June 22, 1981 – There are legendary moments in sports history captured on video and then there are iconic ones that are played so much that they are forever embedded into the human brain. It happened this day at the Wimbledon where American tennis star John McEnroe set the prim and proper English tourney on its ear when he had his infamous tirade of ‘You cannot be serious’ rant in 1st round win over Tom Gullikson.
McEnroe was perturbed with a Wimbledon umpire’s line call during the match, with which he obviously disagreed with. McEnroe went on with a few more lines directed at the Ump, but with the politeness of the British umpire Edward James, eventually responded by politely announcing: “I’m going to award a point against you, Mr. McEnroe.”
The line, “You Cannot be serious,” was made famous that day and ended up being the title of a book the tennis great would write years later.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
How Sports Betting Has Shaped Kansas – A Historical Overview
Sports betting has a rich history in the United States, with each state contributing
1986 World Series Flashback: The Mets Triumph Over the Red Sox
The New York Mets franchise began with seven losing seasons in a row, 1962–1968.
What Builds A Football (Soccer) Player’s Ego?
Football (soccer), like many sports, is a game not only of skill but also
Cleveland Browns Dynasty (1946 thru 1973)
Most modern-day NFL football fans are familiar with the dynasty of the New England
A Canadian Invented One of America’s Top Sports: Basketball Origins
When you think of basketball, the initial thought would be that an American had
Dallas Cowboys’ Opening Day Win Streak (NFL Record)
The Cowboys’ first five years in the NFL were nothing to brag about. They
1976 New England Patriots: A Bicentennial Uprising
In 1976, the nation we call the United States of America was celebrating its
Reliving the Early 1970s Reign of the San Francisco 49ers
Most NFL fans are familiar with the SF 49ers’ success during the 1980s and