Episode 42: McEnroe is Autistic

Autistic Culture Podcast | What if autism isn’t what you think it is?

McEnroe is Autistic (Episode 42)

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McEnroe is Autistic (Episode 42)

That's right--we're talking sports-ball! This tennis star is known for emotional intensity and insistence on fairness--something we can relate to!

Dr. Angela Kingdon

Nov 07, 2023

Transcript

Autistic hosts, Dr. Angela Lauria and Matt Lowry, LPP, discuss McEnroe is autistic — A: And they're like, how does he anticipate the ball like this? And the answer is pattern matching. M: Ah, yes.

Embracing Autistic Strengths: Celebrating Tennis Icon John McEnroe's Neurodiversity

#ActuallyAutistic podcast hosts Matt Lowry, LPP and Dr. Angela Kingdon explore how tennis legend John McEnroe exhibited many autistic traits throughout his career and personal life.
McEnroe utilized his pattern recognition and visualization skills to anticipate the ball's movements, turning the game into a "math equation" – strengths commonly associated with autistic cognition.
However, his on-court emotional reactions to unfair calls were unjustly portrayed by the media as "brat-like" behavior, rather than a natural response stemming from autistic traits like expectation sensitivity and scripting.
McEnroe's wife, Patty, believes he is on the autism spectrum based on his routines, math skills, sensory issues, and focus on special interests like art and guitar.
The podcast hosts argue that with a neurodiversity-affirming lens, McEnroe's meltdowns could have been understood as a reaction to an allistic world demanding conformity over authenticity.
Now, in his later years, McEnroe embraces his autistic interests and characteristics, channeling them positively into charitable work, art, and voiceover projects.
The discussion encourages listeners to identify and celebrate the autistic "SPINs" (special interests) they recognize in McEnroe's story, fostering a sense of community and cultural pride.

Did you catch all of McEnroe’s Autistic SPINs? In the comments, tell us which Autistic interests you picked up on, and use #AutisticCultureCatch to share your answer on your social media and connect with other listeners!