The Outsider: A Memoir

He was one of a kind. Not sure there will ever be another Jimbo. An easy read that brings back many memories of players I watched growing up. A very careful bio book that reveals a softer side not before seen when it comes to love, family, and how important the sport of tennis is to him. If you want to know Jimmy better than you previously did and hear the highs and lows in his life, get The Outsider now.

I am a tennis player and fan of professional tennis. I never was a fan of Jimmy but I respected his tennis. I am really not a fan of this person after reading the book. I don't know if I can recommend it to anyone

I vividly recall Connors final run at the US Open, playing night matches against McEnroe and Krickstein, and how magical that run was and how transfixed we all were watching him play with the heart of a lion. He brought electric energy to his matches and he does the same with his autobiography. Connors has an authentic voice and is a natural storyteller who is very funny. The book is an easy and fun read - hard to put down. It will make you laugh out loud (stories about Nasty's and Jimmy's antics are priceless) and choke you up with emotion when he talks about his mom's final days. I highly recommend it.

Jimmy Connors was the proverbial bad boy of tennis. Although his profane words and sometimes vulgar antics on the court could be a distraction or comic relief, there is no doubting his talent with his T2000 racquet or the fire in his belly from childhood on.

A sports bio is not literary fiction. It is a way to tell the world about the pressures of a sport, the regimen, the other players, and often, the burn-out. In this way, THE OUTSIDER is a typical sports bio/memoir. Jimmy doesn't mince words about his behavior, his addictions (gambling), and some not-so-fond memories of other players or tour operators.

I did find it surprising that he would use this forum to discuss aspects of his relationship with Chris Evert and then not name the woman he had an affair with that almost destroyed his marriage to Patti.

The story of Patti trying to fit into the Connors' clan, Jimmy's love of his two children, and his love of dogs keep him on my heroes' list. Some of the other. . .it was a brand of showmanship that is now history.

Readable, a little repetitive.

I loved this era of tennis and although I was not a huge Connors fan, I respected his talent. This bio did a great job of explaining his formation, and that does give insight into why he played the way he did and why his attitude was--and remains--as it is. And that is part of the problem. Connors seems to think that everything is excusable for him as long as he "owns" it. His affection for his early mentors is clear, and nicely detailed. However, his cocky assessments of Chris Evert, Arthur Ashe and Andrea Agassi come off as petty, judgmental, and immature. As for his big reveal of the unintended pregnancy with Evert, it seems he used it here to underscore how selfish she was. Notably, a few key elements of the story are missing. Connors did not include his response when she first told him of the pregnancy, nor (apparently) did he plead with her to change her mind about how she wanted to handle it. If he developed some guilt about this episode over the years, he should have talked to Evert about it-- or a therapist. It really was not for public disclosure.
Additionally, he paints Evert as moody and promiscuous which makes one wonder why he was engaged to her in the first place! He brags throughout the book about his "putting it all out there" approach to the game, then criticizes Evert for taking their mixed doubles matches too seriously. The whining about having to practice with her when they were dating, and how it helped her game, and not his, is just petty. Interestingly, he repeats a quote his grandmother often told him: to keep a little mystery about himself. But then he seems to dislike the fact that Evert (and Agassi) did just that--choosing to keep some elements of her private life private and keeping a restrained demeanor in public.
The narrative of his later career seems a bit disjointed, and Connor's descriptions of his wife's responses to his cheating, near-divorce and gambling are sometimes puzzling. In the end, his pride and affection for his family is clear. It is great that Connors has found peace as a family man in his later years. But hurting someone you once loved just to make a few bucks is not virtuous, no matter how you look at it.

Since I have been following tennis for almost 50 years, through Jimmy's era, I looked forward to ready his book. But...it was a little disappointing. Uneven quality, and a little shallow in content and feeling. I guess I would recommend it to those who remember the era and/or were fans or interested observers of this guy - but, otherwise, not so sure.

It's a little to self indulgent and he gets annoying. He talks about all the tournaments he won but most were not majors. He made a lot of money on the promotional tours for Vegas but this book gets old!

I am a little over half way through the book and am very disappointed in it. I was a fan of Jimmy Connors, but this book seems very selfserving and rambling.

Especially the secret abortion of Chris Evert....very bad taste. I saw him answer the question put to him by an interviewer as to why he put it in the book and he replied something to the effect that it was a part of his life...he should have thought of the other people in his life when he wrote the book.

Anyone who grew up playing or watching tennis in the 1970's will enjoy this book. My favorite tennis autobiography is still John McEnroe's You Can't Be Serious. But The Outsider was still an enjoyable read.

I have read the memoirs of Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Arthur Ashe, and Nastase and liked them all. I liked this book even better. I have always been fascinated by Jimmy Connors. But somehow I was worried his book would be boring or self-centered or trite. Boy was I wrong. I just finished The Outsider and I feel like I have just spent a weekend at his house where he told me everything and held nothing back. There are a lot of surprises. I leave having been entertained, inspired, and even mentored a little about tennis and life. A truly great sports memoir.

This book exceeded my expectations. I've always liked Jimmy Connors and his style. But I thought the book would be a "watered down" version of his life. Boy was I wrong! Jimbo didn't hold back anywhere and it kept my attention throughout the book. I would highly recommmend it.

A peek inside the life of a professional athelete at the top of the game and displays the human side of Jimmy Conners, a man with problems like everyone else but on a bigger stage.

I lost interest as the book went along with all the names and dates and events.

Once a jerk and still sounds like one. Cocky, addicted to gambling, incredibly talented and worked his tail off, so you have to give him all the credit for that. But with a little less extra curricular activity, he could have had an even more amazing legacy. The book leaves me with the strong impression that it should not be OK for an athlete to bet on himself though I am not sure why. Very little in this book makes Connors sound classy , but he never seemed to care about that when he was playing, so why should he care now? He is who he is.

I always loved Jimmy Connors when he was playing in his prime because he was a guy who would never give up. This book is written like him, full speed ahead with no apologies. It made me long for the good old days of tennis when it was fun to watch.

As a US Open tennis fan from Forest Hills days and the same age as Jimmy, re living his career in his own words and style was fabulous. The Mac and Nasty stories from tournaments New Yorkers never heard of could only be told first hand.

The passing of Vitas, so tragic, brought home by Jimmy 's unique friendship.

The Chrissie disclosure - judge for yourself - I felt did not add enough to the Jimmy being Jimmy story to warrant inclusion.

All in - a great read - a Jimmy fan or not - tennis would not be the same without him.

TB
A US OPEN FAN OF JIMMY

I love tennis and would love a dollar for how many matches I have watched....and played... over the years....I began watching religiously around 1975 or so and know lots about all the tennis stars....thus my curiosity was piqued was Conners came out with the book, as I was with all the other tennis greats that have written books about themselves. I never really liked Conners, his personality or it integrity on the court. Now I know why. You would think after all the things he has gone thru he would have matured in some way and shown some grace and demonstrated some soundness of mortal character, but no. The whole book was all about "me" and how great I am and how much better I am than everyone else. The only saving grace in the book, I think, is his love for his dog and his wife. That's why I gave it two stars. Otherwise.....the book is a loser and so is he. Lastly, how could he write about the indiscretions about he and Chris Evert and not tell her beforehand what he was going to write. Makes me sick.

It's really interesting to hear about what went on behind the scenes and to get Jimmy's point of view. You definitely understand him better though you may not agree with his viewpoint all of the time. First third was probably the best and then just OK after that.

