---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It’s also a shame because I didn’t have…"
description: "\"“It’s also a shame because I didn’t have John McEnroe pegged as an idiot. He seems bright, funny and quite liberated. Only a couple of weeks ago, he po..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f1/the-guardian-28688_idiot_it-s-also-a-shame-because-i-didn-t-have_442023.jpg"
---

#  It’s also a shame because I didn’t have John McEnroe…

![“It’s also a shame because I didn’t have John McEnroe pegged as an idiot. He seems bright, funny and quite liberated. Only a couple of weeks ago, he posted a great vlog about equal marriage in reply to some dodgy comments about lesbians by Margaret Court.” quote by The Guardian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f1/the-guardian-28688_idiot_it-s-also-a-shame-because-i-didn-t-have_442023.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f1/the-guardian-28688_idiot_it-s-also-a-shame-because-i-didn-t-have_442023.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f1/the-guardian-28688_idiot_it-s-also-a-shame-because-i-didn-t-have_442023.jpg)

> ““It’s also a shame because I didn’t have John McEnroe pegged as an idiot. He seems bright, funny and quite liberated. Only a couple of weeks ago, he posted a great vlog about equal marriage in reply to some dodgy comments about lesbians by Margaret Court.””

[The Guardian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-guardian/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker expresses disappointment that John McEnroe, who is generally seen as witty and open‑minded, was unfairly labeled an idiot, highlighting his supportive stance on equal marriage.

**In simple terms:** McEnroe was wrongly judged despite his progressive views.

Key Takeaway

Avoid quick judgments; recognize nuanced perspectives.

Themes

fairness media perception LGBTQ+ rights celebrity influence

Mood

reflective critical

Type

analytical commentary

When to use this quote

- social media commentary
- public debates
- celebrity interviews

Key Concepts

bias public discourse activism

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we better assess a public figure’s true stance?
- What role should media play in shaping opinions?

A Different Perspective

People may overlook positive contributions when focusing on controversy.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Idiot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idiot/)

## Related quotes

> [“It’s also a shame because I didn’t have John McEnroe pegged as an idiot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-guardian/it-s-also-a-shame-because-i-didn-t-have-john-mcenroe-pegged-as-an-2/)

[The Guardian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-guardian/)

> [“Here’s the ultimate glitch in his argument. If you extrapolate logically from John McEnroe’s suggestion that 699 people are better at tennis than Serena…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-guardian/here-s-the-ultimate-glitch-in-his-argument-if-you-extrapolate/)

[The Guardian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-guardian/)

> [“If it weren’t hysterical – if the amazing Serena Williams would really be 700th in the world if playing against men – this would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-guardian/if-it-weren-t-hysterical-if-the-amazing-serena-williams-would-really/)

[The Guardian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-guardian/)

> [As a kid I loved John McEnroe. They called me Mac because, while everyone else liked Borg, I was crazy about McEnroe. I tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachin-tendulkar/as-a-kid-i-loved-john-mcenroe-they-called-me-mac-because-while/)

[Sachin Tendulkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachin-tendulkar/)

> [Being on tour sends me crazy, I drink too much and out comes the John Mcenroe in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/being-on-tour-sends-me-crazy-i-drink-too-much-and-out-comes-the-john/)

[Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/)

> [Guys like John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg and Stefan Edberg were also very good grass court players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-krajicek/guys-like-john-mcenroe-bjorn-borg-and-stefan-edberg-were-also-very/)

[Richard Krajicek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-krajicek/)

> [One thing about the fantasy dinner party idea that no one considers is whether these people are going to get on. I would say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-webb/one-thing-about-the-fantasy-dinner-party-idea-that-no-one-considers/)

[Robert Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-webb/)

> [I'm John McEnroe-like. I'm coming forward every opportunity I get. My wingspan covers some ground at the net. My serve is OK. I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kuchar/i-m-john-mcenroe-like-i-m-coming-forward-every-opportunity-i-get-my/)

[Matt Kuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kuchar/)

> [Ivan Lendl was the best player I ever played. He was the first guy to bring the game to more of a power level…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mats-wilander/ivan-lendl-was-the-best-player-i-ever-played-he-was-the-first-guy-to/)

[Mats Wilander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mats-wilander/)

> [Look at guys like Larry Bird and George Brett and John McEnroe; that's what they did in their careers. They all wanted to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/look-at-guys-like-larry-bird-and-george-brett-and-john-mcenroe-that-s/)

[Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/)

