I Was Raised By Two Women, And

I Can't Say That I Was My Happiest On Court, But I Felt Completely Free. Free From Family Obligations, Free From My Own Torment. In A Real Sense I Was A Different Person. It Was A Place Where I Could Not Tolerate The Idea Of Being Beaten. I Psyched Myself Up Into A State Where I Felt Something Close To Hatred Towards My Opponent, A State Where I Detested The Idea Of Someone Making His Name At The Expense Of Jimmy Connors. I Was In My Element On Court, Measuring Myself Against Someone Else. I Was Not Competitive For Show. It Came From Deep Within.

Back In East St. Louis, Tennis Wasn't The Real Thing. If You Weren't Playing Baseball, Basketball, Football, You Were Kind Of On The Outside.

I Was Raised By Two Women, And That Laid The Groundwork For The Way I Treat 'em: With The Utmost Respect And Admiration.

I Hate To Lose More Than I Like To Win. I Hate To See The Happiness On Their Faces When They Beat Me!

You Have To Remember That I Played Longer Than Anybody Else On The Main Tour; I Played Until I Was 40, And Then Played Another Six Years Or So On The Seniors Tour.