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Random Tennis Player Biofile: Nancy Gill McShea
13 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
By Scoop Malinowski
First memory of tennis: When I was a kid my father talked about how he admired Maureen Connolly and later said it was good for tennis that Rosie Casals took the game out of the country clubs. I thought it was cool, so at age 13 a friend and I put on white shorts and Tee-shirts, rode our bikes to a clay court in Atlantic Beach, N.Y., and failed for several hours to keep the ball in play. I never tried again until I was in college. Very frustrating and extremely difficult sport.
Why do you love playing tennis: I loved – past tense at the moment – have serious hip and knee issues – because it was a challenge to learn topspin to keep the ball inside the lines after I had spent years trying to hit home runs in baseball/softball. I was successful at sports and determined to play tennis well. However, my father sent me a congratulatory baseball telegram in college — he signed it ‘Willie’ after our favorite player Willie Mays — said it was too bad I never could hit left handed, which is probably why my daughter Colette could beat me 6-0, 6-0 by hitting to my backhand when she was 11.
Favorite players to watch: Always John McEnroe, followed by Steffi Graf, Chris Evert, Jennifer Capriati and Andre Agassi.
Favorite courts to play: Oh, I was just a hacker so I could play anywhere.
Greatest tennis moment(s): When Steffi Graf beat Hingis to win the 1999 French singles title. Every John-Connors and John-Borg match. The Capriati-Serena and Capriati-Henin U.S. Open battles. The 1999 Venus-Hingis three-set U.S. Open semifinal. I pumped my fist when Steffi stormed off the court after she lost to Martina in a three-set Open semi and Martina tried to congratulate her. Ditto when John lost to Courier in the 1992 Open round of 16 and he yelled at Leslie Visser, told her he had warned her not to approach him. Many more, including the Sampras-Corretja 1996 Open quarterfinal. Could go on and on. Personally, my daughter Colette and I won the doubles tournament at the beach club and were finalists in the Equitable Mother-Daughter tournament. I hung out at net, she covered the whole back court.
Most painful tennis moment: Borg’s victory over John in the 1980 Wimbledon final and when Lendl beat John in the 1984 French final. Personally, I ruptured my plantaris tendon in 1978. Didn’t stretch or warm up. Told the emergency room doc. I was in the best shape of my life and angry that I would be on crutches most of the summer.
Favorite tennis books: Jimmy Connors Saved My Life by Joel Drucker; EPIC by Matt Cronin; and Tennis in New York, the book I co-authored with Dale Caldwell. I would add McEnroe’s You Cannot Be Serious but I knew most of the story so I have only read parts of it.
Funny tennis memory: I was a competitive tennis parent and once ran down on the court during a junior match to tell Colette and her opponent that the score was wrong and they should start the previous game over again. Her opponent’s parent freaked out… I have the temper of, but not the talent of, a John McEnroe. I once threw my racquet across the court during a doubles match and my opponent yelled: I hate it when she gets like this! My doubles partners would regularly say to me — cheerfully –after I would make the first error and throw myself around: “Are we going to have to go through this the entire match?” and I would relax and laugh.
First famous tennis player you ever met: Mary Carillo. I was coaching the St. Mary’s High School varsity tennis team – Mary started the team when she was a student at the school. Her sister Gina was on my team. When I arrived at practice at a local club after school, Mary was sitting on the wall. I almost choked, could hardly speak when she stood up and shook my hand. It was 1978 and Mary was still on the Tour. Second would be John, of course, whenever I interviewed him…Bill Scanlon came to my house in the early 80s. He was seeing my younger sister Jane at the time and it was the day John and Fleming defaulted their U.S. Open match. They said they were stuck in traffic.
Nancy co-authored "Tennis In New York"
Scoop Malinowski · May 8, 2012 at 10:30 pm
Just another very interesting tennis journey…
Nancy Gill McShea · May 8, 2012 at 11:17 pm
Thanks, Scoop. Every person who sets out on the tennis journey has a story to tell. Doesn’t matter if people are famous or not, or whether stories focus on a 10-year-old kid, a senior in the 75 age category, an official, administrator or a committed volunteer, they’re all unique and fascinating.
