Earl Strickland and Johnny Mack...

[Jaden]

I was just watching the 1980 US Open men's singles tennis match and it made me think of the correlation between John McEnroe and Earl Strickland.

Back in the day Johnny Mack was untouchable as long as he wasn't in his own head on his own serve. If he started to let stuff get to him, he would start to lose and then sometimes pull himself out of it and start playing right again. He also wore his emotions on his sleeve.

Earl seems to be the same way. He gets inside his own head and then sometimes lets it get him out of his game and then sometimes is able to reign it in and show us the Earl of old.

I don't know if anyone else has noticed this either, but it seems that the guys that are the most passionate and vocal about the sport their in, tend to have the best games if for only a short time.

I also noticed the correlation between Johnny Mack and Phil Helmuth. It seems they both react in similar ways to people.

Just a thought....

Maybe Earl should talk with John McEnroe and see if he has any pointers for him.... LOL

Jaden

 

[alstl]

McEnroe was far nuttier than Earl. For one thing he was on roids by his own admission and that messes with people's minds. I remember one match where he started screaming because he could hear a typewriter somewhere.

 

[justin.powell]

Maybe I am a bit nutty, but I like them all ALOT, especially Earl. I like Earl, Johnny mac, and Phil Helmuth. I think they all have a few issues but all are top players and very entertaining.