Should McEnroe have a Flushing Meadow stadium named after him?

DSH

Talk Tennis Guru
It wouldn't surprise me. Although at the time, it was more scandalous that Tilden's lover was male than underage, the exact opposite of what it would be today.
If it weren't for that, of the American tennis players in the Open Era, only Sampras could be compared to him, don't you think?
;)
 

Mustard

Bionic Poster
If it weren't for that, of the American tennis players in the Open Era, only Sampras could be compared to him, don't you think?
;)
Connors had the character of what the US Open is all about, and he won as many US Open titles as Sampras.
 

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
Those guys are all too close (Jmac, Sampras, conners, Agassi). You make a stadium for one what about the others. Then it’s a question of who gets the biggest stadium? Easier to not open up the can of worms.

I like the names they have chosen now, because they are people not just remembered for what they did on court

Armstrong is criminal tho

Did he ever swing a racquet in his life?
 

jrepac

Hall of Fame
Connors had the character of what the US Open is all about, and he won as many US Open titles as Sampras.
Yah, you can make the case for him over Sampras on that point. He was probably more consistent at the USO than Pete over a longer period too? But it may be close even then. But you also have Evert and Serena who would be worthy. Louis Armstrong's name on a stadium I always found odd. You could easily name that one after Connors w/out much fuss.
 

tennisbuck

Hall of Fame
Well, it’s already BJK grounds…….give a US male great his do.
but the men already have Ashe - its 1-1 men-women right now so adding another will break the tie either way. If Williams is too polarizing, I would say Mconroe. Sampras doesn't do as much for the game
 

Gizo

Legend
While BJK has the center named after her, I feel that Ashe having the main stadium named after him seems like a far bigger deal, given that it is referenced a lot more. How often do people actually refer to the 'Billie Jean King center' in a sentence when talking about the US Open, instead of merely Flushing Meadows, the US Open grounds etc.?

BJK also has a trophy (for the WTA Finals) and an entire competiton (formerly the Fed Cup - I personally would have preferred it to be named after either Mary Hare or Gladys Heldman but ah well) named after her though, so she is definitely well represented.

While I greatly respect Sampras's record and legacy, and in-particular have fond memories of his stunning run to win the title as a 19 year old in 1990, displaying phenomenal power and athleticism and text-book all-court tennis, ultimately unlike Connors, Evert, McEnroe, Agassi and Serena, he simply didn't transcend the sport. And the TV ratings in the US for many of his big matches without Agassi standing on the other side of the net could often be underwhelming. US based outlets were complaining about tennis 'dying' or being in trouble during the height of his dominance (they weren't blaming things entirely on him or anything but still it was pretty revealing).
 
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Subway Tennis

G.O.A.T.
In terms of open era legends from the US, maybe Evert is more worthy of this accolade than any of the men.

She was generally huge for women's tennis and tennis in general, and was a major contributor to the golden age of tennis popularity in the US and also the worldwide tennis boom; she definitely made women's tennis more popular with her huge star and crossover appeal. She attracted packed crowds on centre court at Forest Hills match after match, and it could be argued that her popularity alongside the clear need for modernisation, was a major reason by the US Open moved from Forest Hills to the bigger Flushing Meadows venue in the first place.

I think you might be onto something here. Evert would be most likely.

She’s got the perfect mixture of towering achievements in the game, name recognition, very much still a public figure, and has endeared herself to the decision-makers. Like you say, she was also a key element of the golden age.

One thing that gives me pause is that Chris Evert is a broadcaster and public figure, but she is pretty self-effacing and modest about her playing career and achievements. I’m wondering if she has been approached about something like this before and was reluctant to take such an honour.
 

Gizo

Legend
I think you might be onto something here. Evert would be most likely.

She’s got the perfect mixture of towering achievements in the game, name recognition, very much still a public figure, and has endeared herself to the decision-makers. Like you say, she was also a key element of the golden age.

One thing that gives me pause is that Chris Evert is a broadcaster and public figure, but she is pretty self-effacing and modest about her playing career and achievements. I’m wondering if she has been approached about something like this before and was reluctant to take such an honour.

I completely agree. She is definitely humble about her achievements which were superhuman, maybe sometimes too humble IMO but ah well !. I also think that she probably wouldn't want a grand slam stadium named after, and would likely find it overwhelming (while someone like McEnroe would love it). Maybe the ideal balance for her would be if Centre Court at the WTA Charleston tournament (which she won 8 times on her beloved har-tru) was named after her, although that is typically named after the tournament sponsor I believe.

I thought she maintained the right balance of staying involved in tennis, but moving on her from her own playing days (which some other high profile former players have failed to do as well IMO). I do not have a high opinion of her commentary (typically due to her lack of research and knowledge of players outside the big name stars), but ultimately that's not particularly relevant. And the videos on the WTA YouTube channel in which she interviewed fellow players that finished as the WTA year end no. 1 were excellent.

I've seen 'studio discussions' she has been part of in which the analysts have debated whether Navratilova, Graf or Serena was the greatest, and her record / case has been completely ignored but that hasn't bothered her one bit.