Scoop Malinowski · May 8, 2012 at 11:40 pm
Everyone single tennis player I have ever encountered is unique and fascinating, I have almost got into a fight with one arrogant guy at a tournament now, years later after we bumped into each other we are good friends now, rooted in playing a 3 1/2 hour tournament match years ago that neither of us will ever forget. When we first saw each other years after that match by accident, we just smiled and were friends, even though we hated each other the last time we were together. Even the guys and girls who aren’t good who show up all the time to keep trying, you have to respect the effort. Took a long time to realize it Nancy but tennis is the greatest sport there is. Like one time around court 12 during the Open about 10 years ago I walked between courts and my ear picked up a young black woman saying to someone, “…I love tennis, I don’t know what I’d do without it.” Never forget that. I wish I could go back and Biofile her too )
Nancy Gill McShea · May 8, 2012 at 11:58 pm
You’re absolutely right, Scoop. Tennis is the greatest sport. My son Justin compares tennis to two gladiators sparring in medieval times. And Robert Minton wrote in his book, Forest Hills — “Tennis is a form of celebration of life at its most challenging level. Its rapid evolution from a casual exchange to a grim struggle engaging the whole body and soul may simply disclose man’s eternal response to the possibilities his body and mind and spirit can accomplish.” Or as Neil Amdur has said, “Life is a 5-set match on clay.”
Dan Markowitz · May 9, 2012 at 3:29 am
You people are getting very heavy here.
Scoop Malinowski · May 9, 2012 at 11:31 am
Dan you had maybe the heaviest quote of the year when you said listening to Jackson Browne music was like “an evocation of your soul.” Still haven’t figured out what that means.
Scoop Malinowski · May 9, 2012 at 11:36 am
Nancy this is a good quote: “…grim struggle engaging the whole body and soul may simply disclose man’s eternal response to the possibilities his body and mind and spirit can accomplish.†If you fight hard enough miracles can happen on the court, early on I was losing 06 03 to an old guy but he knew how to play and I didn’t and I somehow kept trying and turned it around and won 75 63 because I would not quit. So many magical wins from where the other guy just knew he had me wrapped up. When you can do that, somehow find a way to succeed from failure, it’s just such an inspiring feeling that is almost priceless.
Nancy Gill McShea · May 9, 2012 at 12:52 pm
I’m laughing. It is a heavy quote but it’s true. That’s what is so fascinating about tennis. Think about Sampras beating Corretja in that 1996 Open quartefinal. Classic!
Scoop Malinowski · May 9, 2012 at 1:10 pm
Pete played possum at the end, feigned the illness, hobbling around like he might fall over, then aced Corretja. Trickery at it’s best. I remember Klitschko told me when he fought Lewis, Lewis faked like he was hurt a few times to lure Klitschko to open up but then he came back firing. The great ones know how to bluff. Like Bernard Hopkins said, “If you can bluff em you can beat em.” WOuld love to see that fifth set of Sampras-Corretja again, one of the most dramatic matches ever.
Nancy Gill McShea · May 10, 2012 at 3:55 am
You really think it was a fake???? Yikes.
Scoop Malinowski · May 10, 2012 at 1:12 pm
Yes I do Nancy. I know it’s impossible to prove. My theory: Pete was so desperate to win that Open after going slamless that year. He put so much pressure on himself. At the end, with Corretja playing out of his mind, Pete’s inner warrior needed a wildcard, something to save him, something to change the flow of the match. He suddenly looked/became ill so as to throw off the concentration of Corretja. And it worked. Pete’s guts won him that match and his cleverness and creativity to find a way. I also think the crying in Australia vs. Courier was also partly contrived and partly natural. Please don’t take this the wrong way and I’m not trying to make Pete look bad in any way. Tennis champions are ruthless and sometimes need some extra help sometimes and they take advantage of situations. Just a theory.
Nancy Gill McShea · May 10, 2012 at 3:34 pm
Wow. I believe you. I was going to mention Pete’s anguish in Australia, too. You know, my father was a Wall Street guy turned New York City detective during the Great Depression, and he always told me I am naive. Guess so. I keep hearing my father’s echo lately. Bobby Kennedy, one of my heroes, was the only publicly ruthless guy I recognized in my younger frame of reference because everyboy said he was. 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · May 10, 2012 at 4:23 pm
Nancy; We’re all naive about some things. Especially people with good hearts. Even the sharpest minds who can be so smart are also dumb in certain areas. Just an opinion.