John McEnroe clashes with 3AW host Neill Mitchell over Margaret Court
A radio interview with John McEnroe got heated when host Neil Mitchell defended controversial tennis legend Margaret Court. Then McEnroe decided to end it altogether.
Tennis
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Tennis legend John McEnroe has engaged in a fiery interview with Melbourne media icon Neil Mitchell over his Australian Open protest regarding Margaret Court.
On Tuesday McEnroe teamed up with fellow great Martina Navratilova to launch the on-court protest, holding a sign saying “Evonne Goolagong Arena” after a legends doubles match.
Both players have since apologised for their actions which breached tournament protocol.
Speaking on 3AW this morning, McEnroe and Mitchell went toe-to-toe on the issue, and it didn’t take long for things to get out of hand.
Neil Mitchell: Do you regret doing it?
John McEnroe: I think it could have been done better and more effectively. But in terms of regret doing it, no. I apologised because I haven’t been one to have perhaps read the rule book as good as I could have. I was unaware there were certain protocols that needed to be followed. I get where Tennis Australia is trying to … handle this as non-vocally as possible. But in this particular case, I believe there’s been a lot of give and take both ways. I loved Evonne Goolagong when I was a kid and I think she represents to me everything positive about what you’d want a stadium to be named.
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NM: A lot of the letter writers and reaction from the public is “this insulted Australia”. What’s your reaction to that?
JM: I think that’s a little going overboard, personally. Tennis Australia and I have had an excellent relationship – they’ve done a fantastic job with this tournament and made it bigger and better each and every year. To say that I’m insulting Australia – I don’t see where you can take it to that level. That certainly wasn’t what we were planning on doing. I’ve had a lot of history in Australia. Australia is a great sporting country and a great place to visit for the players, and myself. That would not be intentional and I’d be quite surprised if people felt that way.
NM: I don’t think she is homophobic. I don’t agree with what she says about gay marriage. I don’t think she has said some of the things she is accused of saying. She says she has good friends who are gay and she works with them in the church. It is a complicated thing. I hate name calling and homophobic probably isn’t fair to her.
JM: I’ve met Margaret on a handful of occasions in the past. I would absolutely be open to discussing it with her. I don’t know what that would do for either side. She is a great tennis player and I don’t see why that would be a bad thing at all.
NM: It is complicated. The sponsors of the Open, Emirates, you’ve played yourself in Dubai. Yet that country…
JM: One day in my life, yes that’s correct. And I believe that’s an issue that I completely agree with you. What about China? Going to China? You could name a ton of countries where their policies are, in my book, horrific. I think there should be discussion about that as well. I couldn’t agree with you more.
NM: Do you think we should ban some countries?
JM: I didn’t say we should ban them. But it should be discussed that they treat women for example, Saudi Arabia for example and the way that they treat them or the other places in the Middle East, are we encouraging that or accepting that? To me, in a way if you’re willing to go there, and I’ve had this thought in my mind and I don’t want to sound like I’m for money and that is probably a lot of us including myself have done a couple of times.
NM: It is illegal, homosexuality there. That is homophobic.
JM: There you go. I absolutely believe that there should be more discussion about that in my opinion.
NM: Did Tennis Australia threaten your accreditation or did they just ask you to apologise?
JM: As far as I know, that wasn’t threatened. Perhaps if there is more people like you, maybe they will reconsider it, I don’t know.
NM: What do you mean more people like me?
JM: You seem to have a view that you completely disagree and either subtly or forcefully you’re not agreeing with which is OK. It also sounds like you’re insinuating, to me at least, maybe I’m overreaching here but it seems like you’re looking at perhaps they (Tennis Australia) should do more.
NM: I’m not. And I can tell you I’ve been one of the strongest supporters of marriage equality in this country.
JM: Well that I don’t know because I don’t….
NM: I know, OK fair enough.
JM: I hope that’s true.
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NM: What do you mean you hope that’s true? Of course it is true.
JM: Listen mate, I’ve got a match in a little bit. It’s OK to disagree with me but you don’t have to try to like, you know, with the way you’re talking to me, it seems like you’re looking for trouble. But that’s OK. It wouldn’t be the first time.
NM: Well you’re the one that questioned me there about whether I was telling the truth.
JM: I said I don’t know. I didn’t say whether you did or did not. That is a perfect example. I don’t know. Whatever. Whatever makes you happy is fine.
NM: Enjoy the tennis and thank you very much for speaking to us.
JM: (Hangs up).