McEnroe may miss Wimbledon climax

John McEnroE, around whom the BBC’s coverage of Wimbledon is based, may have to miss the rest of the tournament.

Flights have been organised for McEnroe to go back to new York immediately if necessary, to be with his mother Kay if her health deteriorates further.

She is suffering from leukaemia and her condition has worsened.

McEnroe’s father John Patrick Snr died earlier this year, with the tennis superstar reading a memorable eulogy at the funeral.

The BBC deploy McEnroe as much as they can at Wimbledon between his other broadcast commitments in the knowledge that he is a box-office attraction, with his controversial comments continually making headlines. Without him, the coverage would lose a lot of its personality. lNOT

even genteel Lord’s is immune from the British binge-drinking culture that now affects so many sporting events. The excessive boozing in the upmarket Harris Garden at the back of the pavilion has concerned the MCC top brass during the first Test against South Africa. A MCC spokesman said: ‘It is a very popular spot, especially after play, and we are monitoring behaviour.’ noT all England cricket captains go on to make great pundits on the sport. Andrew Flintoff’s debut on Sky’s showing of the nottingham outlaws v Birmingham Bears T20 game was widely viewed as poor, with Freddie (right) seemingly not knowing when to stop talking. lJOSE

MOURINHO was reportedly critical of Manchester United executive vicechairman Ed Woodward following the Lions in New Zealand when there was transfer business to be done. But after United signed Romelu Lukaku under Chelsea’s noses, even Jose won’t have any problem about Ed enjoying himself dancing to Jamaican rapper Sean Paul at the Soho House Festival last weekend.