I've brought up this example many times, but when Graf won her 19th grand slam title at RG in 1996, she contrasted Evert publicly and privately congratulating her with Navratilova's (who I wish all the best with her recovery from cancer) very bitter reaction.
 

PDJ

G.O.A.T.
I completely agree. She is definitely humble about her achievements which were superhuman, maybe sometimes too humble IMO but ah well !. I also think that she probably wouldn't want a grand slam stadium named after, and would likely find it overwhelming (while someone like McEnroe would love it). Maybe the ideal balance for her would be if Centre Court at the WTA Charleston tournament (which she won 8 times on her beloved har-tru) was named after her, although that is typically named after the tournament sponsor I believe.

I thought she maintained the right balance of staying involved in tennis, but moving on her from her own playing days (which some other high profile former players have failed to do as well IMO). I do not have a high opinion of her commentary (typically due to her lack of research and knowledge of players outside the big name stars), but ultimately that's not particularly relevant. And the videos on the WTA YouTube channel in which she interviewed fellow players that finished as the WTA year end no. 1 were excellent.

I've seen 'studio discussions' she has been part of in which the analysts have debated whether Navratilova, Graf or Serena was the greatest, and her record / case has been completely ignored but that hasn't bothered her one bit.

I've brought up this example many times, but when Graf won her 19th grand slam title at RG in 1996, she contrasted Evert publicly and privately congratulating her with Navratilova's (who I wish all the best with her recovery from cancer) very bitter reaction.
Evert had a tournament named after her, and the Year End WTA No.1 is gifted a trophy bearing her name.
I agree that she's probably not bothered about a stadium named after her, however, I suspect she knows it would have made her parents extremely proud, plus great publicity for both her academy and her charity.
I think if a court is to be named after someone brash and larger than life, then Connors, McEnroe and Williams are the main contenders. The latter having her most epic meltdowns at the USO.
It could be argued of these three that McEnroe represented his country most re the Davis Cup. Yes Williams in the Olympics, but how often in the Fed Cup?
Do any of them have a track record of giving back to the sport whilst playing?
Evert consistently gave back from her 20s onwards and was always a consummate professional. I'm not American but if I were I'd be considerably prouder of Evert than the others mentioned.
Just my opinion.
 

ollinger

G.O.A.T.
There are ample other naming opportunities. I see that the rest stop/service station at the north end of the Garden State Parkway was recently named for Jersey native James Gandolfini. McEnroe loved the USO as well as the NY Mets, perhaps the parking lot shared by both could be named for him. Or perhaps the relatively new Grandstand court, its court surface 18 feet below ground level, could be re-named "Pits of the World."
 

jrepac

Hall of Fame
Those inquiring why the there is a Louis Armstrong Stadium, do yourself a favor and a Google why.
He lived in the area, which I knew....did not identify him with (or recall) his civil rights activity.
But I was quite young back then.
I still think it's an unusual choice. Could have been JFK or LBJ stadium.
Better yet, Althea Gibson.
 
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heftylefty

Hall of Fame
He lived in the area, which I knew....did not identify him (or recall) his civil rights activity.
I still think it's an unusual choice. Could have been JFK or LBJ stadium.
Better yet, Althea Gibson.
The Louie Armstrong Stadium was originally called the Singer Bowl. The original stadium was not used for tennis.

From Wikipedia:
In the early 1970s, the United States Tennis Association was looking for a new place to host the U.S. Open as relations with the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, which had hosted the tournament, were breaking down. The USTA was initially unable to find a sufficient site, but the association's incoming president, W.E. Hester saw the old Singer Bowl from the window of an airplane flying into LaGuardia Airport. The long rectangular stadium was renamed the Louis Armstrong Memorial Stadium in 1973 after a famous Corona resident, jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong.[3]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singer_Bowl#cite_note-nyt-3
 

jrepac

Hall of Fame
We have an Althea Gibson tennis center --- in a park on the outskirts of Newark, NJ
Oh that's right. I forgot and I live in NJ. She deserves something more, I think. Her story is both inspiring and depressing. She was not able to reap the financial success that pros can today
 

graycrait

Legend
You cannot be serious. Might as well name one Carillo or even more eyeopening Trump Stadium or Tom Cruise or or.... other reasonably famous New Yorkers. Adding up the numbers in total probably Williams makes some sense. I liked it when cigarette companies got big name play like Virginia Slims! I don't recall any big name players hitting the heaters right after a match during the VS years. Maybe a big oil company like Saudi Aramco.
 

jrepac

Hall of Fame
You cannot be serious. Might as well name one Carillo or even more eyeopening Trump Stadium or Tom Cruise or or.... other reasonably famous New Yorkers. Adding up the numbers in total probably Williams makes some sense. I liked it when cigarette companies got big name play like Virginia Slims! I don't recall any big name players hitting the heaters right after a match during the VS years. Maybe a big oil company like Saudi Aramco.
what if we name a stadium Eggland's Best? LOL
Big money in those eggs right now
 

jrepac

Hall of Fame
Cal-Maine stadium sounds about right for crass commercialism.
We are experts at that in NJ....naming of anything and everything goes to the highest bidder.
Used to be shady pols who got their names on things....now, whatever company forks over the cash.
No shortage of corporate crooks here either...at my university, we had buildings named after 2 guys who are still in JAIL
 

BTURNER

Legend
You guys forget the obvious. How about that great American player of the 1930's, two time winner of the US National and 3 tjime US Pro champion. Let's hear it for Bobby Riggs Tennis Stadium and Casino. We'll build Horse Race track around the parameter! I will bet it will claim LOT more attendance all year long, than Margaret Court Arena, and that is really going to **** her off!
 