Jimmy Conners may have been one of the bad boys of tennis, but he's exhibited bad taste and bad judgement when he tells all on his friends and family in this memoir. I enjoyed reading the parts about his tennis career. He was an exceptional player, no doubt, but Nastase's sex addiction, his own gambling addiction, his wife's medical problems, Chris Evert's "issues," and some of the foul language used in telling all this left me wanting to re-read Agassi's book "Open." Conners said he uses his dogs as shrinks. I suggest he move on to one that can give him some much-needed feedback.

Have always been a big Jimmy Connors fan. He was one of the best ever. I was disappointed to read this book and to see what an arrogant, prima donna, spoiled prick and mama's boy he is. He takes hardly any responsibility for anything in his life. He makes poor comments about Chris Evert though he was totally mismatched to be with some who had Chris' class. His mother appears classless too. Allowing him to bring his girlfriend to sleep (separate bedrooms he says) in her house when he has a wife and infant shows what Mrs. Connors class level is, very low.
A great tennis player but a real low rent man. If you want to read the book you will learn little except what a jerk Connors is.

I loved this book and I gave it 5 STARS.....I have always been a Connors follower and totally enjoyed watching him play....he always gave the 110%....Plus he was in my era and this was before the game acquired major amounts of money ie: football, hockey, basketball etc.....I will keep it in my I-pad....and will read it again.....Found a lot about Jimmy that I didn't know....I would recommend this read to all tennis fans....It just wasn't as easy a game then as it seems to be now.....Patricia.....

This is more than you might expect. It's not a "how great I was" autobiography nor a "tell-all" book filled with shocking stories of the sordid events in a famous tennis star's life; it is perhaps a bit of both of those to some degree but generally it's a real story of a real outsider who conquered the tennis world. Not that Connors is always straight-forward and endearing as he tells his story: he has many axes to grind (with fellow tennis stars and others) and tends to put himself in the most favorable light of most contentious events he was a part of, but, in general, he seems quite honest about his life and mistakes and is not unduly proud of his accomplishments. He's a likeable guy.

Jimmy Connors did come from humble roots in East St. Louis, Illinois, coached by his mother to be good enough at 16 for him to venture out to California at that age - alone - to receive professional coaching. The fact that his mother remained an important force in his tennis career caused many in pro tennis circles (including tennis media people) to deem Connors as a 'momma's boy' and to be highly critical of his mother. We get at the heart of Connors as he writes of the importance of his mother in his life and his anger at how she was treated:

"Why was it OK for Joe Montana's dad to teach his son football or Wayne Gretzky's dad to teach him hockey but it wasn't OK for Gloria Connors to teach her son tennis?"

Indeed.

There are plenty of salacious passages about his wild years on the tennis circuit, a wealth of insider information about that world behind the facade of Wimbledon and the US Open (including why he loathes the All-England Club, for example), his almost-marriage to Chris Evert, pot-shots at John McEnroe, Andre Agassi, Arthur Ashe and other players, his occasionally-difficult but long-lasting marriage to his Playboy Playmate wife, Patti, and much more. It's a very interesting read if you lived through those years where Connors was the original 'bad boy' of tennis. Whether Connors intends it or not, you get the sense that Jimmy Connors was only temporarily a "star", and remained just a driven, talented - but somewhat flawed (as we all are) - regular guy from East St. Louis, Illinois.

Almost a day by day account of a man who is still in awe of himself. This book provide no story line and dpes not hold readers intrest from one page to another. One of the poorest books I have read in years

This book will speak to you, I believe most especially to those who vividly recall the fraternity of Connors, Nastase,
Lendl, Borg and Johnny Mac amongst others in the 70s and 80s, the era of the bad boys with talent and big personalities to back the glib verbosity that made them captivating stars.

This is not a tell all. This is not artfully written. At times he cuts the telling of a tale to a paragraph whilst waxing about the origins of his footwork, topspin, backhand to the tenth degree; in here lies the beauty of THE OUTSIDER -- this is Jimmy Connors spinning the narrative central to his being, it's all about tennis and its always, always been about tennis.

His love for the game and his determination to be the best radiates with honesty in pure Connors directness.

There are some classic stories, pure gems about friendships, foolishness, romance, and recklessness and lessons learned.
Tales from his life which he has the right to portion out as he sees fit (which he does and right now I'm referring to Chris Evert--his one time sweetheart, but certainly no sweetheart) and again, doled out with truth and just enough information held back to maintain respect.

Evert, is old news the other relationships are far more wooly, fun and eye-opening. His wife Patti is his backbone, his children are a revelation to him, the complex relationship with his mother Gloria is explained and defined. what a woman!

But in the end this autobiography is Jimmy Connors telling the world how much he loved the game, explaining his issues but being true to himself.

I miss the bad boy(s) of tennis. Connors was talented, worked hard, showed his emotions, played to the crowd.

Instead we have good players with guarenteed contracts, few offer excitement; I know I shouldn't yearn for years gone by-- that makes me old-- but I'm not hankering for the 'good ole days,'-- I saw the best, I recall the rivalrys, I KNEW the players names. I'm not sure Connors is THE OUTSIDER. I think he's the man.

Don't miss reading this, it's more than a walk down memory lane.

This is a good book. JC should be proud. He got it right.

Fascinating and interesting book about a great tennis champion but did notice a number of inaccuracies. On page 11 It was claimed Connors defeated McEnroe in the 1981 Wembley final 26 36 63 64 62, which is actually the INCORRECT scoreline. Connors defeated his fellow American 36 26 63 64 62. On page 111 It was claimed between 1974 and 1979 Connors didn't play in the French Open, which is actually INCORRECT. Connors played in the 1979 French Open and was beaten in the semi finals by Victor Pecci in four sets. On page 203 It was claimed at the 1979 Wimbledon Championships Vijay Amritraj had match points against Bjorn Borg but failed to convert them, which is actually INCORRECT. Borg was one game from defeat during the fourth set but held his serve and was never match point down. Borg went on to prevail in five sets. On page 247 It was claimed in 1982 Bjorn Borg went through the qualifying process in Monte Carlo and again at the Alan King Classic in Las Vegas but failed both times, which is INCORRECT. Borg was beaten in Monte Carlo in the quarter finals of the main draw by Yannick Noah. On page 255 It was claimed at the 1982 Wimbledon Championships, Connors played Drew Gitlin in the third round and finished him off in a fourth set tiebreaker, which is INCORRECT. Connors defeated his second round opponent Australian John Alexander in a fourth set tie breaker. Connors defeated Drew Gitlin 75 in the fourth set, the match scoreline reading 62 67 75 75. On page 303 It was claimed Mikael Pernfors was runner up at Roland Garros a month before his five set match against Connors at the 1987 Wimbledon championships, which is actually INCORRECT. Pernfors was the beaten finalist at Roland Garros in 1986.

This book was very disappointing. Every other word was "I". I had hoped that he would give some deeper insight to the world of tennis as he lived it, but it was mostly a detailed compendium of his matches with little objectivity. Very shallow.

