By Mike Kahn
CBS SportsLine Executive Editor
Sept. 29, 1998

Just the sight of Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa wrapping each other up in bear hugs has everything to do with why baseball is back in the hearts of America.

In this

There’s no arguing the point that McEnroe’s tantrums were something to see. (Allsport)

winner-take-all society of capitalists, it’s been a real treat to hear McGwire and Sosa go through the comic sketch of . . .

"You da man."

"No, you da man."

And so it went all season as Roger Maris’ home run record of 61 was shattered in the wake of McGwire’s stunning 70 homers and Sosa’s 66. They fed off each other all season – in many ways relieving pressure instead of compounding it. During their Sept. 7-8 series, they were consistently deferential to each other.

This was sportsmanship at its finest. Baseball made people smile again as these athletes basked in national glory in the prime spotlight of their careers.

BUT AWAY FROM THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF the national media and fawning fans toiled two has-been tennis players before 2,827 in Irving, Texas last weekend. In their 41st meeting of the mouths, uh, minds, Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe squared off at a senior tennis tournament Sunday night.

This senior tour – based on the Nuveen Masters Point Standings was fostered by Connors. No doubt, Jimmy has drawn equal parts love and hate from fans for more than 25 years. Not quite as old but just as out of hand in his day (if not more so), we have McEnroe. There are plenty of folks who believe he’s far better off with an electric guitar in his hands these days than a tennis racquet.

Nonetheless, It came right down to these two bad boys in the finals of this senior event Sunday. They split the first two sets, McEnroe winning the tie-breaker for the first set. Connors rolled to a 6-2 victory in the second set. Then came the final set that Connors ultimately pulled out 11-9.

They exchanged flares and glares. They barked at the officials. And when it was over, they didn’t even acknowledge each other with so much as a handshake.

Nobody ever applauded them for their sportsmanship. And they exemplify the difference between sportsmen and gamesmen. They are two of the best at gamesmanship in the history of individual sports.

THE QUESTION IS, WHICH DO WE PREFER as fans? So often Connors and McEnroe proved to be the guys we hated to love but watched them anyway. Regardless of the sharpness of their respective games during a given match, there was always the promise of entertainment – whether it was flying racquets or berating commentary to the officials.

It really was amusing – as much as we hated to admit it – regardless of the level of play.

Today’s standards have changed. The fans need athletes to believe in. If 1969 was the "summer of love" because of Woodstock and the proliferation of open use of sex and drugs, this has been the summer of love due to baseball. Despite all the ills of the world, the performances of McGwire and Sosa restored faith in the dreams of the every day man. That they spent time respecting each other and genuinely applauding the ability of the other guy was a bonus nobody could have expected.

As for the tired acts of Connors and McEnroe, it carries the same allure as the newly proposed George Foreman-Larry Holmes fight. Both confrontations are based on easy bucks from the fans who can’t let it go. They are both very tired acts.

But for some reason, the idea of Foreman and Holmes playing patty-cake for a few rounds isn’t anywhere near as obnoxious as the thought of the temper tantrums of Connors and McEnroe. Even as they approach middle age with children growing up, they still must perpetuate the immaturity and lack of sportsmanship that has become even more insidious in today’s athlete. For Connors to walk off the court in a fit of rage or McEnroe to yell at fans – it smacks of nothing more than being a weak cousin of the World Wrestling Federation (Should we change the Nuveen Tour to the World Tennis Federation?).

Now that this summer of love produced by baseball rolls to a close, why don’t you old guys do us all a favor and find a permanent hobby out of the public eye? When nobody expected it, thanks to McGwire and Sosa, baseball put sports back in perspective. It’s about making dreams come true. As sappy as it sounds, we needed it.

As for the other guys, we understand there is a liquidation sale for padded rocking chairs in New Caledonia. Take a left at the first light. You can’t miss it.