• Big Lead Sports, Thursday, June 16, 2011 9:30 AM

John McEnroe says what tennis needs to win fans is a little blood, sweat and tears. "We need intense marketing to boost interest among casual fans," he said, during a June 14 teleconference to promote his match against Jimmy Connors. "We Need a 'Hard Knocks' for tennis." He implied that tennis' image is little too crisply ironed and needs a few undeleted expletives. Writes columnist Barry Janoff, "When the New York Jets were featured last season on HBO's reality show, 'Hard Knocks,' it brought national attention to the team. That was due in part to the gritty, up-close and sweaty nature of the show. But it was also due to the in-your-face expletive-deleted language of head coach Rex Ryan, who popped f-bombs as if they were sucking candies. Attention HBO or Tennis Channel: That's what tennis icon John McEnroe says is needed to help market his sport." How about combining tennis with boxing?

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