Jimmy Connors is the most significant player of the Open era, period. End of discussion. His brand of tennis, coupled with his larger-than-life persona, ushered in the Golden Age of Tennis. The rise in the tennis' popularity is intertwined with his rise in the tennis rankings. As most of the era's important players have written at least one book, Connors' absence from the bookshelves left a noticeable void. At last, that emptiness has been filled. To an extent. Those expecting to hear Jimbo's unique insight into some of the most important tennis matches in history--after all, at one time, he had participated in 16 of the 17 highest rated matches in history--will be disappointed, as Connors offers but a cursory view of his most significant matches. In its place, Connors opens up with riveting stories of the events that molded his character. For this alone, the book merits a five-star review. Psychologists tell us that much of what is wrong (and right) in adults can be traced to events that occurred during our childhood. Some trace these same qualities in a man back to his relationship with his mother. In his autobiography, "The Outsider," Connors offers a mother lode of evidence supporting both theories.

I was fortunate to have been a part of the Connors inner circle during all 5 of his U.S. Open victories, and let me tell you, it was one hell of a ride. As the first telegenic tennis superstar, Connors was a magnet for the media, fans and sponsors. To have witnessed him play in 1974 was to have had a front row seat to history. He was so good, that he managed to turn his mistakes into gold. For example, when he lost in the 1975 Australian Open finals to John Newcombe, he turned that defeat into the cash machine that was the second Challenge Match - a concept that, more than any other, ushered in big money to the tennis game.

Connors' indefatigable appearances promoting his book prompted much discussion on an issue that many feel should have been left out of the book. I will not add to that discussion. However, I will say that "The Outsider" leaves the reader with the impression that the tennis legend had a lot to get off his chest. And he succeeds in doing so. For instance, he attempts to settle the score with Andre Agassi, over the younger player's major dis of Connors in his book, "Open." On another occasion, he calls Arthur Ashe a coward for not confronting him on, what the reader is lead to believe is, the issue of lawsuits. That was not the case. Ashe left the note in his Wimbledon locker in 1977 because he felt Connors should have attended the ceremonies commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Wimbledon tournament.

There are a several other gaffes that few others will catch. Among them: the Donald Trump story about Trump's seating during the Connors-Agassi 1987 match--the Connors group was sitting in the USTA box, and Trump left us to go to his own box; the book claims that Borg never beat Connors at the U.S. Open, but the Swede defeated him during the 1981 semifinals; there is a picture of Robert Harper wearing a "James Gang" t-shirt that is misidentified as me. But these are relatively minor errors that can be corrected in subsequent editions.

The book is chock full of player anecdotes and hilarious recollections. But more than anything else, the book is a love letter to his beloved wife Patti. Patti's theme song may very well be "Stand by Your Man," because she certainly has, through the most trying of circumstances. I was one of the few Connors friends who stood by her through some of her darkest days that are well documented in the book, and I can honestly say, she has always been a star. Connors reveals much information about his relationship with his mother and grandmother that was, heretofore, unknown. And, as referenced above, it provides a clearer understanding of not only Jimmy Connors the tennis player, but Jimmy Connors the person.

Douglas Henderson Jr., was a main part of Jimmy Connors' inner circle during the U.S. Opens from 1974-1992. Henderson has documented his relationship with Connors and Ashe in his book "Endeavor to Persevere: A Memoir on Jimmy Connors, Arthur Ashe, Tennis and Life."

As tennis memoirs go, this is decent. It certainly wins in straight sets over "Andre's Complaint" - Agassi's long-winded rant about how much he hated tennis, how his life sucked, and so on. Of course, Connors makes that point, and he pulls no punches regarding his views on Agassi and many others on the tour.

Connors is like Popeye; throughout the book, he might as well be saying "I Am What I Am," and that's fine. He apologizes for some of the stupid things he did, including the affair he had that almost destroyed his marriage, his gambling, and so on. But for the most part his approach is to say "take me as I am, or don't waste your time." It's refreshing in a time when we prefer our bad boy heroes to weep and exude remorse, sincere or not.

Does this make for great reading (no one, not even Connors, would claim this is "literature")? Not really. It's a very easy, quick read, and it's anything but profound. However, it makes for a fun read on a three- or four-hour flight, and then you can pick up Proust or something else of a more weighty nature.

As an aside (I don't like to base my reviews on the format or price of the book), this is one of the few e-books that I've downloaded, and it explains why I prefer my books to be, well, books. There are no photos (i understand that the book had photos), and the weird hyphenations and other technoglitches throughout make me wish that I had the paperback. Just sayin....

I always enjoyed watching Connors play, and for the most part I enjoyed the book, though I found it unnecessarily profane. But all in all, I think Connors has unwittingly outed himself as something besides an outsider, and in doing so has discredited much of his own bad behavior. I was aware of Jimmy's early history in Belleville, and I can see that in childhood and early adolescence he most certainly was a tennis outsider, given the prevailing demographics of the time. But as I read his account of his teen years, alarm bells began to ring in my head. At 16, Connors was essentially apprenticed to one of the world's great tennis players, and he spent the remainder of his youth tooling around in a late-model Corvette, mingling with great players, playing with Hollywood A-listers, and hanging around with a group of friends that included a recording star and a TV star. He ascended through the ranks rapidly, got great coaching from big-name pros as well as from his indomitable mom, and included among his romantic interests Chris Evert and Miss Universe Marjie Wallace. From early in his career, he enjoyed friendships with numerous other world-class players. Maybe the outsider mentality was a good self-motivational tool on the court, but it didn't actually have much to do with this guy's life from age 16 onwards, except insofar as he unnecessarily alienated people.

I had always imagined that Jimmy Connors was a fascinating person behind the public face. He was my favorite player growing up, although I was a bit too young to have been aware of him until around 1980 when he was third in the conversation behind Borg and McEnroe. His upbringing in East St. Louis wasn't exactly the club atmosphere that creates champion tennis players, but he was blessed with mother and grandmother that could really play the game and they had him playing it from an early age.

It's hard to review Jimmy Connors's reflections without making comparisons to John McEnroe's earlier autobiography. In McEnroe's book he and Borg were everything and Connors somewhat inconsequential. McEnroe blames Borg's retirement on his own disillusionment with the game. McEnroe may have ended Borg's streak at Wimbledon, but Connors prevented Borg from that elusive U.S. Open title on more than one occasion.

Having not picked up Connors until 1980, I saw little of the bad boy reputation he built in the mid 1970s. Even when Connors was pugnacious, he was always overshadowed by McEnroe. The memoir fills us in the many controversies of his early career and the ire he drew from so many of the other players. I hadn't realized that he all but ignored the early ATP so that he could play the events he wanted. I didn't know that he played so many event matches in Las Vegas for big money. I didn't know that he boycotted the French Open during the peak years of his career.

Connors freely admits that he played tennis for money and tried to make as much money as possible. His different outlook on the game didn't win many friends in tennis. Though the friends he did make seemed to last his whole career. His exploits with llie Nastase and friendship Vita Gerulaitis show a different side of his persona. Connors doesn't praise or knock the personalities of other players like McEnroe does. Where John will spell out his dislike of Ivan Lendl or Brad Gilbert, Connors will tell similar stories more amused than perturbed. The only person he really calls out is Andre Agassi, a player that he has never forgiven for his early antics. Maybe most important, Connors reminds the reader that he had the longevity of an NFL kicker in a game built for players under 25.

Jimmy Connors has given honest reflections and a great chronicle of his unique career. It's essential reading for anyone interested in pro tennis during his era.

I borrowed this book on my Kindle after seeing Jimmy on Jay Leno's show...and I was going on a cruise. Jimmy was starting his career when I was born, and I was always in to sports, but I never totally got in to tennis (but I am very competitive in many things I do).

