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
Beyond Broadway Joe: The Super Bowl TEAM That Changed Football
In this episode, I talk to Bob Lederer about his book – Beyond Broadway
Super Bowl XXX (Steelers vs. Cowboys): An Ultimate Recount of the Game
Today we have Super Bowl XXX, which was held on January 28, 1996, at
5 Boxers With An Undefeated Record
In this segment ladies and gentlemen, I am going to discuss “The Undefeated” throughout
Big Ben: What A Difference A Great Quarterback Makes!
So, Ben Roethlisberger has finally hung up his cleats. We have enjoyed eighteen years
My Top 10 NFL Playoff Games of the 1970s
I grew up watching football in the 1970s, an era many consider to be
Another Look at the 1947 NFL Championship Game
As we approach the 2022 Super Bowl, one old and familiar name will be
From Fantasy Leagues to Real Wagers: How USA Online Casinos Fuel Fan Engagement
In the dynamic world of sports fandom, the way we engage with our favorite
Hail Mary: The Rise and Fall of the National Women’s Football League
The authors of “Hail Mary: The Rise and Fall of the Women’s National Football