Episode 42: McEnroe is Autistic

A: And they're like, how does he anticipate the ball like this? And the answer is pattern matching. M: Ah, yes.

Embracing Autistic Strengths: Celebrating Tennis Icon John McEnroe's Neurodiversity

• #ActuallyAutistic podcast hosts Matt Lowry, LPP and Dr. Angela Kingdon explore how tennis legend John McEnroe exhibited many autistic traits throughout his career and personal life.

• McEnroe utilized his pattern recognition and visualization skills to anticipate the ball's movements, turning the game into a "math equation" – strengths commonly associated with autistic cognition.

• However, his on-court emotional reactions to unfair calls were unjustly portrayed by the media as "brat-like" behavior, rather than a natural response stemming from autistic traits like expectation sensitivity and scripting.

• McEnroe's wife, Patty, believes he is on the autism spectrum based on his routines, math skills, sensory issues, and focus on special interests like art and guitar.

• The podcast hosts argue that with a neurodiversity-affirming lens, McEnroe's meltdowns could have been understood as a reaction to an allistic world demanding conformity over authenticity.

• Now, in his later years, McEnroe embraces his autistic interests and characteristics, channeling them positively into charitable work, art, and voiceover projects.

• The discussion encourages listeners to identify and celebrate the autistic "SPINs" (special interests) they recognize in McEnroe's story, fostering a sense of community and cultural pride.

Did you catch all of McEnroe’s Autistic SPINs? In the comments, tell us which Autistic interests you picked up on, and use #AutisticCultureCatch to share your answer on your social media and connect with other listeners!

• McEnroe’s memoir: But Seriously

• eBook: You Cannot Be Serious : McEnroe, John, Kaplan, James

• Autistic people have big emotions—YouTube video: The Meltdown of all Meltdowns

• Article: John McEnroe: Star not he possibility of being Autistic, ‘I’m somewhere around there’

• Article: Review: In McEnroe, the Tennis Great Reflects on a Career Driven by His Exacting Strategy and Explosive Temper | Third Coast Review

• NPR episode: John McEnroe grapples with his legacy as tennis' bad boy

• Visual: McEnroe’s Warhol painting

• Article: McEnroe’s Charity Work Begins Off Court

• McEnroe’s voice work website

• Article: A Point in Time: McEnroe and the puff of chalk

Listen to next:

McEnroe loves chess and we know why! Episode 31: Chess is Autistic

McEnroe’s looking to break into voice over work and he’ll have plenty of company when he makes it: Episode 32: Animation is Autistic

• Check us out on Instagram

• Find us on Apple podcasts and Spotify

• Learn more about Matt at Matt Lowry, LPP

• Matt’s social media: Autistic Connections Facebook Group

• Learn more about Angela at AngelaLauria.com and Difference Press

• Angela’s social media: Twitter and TikTok

• TACP’s Autism-affirming TeePublic merch shop

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