Mac attacks Breakers stadium

NEWPORT BEACH — The Superbrat waited for one tennis legend to stop her filibuster and a current star to remove herself from his seat.

John McEnroe was back at it, being his usual cranky self.

This time before Wednesday night’s festivities even started at the Breakers Stadium at Newport Beach Country Club.

McEnroe interrupted the feisty Billie Jean King and then upstaged her. Tough to do. Then he unseated Maria Sharapova faster than her appearance at this year’s Wimbledon.

Remember King, considered one of the best women’s tennis players of all time, is most remembered for the “Battle of the Sexes” event, where she beat Bobby Riggs, a former Wimbledon champ, 34 years ago.

“I didn’t mean to knock you guys out or anything,” McEnroe told King and Sharapova as the two ladies rose from their seats at an outdoor pre-event press conference.

“You’re welcome to stay if you want.”

King, 63, restrained herself and applauded the Hall of Famer’s appearance at the final regular-season World Team Tennis event for both the Newport Beach Breakers and McEnroe’s New York Sportimes.

McEnroe found a way to knock Sharapova off the court, too, helping the Sportimes win, 24-14, in front of 2,358 fans, a sellout and biggest turnout this year for the Breakers.

Sharapova, ranked No. 2 in the world by the World Tennis Association, almost stopped McEnroe in his tracks before meeting him on the court.

“I didn’t let him in the parking lot today,” said the 2004 Wimbledon champ. “Well, I tried. He said he was going to run me over.”

McEnroe, winner of seven Grand Slam singles titles, found a way to chase away the Russian beauty without his car. The 48-year-old’s shorts and T-shirt did the job.

“What’s up with the two shades of blue?” Sharapova asked McEnroe, who obviously didn’t match.

“I’m working on it,” McEnroe responded. “I dress better than ever.”

Once again, King gave McEnroe his due — even complimenting his wardrobe.

Throughout McEnroe’s Wimbledon TV coverage earlier this month, King dug what was wrapped around his neck each day. Some back at the All England Club would’ve loved to have tightened those ties a little tighter after McEnroe’s comments.

The three-time Wimbledon singles champ infuriated some after he accused the event’s organizers of “bungling” their scheduling in order to wrap up the tournament on time due to the constant rain creating problems.

Remember, it was the British tabloids nicknaming McEnroe “Superbrat.”

To King, McEnroe is America’s best tennis broadcaster — even if he’s known to whine as much as he used to win from 1981-84, when he was ranked No. 1.

“He had new ties this year,” King said before describing them as “beautiful.”

McEnroe thanked King before sitting in front of some members of the media.

An hour before stroking the ball past Sharapova and her Breakers’ teammate Rick Leach for a 5-2 doubles set victory with Hana Sromova, then a 5-3 singles set win over Jeff Tarango and a 5-3 doubles set win over Leach and Tarango, he hit on everything that is bad and good, mostly bad, about tennis right now.

“Image is everything,” he said, trying to figure out why tennis is slow in tinkering with the rules, making the sport more accessible, affordable and appealing. “Someone said that I think.”

That line belonged to tennis great Andre Agassi, a pitchman for Canon.

McEnroe’s looking for someone to sell Team Tennis, or doubles, or the just the game of tennis to Americans. He mentioned it’s Pete Sampras’ turn to aid Team Tennis, which he said was up against the eight ball.

“They discourage things, trying different things, my union has discouraged that for many years. I’m not even sure they have the players at heart to be honest,” he said. “I think this deserves a better slot in terms of giving it a real chance at success, but I can’t control who decides that, or whether you can get European guys to come to America.

“They have Team Tennis-type things in Europe that are fairly successful.”

When someone asked him why he continues to come out for Team Tennis, it didn’t take much time for him to dwell on why he probably shouldn’t anymore.

“This may be it,” he said. “There’s going to come a time real soon, real soon. It suits me that it’s short, sometimes it doesn’t suit me because as you get older, it’s a little tougher. You’re not sure if you can get going right away, and all of a sudden it’s over. I used to be a really good starter for many years, but I can’t depend on that the way I did before, where you can just bounce out of the blocks and put pressure on an opponent.

“My body starts creaking, I hear creaks. My days our numbered.”

The Superbrat appears to have softened up.

Not quite yet.

During the pre-match introductions, he slapped the hands of seven kids with his left hand as hard as he generates power from his left arm.

When Sharapova announced she wouldn’t play singles because of an injury, McEnroe flexed his left bicep. The crowd cheered. Sharapova turned, trying to figure out why. She saw McEnroe.

“The shorts are kind of long, huh?” she teased McEnroe, now wearing white shorts, instead of the blue.

McEnroe then turned his back to Sharapova and mooned her, slipping his shorts down enough to show his black underwear. Cameras flashed as everyone caught the Superbrat in the act.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at david.carrillo@latimes.com.