Jimmy puts a lot in to his book. Not only does he recall the many games that he was in, sometimes with details as "I'm down 2-4, 15-30, and I'm about to serve". Sometimes I would lose a little patience with the detail of the game, but, I knew it was for a purpose because Jimmy did a nice job of mixing different parts of his life in to the stories. Throughout the book, he also talks about his family as well as his Tennis family/friends. I can honestly say I love the way his mom and 2Mom (his grandmother, love that name) raised him and taught him Tennis. I loved how his mom, 2mom and himself would sneak in to facilities just to practice. It was fun reading about his fun times with his friends - like you were right there with them.

There's a lot of profanity in the book, I'll just warn you. Lots of F* words and then some. That was part of Jimmy's personality. At times, I felt like Jimmy was truly in front of me telling his story in a very natural way. I felt his frustrations with Tennis Associations, frustrations with himself (and his gambling). He speaks about his disabilities/challenges (OCD, ocular-motor sensory deficit). What I felt most connected to was his ability to describe his dating/marriage situations - many couples have issues - and sometimes its comforting to know that even people with money/looks have issues too - but I was glad that they fought through it and are together today. I can't imagine trying to raise a young family and traveling as much as he did. When he described some of his family members passing away, I totally cried as if I knew them. At the end, I knew I was going to cry and saved it for when I could read the ending on my own.

Loved the book - finished it on a short cruise and I would recommend it - even if you weren't a huge tennis fan.

Most memoirs of professional athletes are platitudes to hard work and thank you notes to loyal friends and supporters, and dull renditions of the great accomplishments of the great athlete. There is nothing dull about Jimmy Connors's honest and raw account of his extraordinary career on and off the tennis court.

Early in the book Connors refers to himself as a working class kid from Belleville, Illinois, a part of East St. Louis, Illinois, a label that he uses throughout the book. Working class, however, is a misleading description of Connors and limiting. His background was so much more, providing him with layers of complexity that created this hot tempered, yet determined personality. It's true that his Dad, Jimmy Connors, Sr., was a toll booth operator, yet it was a plum politcal position, given to him by his own father, Jimmy's grandfather, who was the Mayor of East St. Louis. Indeed the Connors family was so well known in the St. Louis area that his father's funeral was attended by Cardinals' icon, Stan Musial.

Jimmy's mother, Gloria Connors, was essentially tennis royalty. She was nationally ranked before World War II, and lived in Hollywood in the days when women were not supposed to have careers. She dutifully returned to East St. Louis to settle down. But her tennis friends in California were the connection that advanced Jimmy's career. One of them was the great Pancho Segura, who coached tennis to Hollywood celebrities. Gloria convinced Pancho to take Jimmy on as a pupil,and she and Jimmy moved to Hollywood while his father and brother Johnny remained behind. While it is true that Gloria waited tables and gave tennis lessons to afford their apartment and lessons with Segura, Jimmy's high school buddies included Segura's son Spencer Segura, who would become a lawyer, Dezi Arnez, Jr. and Dino Martin. He hung out with Dino's Dad, Dean Martin, and other celebrities, such as Frank Sinatra. And Jimmy became a member of Segura's tennis buddies which included Bobby Riggs and Jack Kramer. Gloria's side of the family was in fact all tennis all the time, and while his mother and maternal grandmother taught him how to play tennis, his maternal grandfather "Pops" taught him how to jump rope and perfect his conditioning.

Players and coaches on the tennis circuit have long claimed that Connors was one of the few stars in the 1970s and 1980s who did not indulge in drugs, and this book confirms it. His colleagues knew he was a straight arrow, like the baseball player Roger Clemens, and even those heavily into cocaine, such as his friend Vitas Gerulaitis, protected Connors from drugs at every turn. Hence the title of this memoir, "The Outsider," is particularly apt.

Connors was also a genuine rebel, if more of an individualist than revolutionary, a tennis player with the poetic soul of an Irishman, which was his ethnic background. He became the star attraction in Bill Riordan's circuit of independent players.

Honest to a fault, Connors is a man who loves and hates with equal passion. He mostly loves his buddies Ilie Nastase and Vitas Gerulaitis. He mostly hates John McEnroe who took his on court temper tantrums to childish extremes. He is an old fashioned man of deep loyalties and he remains friends with Nastase and Bjorn Borg decades after their epic battles in the top tournaments of the world.

His first romance, the highly publicized relationship with Chris Evert, is told with Nostalgia, humor, and a touch of bitterness, as Connors complains that he was not invited to her wedding to his friend and colleague, tennis plater John Lloyd. His gambling addiction is revealed with some genuine angst and humor. His successful million dollar bet on himself in a Las Vegas match with Martina Navitralova is hilarious. Connors also offers a humorous explanation of his brief academic career at UCLA and delves into his learning disabilities. Yet like all athletes, Connors has a photographic memory for his major wins and heart break losses on the tennis court.

Patti McGuire, the 1977 Playmate of the Year, and hence one of the most beautiful women in the world, came into his life at a chance meeting in Hollywood, and their love for each other is a huge and compelling part of this extraordinary book. He may have married Patti because of her breathless beauty, but he discovered they grew up not far from each other, and he found a woman of understated strength, common sense, all encompassing love, and a powerful compassion. His chapter on his foolish adultery, her suit for divorce, their reunion, and strengthened marriage, is a gut wrenching and moving account. Perhaps most women would have left Connors. Patti would not. She calmly ushered him back into their family home with son Brett, forgave him. Connors heart rendering account of Patti's later battles with diseases is gripping and worth reading this book alone. In addition, several dramatic abduction attempts by strange men on Patti add remarkable tension to the narrative.

The introspective Connors accurately sums up his place in tennis history: "I appealed to a different crowd. The old-school fans hated what I was doing of course; they were horrified by what they saw as a crude upstart trampling their precious traditions. But the new breed of fan, those who before had ever considered watching a tennis match, suddenly had someone they could relate to.

"The fans won me more matches than I won myself. I fed off their eneregy, and I never for a moment took them for granted. I knew who I was playing for, and what I miss most is the appreciation and applause from the fans. It was my healthiest addiction."

[Hansen Alexander is the author of "An Introduction to the Laws of the United States in the 21rst Century," an the store, e-book exclusive.]

I actually became aware of Connors before most of the sports world did. In 1971 I worked one of his matches as a ball boy at a satellite tournament in Washington D.C. Connors was 19 (I was 11). His mother and grandmother were both in attendance and Connors was in good spirits since he was pummeling his opponent into oblivion. Little did I expect at the time that he'd go on to become the number 1 player in the world just 3 years later and have such a big influence on the sport in general. He was only the number 2 seed in that tournament, which featured Roscoe Tanner as the top seed, Eddie Dibbs at 3, Harold Solomon was about 6th seeded.

Of course that has nothing to do w/ the book. About the book (Audiobook). Interesting to get the Connors perspective. He's kind of full of himself, but would you have expected otherwise from Connors? He takes some swipes at folks: surprisingly Chris Evert and his former manager, Bill Riordan, who promoted Jimmy relentlessly in the early/mid-70s.

What he says was a seminal moment in his life, the beating up of his mother and grandfather at a local tennis court just doesn't ring true the way Jimmy recounts him. Jimmy's version: 2 street punks are playing tennis on a court next to where Jimmy, his brother, his mother, grandfather and grandmother are working on Jimmy and his brother's game. The punks have a radio playing at high volume. Jimmy's mother and grandfather politely ask the punks to turn down the radio. The tennis bad boys then proceed to beat up his grandfather, knock his mother's teeth out and flee the scene, never to be seen or heard from again. His mother had a reputation of being a very tough woman. I suspect that she probably physically took the radio, broke it or something and the punks responded. Her father probably came to her assistance. The rest of the book is basically Jimmy at big tournaments, Jimmy and Chris, Jimmy and Patti, Jimmy and the kids. Good read if you're interested in Connors, professional tennis, the making of someone successful in a given profession, etc.