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EddieBrock

Hall of Fame
So you got Arthur Ash and Louis Armstrong. Are there any other stadiums at Flushing Meadow where a name has been assigned or is that it ? Does Stan Smith have a stadium named after him?

How do the US Open accomplishments of Arthur Ash and Lois Armstrong compare with the McEnroe, Connors, Sampras, Agassi or Courier? It would make sense to have a stadium name based on accomplishments at the US Open. I don't get why there's a tennis stadium named after Lois Armstrong. Maybe they should name a concert hall after McEnroe?
 

Mustard

Bionic Poster
It's the "Billie Jean King National Tennis Center", i.e. the whole venue at Flushing Meadows.

Louis Armstrong stadium (the original) was the main court from 1978-1996, as Arthur Ashe stadium didn't come in until 1997. I seemed to remember Jimmy Connors saying that it should have been named after him, or someone else saying it on Jimmy's behalf, and I think it's hard to disagree. Connors embodied the character of the US Open more than anyone else.

In the years when Louis Armstrong stadium was the main court, it was usually called "Stadium Court".
 

EddieBrock

Hall of Fame
It's the "Billie Jean King National Tennis Center", i.e. the whole venue at Flushing Meadows.

Louis Armstrong stadium (the original) was the main court from 1978-1996, as Arthur Ashe stadium didn't come in until 1997. I seemed to remember Jimmy Connors saying that it should have been named after him, or someone else saying it on Jimmy's behalf, and I think it's hard to disagree. Connors embodied the character of the US Open more than anyone else.

In the years when Louis Armstrong stadium was the main court, it was usually called "Stadium Court".

My first tennis memory was watching Connors 91 US Open run. He should get something named after him for that

 

jrepac

Hall of Fame
My first tennis memory was watching Connors 91 US Open run. He should get something named after him for that

So many magical runs, eh? I think once it came to Flushing, for whatever reason, he bonded w/the fans. In '77, at Forest Hills, they were booing him (twisted). The beer and hot dogs crowd at Flushing really appreciated Connors! As did the cocktail and wine drinkers, in good time! :p
 

Mustard

Bionic Poster
So many magical runs, eh? I think once it came to Flushing, for whatever reason, he bonded w/the fans. In '77, at Forest Hills, they were booing him (twisted). The beer and hot dogs crowd at Flushing really appreciated Connors! As did the cocktail and wine drinkers, in good time! :p
The R16 match against Panatta in 1978 seems to be the start of Connors being loved there. Connors won that swashbuckling match 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 7-5, and went on to win the tournament.

The 1977 final against Vilas, Connors was fuming at the end. He thought his last shot was on the line, had turned his back, and then the crowd swamped the court, Connors clashed with some fan, and he and his entourage got out of there in a hurry, with Jimmy still looking back in anger.
 

jrepac

Hall of Fame
The R16 match against Panatta in 1978 seems to be the start of Connors being loved there. Connors won that swashbuckling match 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 7-5, and went on to win the tournament.

The 1977 final against Vilas, Connors was fuming at the end. He thought his last shot was on the line, had turned his back, and then the crowd swamped the court, Connors clashed with some fan, and he and his entourage got out of there in a hurry, with Jimmy still looking back in anger.
The Panatta match is the one w/him hitting the ball around the net post, right? Just insane!
 

Gizo

Legend
Ultimately I doubt either Mac or Connors with their egos (and I think Mac is definitely more deserving than Connors largely due to their respective Davis Cup records) would view having the 3rd court / Grandstand named after them (forget about name changes for the 2 main stadiums especially the main Arthur Ashe one), as an 'honour'. I believe the Grandstand doesn't typically host any men's or women's singles matches after Round 3, and also typically doesn't host any men's / women's / mixed doubles matches after the QF stage (though potentially some mixed doubles SF matches get moved there if there is a need to ease the schedule on the Louis Armstrong stadium).

Even for Evert, I think that having centre court at Charleston being named after her if feasible (one of the most successful 'female only' tournaments of all time, and one that she won 8 times, though I think 6 times when it was based in Hilton Head and the other 2 times when it was based in Amelia Island, Florida), would surely be a bigger honour than the 3rd court at the US Open.
 
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socallefty

G.O.A.T.
Why should a court be named only after a player from the same country? How about naming it after Roger Federer who has been a true ambassador of the sport unlike guys like McEnroe and Connors who gave tennis a bad name with their atrocious behavior on court.
 
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