported it," McEnroe said at a news conference at the U.S. Open. "But I feel now is a good time for a transition, and I can focus on my professional energies, player development, and obviously will still be very involved with the team and who plays on the team and supporting the guys that are part of the team."

The younger brother of seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe was hired two years ago to run the U.S. Tennis Association's program to develop elite players. He is also a TV analyst.

Four-time major champion Jim Courier, a commentator for CBS, said during the network's coverage Monday that he'd be interested in the job.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i9E34NaX1hWMV6Q0UrQBJxwuT5OwD9I2HCV00

 

[Bhagi Katbamna]

It'd be good to get Courier. I think players would respect Courier more as he was a former #1 player.

 

[El Diablo]

Being respected and having been #1 are separate and independent issues. Harry Hopman and Donald Dell were never #1 and had great stints as Davis Cup Captains because their personalities ellicited respect. Former #1 John McEnroe had a brief and embarassing stint as Capain before he quit, this coming shortly after his laughing-stock era (recall his brief comeback as a player, when he said he was training to play a form of tennis the average fan would be unable to comprehend.) Likewise WIlander, a former #1 who had no success as Captain.

 

[Tyrus]

Maybe he watched the way Isner played and was like..."yeah someone else take this team"

juuuust kidding.

 

[Fee]

I'm surprised it took this long for this story to get posted here.

PMac also announced the team for the Colombia tie - Querrey, Isner, Fish, and Harrison.

On Monday 6th September 2010, @bryanbros said:

With the extreme conditions and unpredictable nature of the tie in Bogota, @patrickmcenroe and the team has decided that it would be in the team's best interest to have 3 singles options: Querrey, Isner, & Fish. Mike and I will not be joining the team in Colombia but have full confidence that they will return victorious. We look forward to playing US Davis Cup in future ties.


With Isner's ankle the way it is, considering the surface, perhaps the team should be the twins, Querrey and Fish.

 

[Bertie B]

Jim Courier would be a bad choice. He's liable to get carried away by his urges and creep the players out.

I remember during the rise of a young Andy Roddick he developed an unnaturally keen interest in the boy. Like he would write songs and sing them to him on TV, "...oh Andy, oh Andy..." and they would have pillow & tickle fights and stuff. I was disturbing. I remember feeling really bad for Andy because he was 17 or 18 at the time and probably looked up Jim who tried to take advantage.

Anyway, Jim Courier is not a good choice.