Throughout the book, Jimmy insists that professional tennis is entertainment, not just sport. He also insists that he and others like him, by hotly challenging tennis officials (for errors in judgment during matches) and by rudly challenging each other and the crowd as well with four letter words, the finger, threats of walking off the court, insults, you name it -- were all done on the fan's behalf to provide entertainment. I don't buy it. Guys who resorted to this juvenile behavior dragged the sport down. In the pre-Open years and early Open years, professional tennis players had to participate in exhibitions in order to make enough money to support themselves. During this time, matches were more like a heavyweight boxing match. I'm amazed that CBS would televise these exhibitions that were created primarily to make money. Thank God for hawkeye so we don't have players screaming at officials over line calls. Thank God that tennis players now treat their sport and each other with respect. I grew up watching Connors, Mac, Borg and Lendl and I distinctly remember believing that I was watching history in the making as the matches unfolded. I still feel that way when I watch Feder, Nadal, Djokovic, Del Potro, Murray, etc. It seems that we've got so many more truly excellent tennis professionals now. I've got about 100 pages left of this 400 page book. This morning, I watched an interview that David Letterman did with Connors after his book came out on youtube. Seeing Connors in person made me feel more empathy and respect for him.

wasn't sure what to think when i bought this book. thought this book might be a little bit superficial for some reason. obviously jimmy gave it all on the court but then i thought he's been quite guarded and generally out of the spotlight since he retired.

anyway, the book is fabulous. just the right mix of tennis and non-tennis and it seems like there is enough stuff in here to really help your tennis game (active feet, take ball very early etc.)

one disappointment is that he talked of alcohol and gambling alot and said he'd address it later but he addressed the gambling in brief and did not address alcohol (even describe the exact nature of the problem) at all.

i think he could have left out the intimate detail about chris evert, but hey it's his book.

anyway, great book. will not disappoint. i'd say this book is a blueprint for any future athlete book. you might be surprised i wouldn't say agassi's but i don't see most people being comfortable with that much personal disclosure.

p.s. jimmy's wife sounds like a saint, and a playboy playmate to boot :)

I fell in love with the game of tennis because of Jimmy Connors. I thought he was the most exciting athlete I'd ever seen play any sport. He was, while in his prime, simply amazingly fun to watch. I never, not once, ever rooted against. Every time I watching him play on television I wanted him to win. His game of tennis simply pulled me in and kept me there. This book? Not so much. I read this The Outsider: A Memoir in record time: it took me longer to finish than any book I've read in years. The Outsider simply never takes off. Connors spent way too much time talking about his grandmother, mother, and grandfather than what was really necessary. If this book had been what I witnessed the first time I saw him play (Rod Laver, 1974), I would have never gotten into him. But he didn't sign on to be a writer; he was simply a great and fun tennis player during a time when tennis needed a shot in the arm.

What a sports history this guy has had. When he played tennis he left nothing on the court. He played his heart out every time. He should have hired a ghost writer for this book, though he may have and we just don't know. There is way too little mentioned about his early years as a pro. Way too much about his gambling obsession and his keen interest in beautiful women.

I was glad that he covered his nearly successful return to the big time in the early nineties when he made it to the semis at the US Open. He discussed in great detail how he was able to stay in each match. But when it came time to discuss his exit at the hands of Jim Courier, all we got was "Courier beat me in straight sets." That's it? C'mon Jimmy! But what a ride!

As a player, I really liked him. As a person, he comes off in this book as a real egotistical jerk with no class. His behavior toward another silly boy man, John McEnroe, was inexcusable for a professional. The two were not good together, and they certainly had jealousy issues, but grow up! Connors seemed to love rehashing his immature behavior, which even though I didn't mind it when it was happening, I cringe nowadays when I see it on YouTube reruns. One thing is for sure. No one has ever been as exciting to watch as Jimmy Connors. Sure, there were several others who beat him, still others who learned his game and were successful at beating him consistently, but they weren't as exciting. I'm giving him 3 stars because he could have written a better book. I'm glad I read it, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who is expecting to hear the whole story, cuz Jimmy isn't really talking about the whole story, only that which makes his feeble, immature self seem important, which he was for a long time.

I was always a fan of Jimmy Connors when growing up. Jimmy was, as he titles his book, the consummate Outsider. After reading the memoirs of both Andre Agassi and John McEnroe, both of which didn't present Connors in the best light, I was very interested to read Jimmy's side of it. This book doesn't disappoint in that Jimmy lays it all out there. He describes his thoughts during various matches, both big and small, and his opinions of players such as Agassi, McEnroe, and Lendl. He doesn't pull any punches, and even explains why he was the only person in the locker room who didn't clap for Agassi after his last match. If I have one complaint about this book, it's that the writing (I assume by a ghostwriter) isn't the smoothest. It's full of clichés and choppy sentences. That being written, if you are a fan of tennis in the 80s and 90s, you will enjoy this book immensely.

I always enjoyed watching Jimmy Connors play tennis. He is one of a kind.
He thought of himself as an outsider and from reading his book that
is where he wanted to be, outside. He says," I was good at being a bad boy."
He did not seem to have the social skills to conform.
He was definitely one dimensional in his work pursuits. He gave his all
to tennis. However, when off court he was NOT one dimensional.
He was a womanizer, a gambler and a drinker, but never into drugs.
I believe him. He tells all, so if he took drugs he would have
included that in the book. Connors lets us in his head.
This book is well written and interesting. It never slows down.
It is pow! pow! pow!-from beginning to end. We have not heard
the last of Jimmy. He is a restless achiever. Underneath all of his bad boy
exterior, believe it or not, is integrity

I'm glad I read this book in July - it reminds me why I like tennis. The book refreshes my memory of the days when I first started to watch professional tennis, and why I found it interesting. Connors and McEnroe are two major reasons. Sure they weren't examples of behavior I'd like to see on a tennis court where I'm playing, but entertainment was certainly a major part of the game back then, and Connors explains that entertaining the fans was always his goal.

The book is written in a way that you can believe Connors wrote it himself (it sounds like his vernacular), and this gives it authenticity and explains some of his behavior on the court. I like the way he gives credit to his mother and his grandparents for getting him into tennis from a very young age; however, I would have liked to hear more about why he's content that his own children never embraced tennis. Is he planning on being "Two-Dad" someday and bring his grandchildren into the game? (He called his Grandmother "Two-Mom".) Seeing his passion for the sport, it's interesting that he didn't pass it on to his children as well. He does talk about the heavy physical toll from all the playing, but he also tells how he went out and played many times even when he was injured despite his coach's advice to never play with an injury. Interesting for those of us who watch matches and have no clue about what's really going on with the players.

As far as telling all, he certainly does that and I can appreciate why some people might not like it. At any rate, he tells all about himself as well, and he admits he has some regrets.

It's interesting that both he and McEnroe always love to talk about Borg -- they both seem to really enjoy his company! I especially like how Connors describes his times playing McEnroe and how he really enjoyed ticking him off. It's no wonder they no longer both play in the "Senior" league together.

