Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras
Though McEnroe did not state the dynamic duo by name, their lack of
participation this past year clearly played into his decision to
resign. Initially, Agassi and Sampras were both supportive of
McEnroe becoming Davis Cup Captain. However, McEnroe only needed to
examine recent US Davis Cup history to realize that their participation
would not be a sure thing. The now elder statesmen of US men's tennis
have been plagued by injuries and an apparent "commitment" to a reduced
schedule. Looking back, McEnroe's first Davis Cup tie in Zimbabwe was
truly the beginning of the end. After an incredible one-year period
Agassi reached four consecutive Grand Slam finals (winning three of
them), his most recent demise began in Zimbabwe. Agassi had just won
the Australian Open and hustled over to Africa for the competition.
Though he won a key match, he became physically ill (in a trash can, if
my memory serves me correctly) and his game has not been the same
since. After a tough match versus Agassi in Melbourne, Sampras
never made it to Zimbabwe. From the start, McEnroe alienated Sampras
accusing him of faking an injury as an excuse to skip Davis Cup. Both
players did return for to Davis Cup versus Czech Republic (in the
friendly environs of Los Angeles), but both skipped a key match versus
Spain citing injuries. The US lost handily to the Spanish team on
their home clay turf.
The Schedule
McEnroe has been very critical of the Davis Cup format. Among
McEnroe's suggestions were to set aside a month for Davis Cup play only
and also staging it once every two years. McEnroe argued that the
regular tour schedule did not allow ample opportunity for players to
participate in Davis Cup up to four weeks during the year. ITF
President, Francesco Ricci Bitti, fired back on these particular points
stating "more than 95 percent of the top players in 2000 found time in
their schedule to accept the honour of representing their country in
Davis Cup. Only the two finalists make a four week commitment to the
competition while most nations have only a two week commitment during
any given year." Other national tennis associations have had their
problems regarding Davis Cup (Germany and Australia seem to jump to
mind), but as Ricci Bitti stated if only Americans seem to be having their
problems it is not something wrong with the system but something awry
within the country's program.
Personality
Ultimately, it was McEnroe's personality that was his undoing regarding
Davis Cup. I have never been a huge fan of McEnroe, be it on the court
or his ubiquitous television assignments. McEnroe always talks "big,"
but the adage "easier said than done" has some truth to it. I found
Billie Jean King's assessment of McEnroe particularly accurate. In a
egocentric sense, McEnroe felt his mere presence would be enough to
revitalize US Davis Cup. King should have probably sat down with
McEnroe prior to his taking the position. King, currently coaching a
Williams-less Fed Cup tie in Las Vegas, assessed her role the following
way: "You have to keep building relationships all year long. You have
to listen and really accommodate the players. I'm on a tightrope every
day with the players' emotions, the logistics, getting the towels,
water." This analysis probably would have made McEnroe reconsider
taking the position. McEnroe does not strike me as a "schmoozer" and
anyone in a management-type position in the "real world" realizes that
it is part of the job. Managing people, especially for a
"perfectionist," is the hardest task of them all.
Despite the troubles this year, I honestly thought McEnroe would last
in the position a little bit longer, if anything just on the pride
factor alone. McEnroe did not like the rules of the game or how it was
being played so he had a natural reaction -- snatched up his marbles
off from the playground and huffed and puffed his way home.