In her defense she did apologize – two days later. So nevermind, no defense here. She couldn’t suck it up and take the call like a professional. Instead she goes berserk, cussing and shaking her racket at someone who isn’t even technically a referee. Then takes two days to get off her pedestal and issue an apology for acting like a royal jerk. You go girl.

“I want to amend my press statement of yesterday,” Williams wrote, “and want to make it clear as possible — I want to sincerely apologize FIRST to the lines woman, Kim Clijsters, the USTA and mostly tennis fans everywhere for my inappropriate outburst. I’m a woman of great pride, faith and integrity and I admit when I’m wrong.

“I need to make it clear to all young people that I handled myself inappropriately and it’s not the way to act — win or lose, good call or bad call in any sport, in any manner.

“I like to lead by example. We all learn from experiences both good and bad. I will learn and grow from this and be a better person as a result.” (source)

His most famous incident was at Wimbledon in 1995. He was losing to Alexander Mronz and really lost it after the umpire Bruno Rebeuh had ruled against him numerous times during the game. The final straw was was Rebeuh calling out one of his serves. He walked off shouting “That’s it, I’m not playing”, and yelled to Rebeuh: “You are one of the most corrupt officials in the game and you can’t do that.”

The best part? As Tarango was leaving the court (and defaulting yet another match) to the sound of a booing crowd, his wife Benedicte walks up to Rebeuh and slaps him in the face. No way! You couldn’t write this any better!

This little faux pas cost Tarango to the tune of US$63,000 and also got him banned from two Grand Slam events. Ouch.

McEnroe could have been more popular. He played with a competitive fire and a fierce determination, traits that the public adores. But he also constantly argued and put down umpires and linesmen for what he perceived as bad calls.

“I know I can see the ball better than the officials,” he said. “I can ‘feel’ when a ball is out or not. What’s so frustrating is to know you’re right and not be able to do anything about it.”

When he was just 20, he was nicknamed “Superbrat” by the outrageous British tabloids in 1979. “He is the most vain, ill-tempered, petulant loudmouth that the game of tennis has ever know,” The Sun wrote. (source)

Ya know, McEnroe – some of us have this little thing called self-restraint i.e. we know when to shut our mouths. I’m sure every umpire that received the news that they had to ump a McEnroe game just rolled their eyes in contemplation of the verbal abuse they were guaranteed to endure. Way to make tennis fun, John.

I’ll leave you with this nice little clip of a trademark McEnroe outburst. What a jerk.