I was surprised at the how long the book is, and that I actually wanted to read the whole thing! He has some funny stories along the way, and he gives some good advice for everyone who plays tennis. His story is a reminder that practice makes a difference and determination is key.

I have seen and read about most of the female tennis stars of this era, but never really paid much attention to the men accept McEnroe, because he was always making a fool of himself. After reading this book, I am not just a casual tennis TV watcher, I will be glued to the TV. Jimmy tells us all about what it was like in his day, being one of the "bad boys" of tennis. If you are not a tennis fan, read this book and then try to stay away from a big tennis matches on TV or go to You Tube and watch Conners in action. Conners tells it all, not in a sensational manner to get books to sell, but very candid and frank about the way he approached the game and what made him so loved by some and hated by others. Just a great read from beginning to end. Great ace, Jimmy.

I was born in 1983 so by the time I started falling in love with tennis it had had already entered the Sampras era. I heard of Connors but had know idea how good he was. I am glad to learn about one of the greats of a previous era. This book reaffirmed my conviction that it is extremely difficult to compare tennis players across generations because so much changes in the game, level of competition, schedule of play and technology. This book is surprisingly well written and one of my favorite biographies. It flows well (at 2X speed) and gives a nice tennis history lesson.

"It's the sounds of the match that have stayed with me over the years. Every shot echoed around that tight stadium like a bullet ricocheting off the walls." Here, tennis great Jimmy Connors is describing his tense match with Australian Rod Laver. But it could have been any match for the archetypal "bad boy" of tennis, who during that same match was "dancing around the court and flipping the bird at everyone," just to get his personal juices flowing.

A star by the time he was 20, Connors was coached first by his tennis-obsessed mom, then by court guru Pancho Segura. Anything but an aristocrat, he came into tennis sideways and with attitude. Handsome, sparky, rude and macho, he gave the gossip columnists plenty to scribble about. In this frank, at times even blunt, memoir, he reveals the facts behind the headlines. He recounts his youthful romance with Chrissie Evert, in which (never mind the sex) the two were constantly, secretly chaperoned by watchful matriarchs. Chrissie's career, he quickly realized, would always come first; this was never plainer than when she unilaterally decided to terminate a pregnancy late in their relationship.

Connors talks freely about his antics on the court, making it plain that the attention he got, whether positive or otherwise, spurred him on. Once he belligerently told a gathering of news people, "Don't count me out," against the favored Bjorn Borg. "They responded with a huge roar, which carried me through the rest of the tournament, including victory in the finals over Borg."

One gets the picture, through Connors's eyes, of a young man who would do anything to win, and for whom tennis was almost too small a proving ground. His amazing record tells the story. In 1974, he was victorious in 95 of 99 matches. He won eight grand slam singles titles and hundreds of tournaments. He refused to join the tennis union, slapping it with lawsuits while working his way through smaller tournies like a reaper through a wheat field. No slave to fashion, he wore the same plain white shorts, washed and dried after each match. He was a brat among elitists, an undisputed champ who enjoyed his wild man image. He opines in enviable understatement that it took fans at Wimbledon a while to warm up to him. The essential outsider, later vying with Nastase and McEnroe for the title of rudest and most outrageous court star of the day, Connors came to his matches to be admired, not to be impressed.

Admitting that he kept playing tennis when he was on the downhill slide professionally, Connors also confesses that he'd love to be back on the court right now. It was a game that incited his anger and fed his pride, took him all over the world at a young and impressionable age, and hooked him up with the love of his life whom he met at the Playboy Club, a place he probably would never have been if it hadn't been for his sports stardom.

What endures for Connors is the zest for winning, arguably his mother's greatest legacy: "It's not what you accomplish --- it's what you overcome to accomplish it that sets you apart."

Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott

Excellent read especially if you want to be taken back to the tennis boom of the 1970's up through the end of Connors career. Great to hear names like Nastase, Gerulaitus, Borg, Tanner, McEnroe, Lendl, Evert, etc. He paints a very clear picture of what it was like playing tennis in his day and how much the game and the professional tour has changed. Was never a huge Connors fan and after reading his very upfront, honest, and in your face book, I know why I wasn't a huge fan! Although, after reading the book, I have a much better understanding of what makes Jimmy tick and I respect his openness and opinions. At this point in his life he seems to be a great husband and father and I never knew about his love and devotion to dogs. I'd really like to see more of Jimmy Connors in the tennis world.

A few interesting insights into the business side of tennis in the 60's,70's, 80's; some colorful looks at relationships between players; and some nice stories about growing up and his family, but overall, really not that interesting. And seriously, how many times can he talk about going out and partying with Nastase? Got old after a while.

Also expected more about some of his biggest matches, including what's still called the best point ever at the US Open. 1991, he's playing in the quarters against Paul Haarhuis, when, on break point, he returned several overhead smashes, eventually made a brilliant passing shot to win a crucial game and left the crowd on its feet screaming. Look up Connors-Haaurhuis on You Tube if you've never seen it. Instead, he goes fairly quickly from beating Aaron Krickstein to losing to Courier in the semis. Not a word about one of the most memorable US Open moments in history.

Also a major (no pun intended) continuity problem. After his 1983 win at the US Open, he says he'd never play another Grand Slam Final again. Two pages later, he talks about getting crushed at the Wimbledon Final in 1984 and says the same thing again: that he'd never play another Grand Slam final.

If this were Agassi's Memoir vs. Connors', it's Agassi, 6-2, 6-2, 6-1. And I was a huge fan of both.

Loved or Loathed Jimmy Connors is the kind of Pro Athlete we need more of. tired of Athletes wanting everybody to love them and embrace them, you need character and Athletes who do that walk and talk that talk. in the book he talks straight about his battles with Arthur Ashe, Bjorn Borg, Lendl,Mcenroe and others. he talks about Chrissie Evert and other players. he pays respect to his family, friends, Wife,etc.. when you read this book, you know you are going to either Love or Loath the cat, however in the end you will Respect him. this book offers a new perspective into him and his drive to being one of the best to ever take center court. a great honest book to say the least. he left nothing in the Net here, a straight Ace.

In the beginning tennis was one of the more staid sports geared towards an upper-crust elite country-club group. 1970. Enter Jimmy Connors. Connors may or may not be celebrated as one of the best players of all time but he certainly shook things up & brought a new dimension to the game that obviously appealed to a larger audience because the sport of tennis has not been the same since.

Connors writes an introspective memoir in which he does not make the slightest attempt to dodge his mistakes & missteps but embraces them showing a side of him that anyone who watched his brash, sometimes outlandish, antics on a tennis court would have imagined.

This is a man who knows exactly who he is & makes no excuses or apology. A man devoted to family, fiercely loyal, a little sentimental even, who came to tennis via his mother's able coaching.

If nothing else can be said of this tennis pro it is an undeniable fact that he totally & absolutely loved the game of tennis & he played accordingly with the heart of a lion. He gave spectators something to shout about regardless if you were rooting for or against him. The thing is - it was FUN!

Written with wit & humour Connors-style it is a deeply felt story of an athlete's passion for the game he played, the highs & lows, the good & the bad with not even one "What If?"

"The fans won me more matches than I won myself........It was my healthiest addiction." (Pg.384)

Tennis fan or not; like Connors or not, this memoir is an exciting five set match.

Hey Jimmy thanks for the game!

