Borg vs. McEnroe

[Bunter]

Mates, please consider not only their court play but also overall attitude and style; both of which are lacking in the current crop. To shame with these nobs in their Drifit.

 

[Margaret]

Yeah, McEnroe had "attitude" if you want to call it that. His skills are unquestioned.

 

[Bunter]

Originally Posted by Margaret

Yeah, McEnroe had "attitude" if you want to call it that. His skills are unquestioned.

I can't think of one interesting thing about a bloke like Sampras, including any of his matches--he dressed like he should be planting flowers in the garden.

McEnroe kept it interesting, as did Nastase but as far as style Borg was the face.

 

[tiger02]

Borg is Chuck Norris in tennis whites.

 

[faustian bargain]

borg wins by assimilation

 

[Bunter]

Originally Posted by tiger02

Borg is Chuck Norris in tennis whites.

I don't think Donnay made nunchucks.

 

[Holdfast]

Originally Posted by faustian bargain

borg wins by assimilation

Nice one!

McEnroe for me: "The ball was on the LINE!"

 

[Steve B.]

Stylish or not, Sampras could have kicked both of their asses. And had he been in the 70s I'm sure he'd have been stylin' in the same way.

 

[Dakota rube]

I've not paid money to see too many tennis matches, but I would lay down serious smack for Sampras vs. JohnnyMac (in their primes).

 

[Bunter]

Originally Posted by Steve B.

Stylish or not, Sampras could have kicked both of their asses.

Tennis wasn't always about swinging like a lumberjack mate.

Originally Posted by Steve B.

And had he been in the 70s I'm sure he'd have been stylin' in the same way.

And if it was 10 years forward Sampras would probably be wearing a Serena Williams catsuit. Still no finesse.

 

[whoopee]

On the contrary, Sampras's volleys had gobs of finesse, which is why he was so good at the net.

I'd take Borg as a player, McEnroe as a character, and Fed would beat them both.

 

[Get Smart]

Borg. He was one of my biggest sports idols growing up, and the prime influence on the player that I 'patterned' my game after in high school, Mats Wilander.

I would love to see a fantasy-in-their-prime Bjorn Borg vs. Mats Wilander 5 set match. On clay. Going to 14-12 in the 5th, after 7 hours of baseline rallies. Seriously. Serve/volley is for herberts.

*I remember when Sampras had a 2 handed Connors style backhand as a junior player. At that time I remember thinking "this kid is gonna go nowhere when he turns pro"

 

[Tyto]

It's gotta be Mac. Borg was a machine, a sort of proto-Lendl, even, but Mac had both incredible finesse and good power, as well as a tremendous sense of the space on the court--he was more often correct than wrong when challenging line calls. Also, I like that he actually played better when angry.

I don't think Sampras would take Mac apart, but I do think it would be a fun match to watch. As far as Federer, well, I'm not sure....

 

[bachbeet]

I have to go with Borg. He was the best tennis player I've ever seen. And, he dethroned Connors, who was my favorite.

 

[Violinist]

I was going to wait to register but then I saw this... I don't understand why people have this obsession with old school players. No one will deny Mac's abilities during his time, but you all blab about great tennis players and no one mentions Nadal or Federer. These guys are going to shatter every record your precious heros ever had (Nadal is comming damn close on clay), in a game that is so much more competitive that it's rediculous.

To call Sampras a lumberjack is proof that you know as much about tennis as I do about being a lumberjack... the man's serve beguiled everyone, he won 14 majors and even though he's boring, he was great. Ask Mac, he'd admit that Sampras would totally destroy him. You all talk about finesse, but fail to mention Federer whose strokes are pure perfection. He is incredibly dynamic and can adapt to any situation, any surface. There is hardly a weak aspect to his game.

Nostalgia is fun in the arts, but in sports people make these rediculous claims just because they feel an emotional connection with the people from the past. Tiger Woods would annihilate Palmer, just like Federer would probably annihilate any player in the prime. The game has changed, the difference between number 20 in the world and number 200 is frightfully small. Wake up and smell the freshly opened ball canister.

As to style, the guys you are mentioning look abominable... do you really like seeing the outline of their scrotum?