> [John McEnroe...was arguably the best serve-and-volley man of all time, but then McEnroe was an exception to pretty much every predictive norm there was.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/john-mcenroe-was-arguably-the-best-serve-and-volley-man-of-all-time/)

[David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/)

> [I never suspected that we or any one person or program can create Serena Williams or John McEnroe or Pete Sampras.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-mcenroe/i-never-suspected-that-we-or-any-one-person-or-program-can-create/)

[Patrick McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-mcenroe/)

> [When you ask people about guys they didn't like because they were aggressive, there's me, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors; not too many names would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rose/when-you-ask-people-about-guys-they-didn-t-like-because-they-were/)

[Pete Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rose/)

> [John McEnroe has hair like badly turned broccoli.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-james/john-mcenroe-has-hair-like-badly-turned-broccoli/)

[Clive James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-james/)

> [An idea has no worth at all without believable characters to implement it; a plot without characters is like a tennis court without players.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-jones/an-idea-has-no-worth-at-all-without-believable-characters-to/)

[Chuck Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-jones/)

## More by The Guardian

> [“A gentle giant, not a sexist or possessive bone in his body”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-guardian/a-gentle-giant-not-a-sexist-or-possessive-bone-in-his-body/)

[The Guardian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-guardian/)

> [“But Serena Williams is right, albeit not as funny as she might have been: his statement is not factually based. 700th? Where did that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-guardian/but-serena-williams-is-right-albeit-not-as-funny-as-she-might-have/)

[The Guardian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-guardian/)

> [“In a patriarchal society like ours, says Horley, domestic violence will always be with us. “Women don’t even have equal pay. Girls are still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-guardian/in-a-patriarchal-society-like-ours-says-horley-domestic-violence-will/)

[The Guardian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-guardian/)

> [“It’s also a shame because I didn’t have John McEnroe pegged as an idiot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-guardian/it-s-also-a-shame-because-i-didn-t-have-john-mcenroe-pegged-as-an-2/)

[The Guardian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-guardian/)

> [“Domestic violence – the warning signs Advertisement Common abusive behaviours set out in Power and Control: • Jealousy and possessiveness. • Humiliating and insulting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-guardian/domestic-violence-the-warning-signs-advertisement-common-abusive/)

[The Guardian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-guardian/)

> [“The 2015 legislation concerning “coercive control” was also a step forward, attempting to tackle the techniques other than violence that are used by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-guardian/the-2015-legislation-concerning-coercive-control-was-also-a-step/)

[The Guardian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-guardian/)

> [“Sarah couldn’t handle prison and prison couldn’t handle her,” the inquest jury heard from a fellow prisoner.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-guardian/sarah-couldn-t-handle-prison-and-prison-couldn-t-handle-her-the/)

[The Guardian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-guardian/)

> [“There’s far greater awareness now – and the great thing is women know there’s help available.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-guardian/there-s-far-greater-awareness-now-and-the-great-thing-is-women-know/)

[The Guardian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-guardian/)

> [“Even if he had got the theoretical ranking correct, though, what’s his point? That physically stronger tennis players have an advantage over smaller ones?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-guardian/even-if-he-had-got-the-theoretical-ranking-correct-though-what-s-his/)

[The Guardian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-guardian/)

> [“argument na moją obronę, myślę: 'This is why I say McEnroe’s an idiot. I hesitate because it’s possible he was just trying to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-guardian/argument-na-moj-obron-my-l-this-is-why-i-say-mcenroe-s-an-idiot-i/)

[The Guardian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-guardian/)

> [“What a shame. She should have replied: “Dear John, you’re right. I probably would be about 700 in the rankings. But then, I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-guardian/what-a-shame-she-should-have-replied-dear-john-you-re-right-i/)

[The Guardian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-guardian/)

> [“And then the priest came. I’d never allow this now, but in those days, you didn’t know what best practice was. In front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-guardian/and-then-the-priest-came-i-d-never-allow-this-now-but-in-those-days/)

[The Guardian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-guardian/)

> [“If it weren’t hysterical – if the amazing Serena Williams would really be 700th in the world if playing against men – this would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-guardian/if-it-weren-t-hysterical-if-the-amazing-serena-williams-would-really/)

[The Guardian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-guardian/)

> [“And they’re all nice, cheerful environments, because that’s what the women deserve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-guardian/and-they-re-all-nice-cheerful-environments-because-that-s-what-the/)

[The Guardian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-guardian/)

> [“Problem is, John, there’s no point anybody competing. It’s all pointless. It’s just whiling away the time with a bit of entertainment before we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-guardian/problem-is-john-there-s-no-point-anybody-competing-it-s-all-pointless/)