I realized a few years ago while reading Andre Agassi's memoir, that I often failed to appreciate "the moment" in professional sports as it was occurring. I felt the same way while reading The Outsider. For instance, while reflecting back on the Connors vs. Krickstein match, I was surprised I hadn't paid more attention to Connors' 1991 US Open run at the time. My loss... Okay, onto the book: I loved it and spent the last couple of nights up past 1:00am reading it. Yesterday, while on the tennis court, the book came up and the pro I was hitting with commented that he'd heard the book was "narcissistic." Well, it is a memoir so you can expect it to be autobiographical and Connors did experience quite a bit of success in the sport (>.800 winning percentage, fame, fortune, etc.). Does he sound cocky? Yes. But it's tough for me to judge him or suggest that, given similar circumstances, I'd behave any differently. If you're a fan of the sport and especially if you recall the Connors/Evert era in the '70s, I think you'll appreciate Connors' trip down memory lane. I sure did.

Definitely the most exciting Tennis biography that I have read. I have read quite a few bios, including John Mcenroe, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Arthur Ashe. What makes this book interesting is that it was written by Connors himself.

I expected a little more from this book. It really reads like a bad cliff notes version of his life. Maybe it was edited this way, but it seems that a lot more could be flushed out. Connors comes across as a one demension character that lets you know over and over that he did things his way, yet never attempts to explain why. I thought there would be more stories from the tour and his thoughts on his rivals. The only one that he talks the most about is Ilie Nastase. Speaking of Nastase Connors claims in this book that after losing to Nastase early in his career he, " won something like 26 matches in a row ". There are other instances where he seems to enjoy playing fast and loose with the facts. The official record from the ATP shows that in their head to head tournament rivalry, ( not exhibitions or Team Tennis one set matches Nastase holds a 16-12 record over Connors. He spends a lot of time defending his mother. I concur with Connors that her getting heat about being his coach was unwarranted. However, the relationship he describes them having is nothing but pure dysfunction and would actually make a very good book in and of itself.

When I first heard about Jimmy Connors memoir ‘The Outsider’, radio and TV personality Don Imus was taking issue with a paragraph in the book that provides an account of a terminated pregnancy between Connors and then girlfriend Chris Evert. This intimacy is significant because throughout the book Connors provides an extraordinarily candid look at both his personal and professional life on and off the tennis court.

As a player Connors came on the scene just as tennis was entering the Open era. His friends and opponents at the time were players that many of us following the sport then remember well. Like the Williams sisters and today’s modern game, Connors take-no-prisoners style of play came to define this point-in-time transition. So, too, the in-fighting between the various tennis governing bodies and circuits (i.e. ITF, ATP, WTC, WCT, etc.).

I always thought of Connors as a Pete Rose type of athlete – a fighter, an athlete who was on the court to compete at all costs and win. This memoir served to reinforce that perspective and more. Like the aforementioned Rose, Connors enjoyed gambling; by his own admission, maybe too much.

To read this revealing memoir is to look through a lens at a sport with larger than life personalities, including Connors. The ego (sic) confidence, so necessary when competing at the highest level, is not in short supply. So, too, is the sometimes brutal self-deprecating honesty that the author provides.

Connors sets the record straight by providing insight about the role of his parents, especially his Mom, as well as his grandmother (Two-Mom) and grandfather. He credits the latter, a pugilist of sorts, with instilling in him the fighter instinct.

As a writer, Connors chronicles his life from childhood to adult sports superstar with a passion for detail, even OCD. The little things count. As a result the sum of its parts create a whole story that provides a color commentary; one that lays bare the essence of the man as a person and athlete.

There is little that‘s off limits in this memoir. From his carousing with Ilie Nastasie (Nasty), his long and at times rocky marriage to Patti McGuire and the inevitable struggles with a career in decline - all is laid bare. Woven through the fabric of this his story are the friends and ‘frienemies’ – both competitors and non-tour pals alike that figure prominently in Connors’ life then and now.

As is the case with many sports memoirs there is included several pages of photos that serve to take the reader back in time. Looking at these pictures and reading the book I found myself asking “Where did the time go?”

This is a very enjoyable book into the life and career of Jimmy Connors. If you are a tennis fan, you cann't help love this book. The book details Jimmy's journey to the number one player in the world. It chronicles the tremendous impact his mother and grandmother had on his life and tennis career. Also, the tennis strategy detailed in the book is so interesting especially if you are a tennis fan and or player. This book seemed so analogous to Andre Agassi's book whose father pushed him relentlessly to be the number one and great player he became. This book is compelling, funny and I would strongly recommend it.

If you were fortunate enough to witness Jimmy Connors' era you will love this book. I was a Jimmy Connors fan but whether or not you were, it doesn't matter. I have a whole new appreciation for Jimmy and the players of his era and how they were able to grow tennis. If we had more personalities like his (and Mac, and Nastase, and Vitas, and so on...) today, who knows how popular the sport would be? If you weren't around to see Jimmy's climb to success you will still love this book and have a greater appreciation for what these players did for the game of tennis. This was a great read and I would recommend it to anyone.

I thought Andre Agassi's "Open" was the best tennis book ever written. It's possible that Connors has outdone him. The Outsider is a completely honest and original picture of professional tennis in the 1970s and 80s -- the period when tennis blossomed into a global sport. Connors was present at the creation. Like most people, I always thought Jimbo was a jackass. You finish the book loving the guy!

This is no whitewash. The book describes both the high-energy of tennis at the highest level, but also the sleazy side of promoters, gambling, and petty tennis organizations. Connors has an opinion on it all, yet you always get the sense that he was having fun, even when he was losing. Unlike Agassi, he is not too self-reflective. But unlike McEnroe, he is never pretentious.

There are a few priceless parts of the book: His description of Ilie Nastase, who he rightly points out was the first international sports star; the moment he deliberately walked right past a 16-year-old McEnroe in the Wimbledon locker room, refusing to even acknowledge the upstart; and most memorably, his quarter final U.S. Open match against Aaron Krickstein when Connors was 39 (!). After reading The Outsider, I went and watched the whole thing again on YouTube.

I just watched the Murray/Djockevic Wimbledon final. No doubt, the quality of tennis today is superior. These guys are incredible athletes. But Connors gives a picture of the tennis scene in a different era, when style was important and the players were just trying to get a higher profile for the sport. His portrait of the Beverly Hills tennis scene in the late 1960s is a great piece of cultural history. His description of Vitas Gerulitas, a terrific memoir.

Enjoy the book. You will finish it over a weekend.

Very interesting autobiography that recounts the grit and determination of tennis great Jimmy Connors. Not shy to recount his more controversial outbursts and actions, there is also room to read between the lines for more controversies left unwritten. This sense of vagueness actually strengthens the book as it plays so well into his character. His tournament summaries (without specific dates) get confusing, but overall this book offers strong insight into Connor's mindset and the evolution of professional tennis.

I loved watching him play and loved learning how he got there and all that went on in the background. This book moves as fast as he did on the court. His description of going off the deep end after his second Wimbledon win and nearly trashing his marriage really helped me see how fame can destroy anyone. His honesty about the affair and then realizing what a colossal mistake he'd made and his efforts to save his marriage were very moving. His wife is even cooler than he is, and he knows it.

Been a tennis fan since early 80's and by then Jimmy was still great but McEnroe, Lendl, and Wilander were more dominant and what I enjoyed about this book was to realize how great the players in the 70's were. If a guy at 39 could make it to the semis what would he, and others, have been able to do at 25.

Anyway, great story, fascinating, and was a great listen (I listened to the audiobook) and has reinforced even more why I love the sport and the personalities that made it great.