[The Guardian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-guardian/)

[Explore all 19 The Guardian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-guardian/)

## More Idiot quotes

> [The truth is I've just never had any kind of plan at all for my career, which is probably not a very flattering thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-burrell/the-truth-is-i-ve-just-never-had-any-kind-of-plan-at-all-for-my/)

[Ty Burrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-burrell/)

> [Thirty guys equals five percent die-off among active wingsuit base jumpers. That means there's a flaw in our system and you're an idiot if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-potter/thirty-guys-equals-five-percent-die-off-among-active-wingsuit-base/)

[Dean Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-potter/)

> [You have to be an idiot to run out of gas…I just did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-burke/you-have-to-be-an-idiot-to-run-out-of-gas-i-just-did/)

[Brooke Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-burke/)

> [Mechanical instruments, potentially a vehicle of rational human purposes, are scarcely a blessing when they enable the gossip of the village idiot and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/mechanical-instruments-potentially-a-vehicle-of-rational-human/)

[Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/)

> [I need to look like an idiot at least twice a day to keep myself humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-need-to-look-like-an-idiot-at-least-twice-a-day-to-keep-myself/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [“But no idiot-proofing can overcome a determined idiot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/but-no-idiot-proofing-can-overcome-a-determined-idiot/)

[Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/)

> [One or two years ago, I didn't know who I was on court and I used to swear a lot. But now I've learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-federer/one-or-two-years-ago-i-didn-t-know-who-i-was-on-court-and-i-used-to/)

[Roger Federer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-federer/)

> [“He came for me. I couldn’t believe it. He came for me . Into a flying palace full of thousands of armed rakshasas in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/he-came-for-me-i-couldn-t-believe-it-he-came-for-me-into-a-flying/)

[Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/)

> [Why does man behave like perfect idiot? This is the problem I wish to deal with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-szent-gyorgyi/why-does-man-behave-like-perfect-idiot-this-is-the-problem-i-wish-to/)

[Albert Szent-Gyorgyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-szent-gyorgyi/)

> [Without sounding like a right idiot, my mum and my dad are my role models. They devoted everything to my sister and me -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/without-sounding-like-a-right-idiot-my-mum-and-my-dad-are-my-role/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [“The woman may be a biomedical engineer, but I begin to think that she is a certifiable idiot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-khoury/the-woman-may-be-a-biomedical-engineer-but-i-begin-to-think-that-she/)

[Jessica Khoury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-khoury/)

> [“Knowledge cannot replace friendship. I'd rather be an idiot than lose you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-to-spongebob/knowledge-cannot-replace-friendship-i-d-rather-be-an-idiot-than-lose/)

Patrick to Spongebob

> [Solemnity is the shield of idiots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/solemnity-is-the-shield-of-idiots/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“I’ve noticed that you are retarded, Dr. Phil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-leigh-stewart/i-ve-noticed-that-you-are-retarded-dr-phil/)

[Christy Leigh Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christy-leigh-stewart/)

> [“You heard what she said, idiot. She’s not dating, especially not a man her uptight daddy can’t stand the sight of.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/codi-gary/you-heard-what-she-said-idiot-she-s-not-dating-especially-not-a-man/)

[Codi Gary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/codi-gary/)

[Browse all 2,115 Idiot quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idiot/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“It’s also a shame because I didn’t have John McEnroe pegged as an idiot. He seems bright, funny and quite liberated. Only a couple of weeks ago, he posted a great vlog about equal marriage in reply to some dodgy comments about lesbians by Margaret Court.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "The Guardian"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-guardian/it-s-also-a-shame-because-i-didn-t-have-john-mcenroe-pegged-as-an/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Idiot"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-guardian/it-s-also-a-shame-because-i-didn-t-have-john-mcenroe-pegged-as-an/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f1/the-guardian-28688_idiot_it-s-also-a-shame-because-i-didn-t-have_442023.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f1/the-guardian-28688_idiot_it-s-also-a-shame-because-i-didn-t-have_442023.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f1/the-guardian-28688_idiot_it-s-also-a-shame-because-i-didn-t-have_442023.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It’s also a shame because I didn’t have John McEnroe pegged as an idiot. He seems bright, funny and quite…” — The Guardian",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "The Guardian",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-guardian/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“It’s also a shame because I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-guardian/it-s-also-a-shame-because-i-didn-t-have-john-mcenroe-pegged-as-an/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-guardian/it-s-also-a-shame-because-i-didn-t-have-john-mcenroe-pegged-as-an/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