Just finished watching Nishikori upset Djokovic and Cilic upset Federer in U.S. Open. So I figured it would be a fitting time to write a review of a book I read several months ago. The Outsider is as refreshingly candid as the author is in real life. But, unlike Andre Agassiz's Open, there's not a heck of lot about Jimmy Connors that comes as a surprise. With the possible exception of his being a mama's boy.

Not bad. The stories in this book were fun. But it was very long, and after awhile the book got a little boring. I'm glad I only paid $1.61 with tax at a Barnes & Noble. It was at a "last chance" bargain section of the store.

I first started watching tennis around 1980, so caught some of Connors' matches on tv. And I play lots even now, (a goodish 3.5 player, for what that's worth...).

The book was an interesting look into his life, foibles, and playboy tennis lifestyle. Connors is no saint, but the book was certainly interesting for this tennis fan.

I Love tennis and always felt Jimmy Connors was a super star and so much fun to watch. The book covered a lot of details and for me maybe a few too many. Over 500 pages is a lot to digest in one book. It could have been condensed or maybe divided into two. I did have some good laughs as well as some tears. I do now understand Jimmy as well as his life so much better and have a great deal of respect for him and what he accomplished and pushed through.

If you were a fan of tennis in the 70's, 80's or 90's, you will love this book. Mr. Connors gives an unblinking, honest account of his life and storied career. Not only was Jimmy Connors one of the greatest tennis players ever, he's also an excellent writer. I couldn't put the book down and didn't want it to end - a sure sign of a winner! In my opinion, he's portrayed the public events in his book fairly and to his best recollection; I highly recommend it.

I read the one star reviews and found with no surprise that most of those were by people who disliked Jimmy Connors before they read the book. There were no great surprises in this book, except that I hadn't realized how close he was to Vitas Gerulaitis and that he has OCD. That explains those times when he seemed unable to serve without more ball bounces than were typical for him.

I liked the book. Connors didn't downplay or gloss over his bad behavior moments on court. He also was not afraid to place blame on himself for things he deserved blame for. Interestingly, his opinions about how the pro game could be improved are very similar to those of John McEnroe, with whom Connors had a bitter rivalry. Like him or not, Jimmy Connors was a major player during the time when pro tennis became hugely popular.

I began to read this book with great anticipation. Jimmy Connors arguably played tennis during one of the most exciting times in the modern era.
I was soon disappointed in my decision to purchase this memoir.
It appeared to be written as a chronicle of events, rather than the insightful and revealing look inside of tennis I had hoped for.
Many situations were only vaguely described. He glossed over many opportunities to vividly or more thoroughly fill in some of the details that this reader bought the book in the first place for.
His throwing Chris Everett under the bus was disappointing and seemed only to serve a selfish purpose of trying to increase book sales.
Despite my hopes
I wasn't able to find many redeeming qualities to change my initial impression of this once spectacular tennis player

Was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I always thought this tennis player was volatile, bratty, selfish on and off the court. After reading Jimmy Connors' own words, my perception of this tennis player has changed. Some strong language, but overall, an interesting read.

I love his story and admire Jimmy Connors for writing so truthfully about his life. Being a famous tennis player and experiencing all that he did throughout his career he does an excellent job baring it all. I love tennis as a sport so I enjoyed this book and recommend it.

I really enjoyed this candid account of Jimmy's life and love of tennis. I found myself wishing I could see every one of his outrageous antics on tape. He and his fellow players brought new life and color to pro tennis. Thanks for this book and thanks for your years of great tennis Jimmy.

One of the best autobiographies I have read in a long time. I now know the answers to the questions about tennis & Jimmy's decisions that puzzled me. Insightful book regarding the inner workings of the tennis world; the power players on the court & the business side of the game. He tells his life story with the same exuberance as his performance on the court. I recommend this book!

...glad I took up tennis at age 34, and glad I'm still playing at 70. I saw Jimmy Connors play once (a round robin in Salisbury, MD), and after reading this book I'd really enjoy meeting him sometime! His life has been so interesting, and it is described so well in this book that my guess is, if he wrote it himself, Jimmy is as surprised as anyone. It's a delightfully entertaining read!

I always enjoyed Connor's tennis. He is my favorite player of all time. I never saw him give up on a match, played hard to and through the last point. Therefore, I enjoyed reading his book. It explained many of the questions and whys I had along his career. I admire his honesty of facts, his willingness to admit faults and mistakes, and the fact that he is not afraid to express his love and admiration for his wife. Thank you Jimmy Connors.

Love the book because Jim knows what he wants and who he is. He loves tennis...the real one...not the one new champions play as far away from the net as they can: boring!!this book is for real tennis lovers.

Mr. CONNORS has an ego as big as the Ritz, acknowledges it and is bigger than nature because of it.
Mika

The best thing about this book is that it gives you an insight into Jimmy Connors. Yes a fighter on the court but a tragic narcissist who thinks he's the only one who provided a good show. In the real life he ran away from confrontation and hid behind his Mum. He gave in to his addictions and his childish appalling behaviour, on and off court, seem to have been rewarded with success. What a world.

Jimmy Connors rode, and helped propel the rocket of tennis's phenomenal popularity in the 70's into the 90's. Like him or hate him, you had to admire his fight, guts, and ability to capture the moment. Mop haired and brassy in his youth, he matured into a man before our tv watching eyes over his 20 year career. After reading this book, full of insights of his life and times on the courts and beyond, I admire him for his pursuit of perfection in his craft, respect him for his integrity, and like him for his heartfelt emotions as an aging but unbowed man. The book is well written, straightforward, and mature.

Connors holds nothing back about himself, his weakness, and addiction. He adds humor and engages readers with his stories and wit. A must read for those of us who enjoyed tennis from the 1970s and beyond

At this point I'm about 3/4 of the way through it and I like all the background information, the behind the scene info about himself and other players. He keeps my attention, written very well for a non-writer, of course he might have had help with that.

A good, easy read of the unique life of a great champion. Mr. Conners tells it like it was and is, straightforward and with no whining and not too much self-aggrandizing. A relief compared to most celebrity autobiographies.

This was a huge missed opportunity. Jimmy Connors had a great career, and a huge impact upon tennis. Arthur Ashe, not a great admirer of Connors, said he was the best draw for tennis in his lifetime. The main problem for the book is Connors' choice of ghostwriter. Obviously the book isn't written by Connors himself, but the result of interviews with the ghostwriter. Yet the ghostwriter utilizes a simplistic Mickey Spillane type of expression, using silly nicknames (i.e. Nasty for Ilie Nastase) with a generous helping of foul language which adds nothing except a stupid bravado. Connors isn't an educated man, but in contrast to this book has demonstrated in interviews to be quite intelligent and charming. His speech at his introduction to the International Tennis Hall of Fame was quite good as well. I suspect the writing style was a marketing decision, to enhance Connors' wise guy, populist image, or what the publisher thought might sell more books. It's really a shame he allowed his story to be written so badly. My suspicion is that Connors needs the money, which is the reason the biography is being published at this time, the reason he is on such a publicity tour, and the reason he revealed secrets about his personal life (e.g. Chris Evert) which should have remained beyond public view.

A book titled "Jimmy Connors Saved My Life" by Joel Drucker is a much more satisfying (and infinitely better written) book for the tennis fan interested in Connors' career.

I always thought that Jimmy Connors was a self-absorbed jerk and the book proves it. He must have enjoyed writing "I" over 5 million times. This book is as painful as serving a double fault at match point.