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Wednesday, June 26
 
McEnroe says ex-wife's comments are 'ridiculous'

Associated Press

WIMBLEDON, England -- John McEnroe voiced his displeasure Wednesday but didn't respond specifically to allegations by his former wife, actress Tatum O'Neal, that he used steroids.

"I found it disappointing and ridiculous,'' McEnroe said at Wimbledon, where he is doing television commentary.

"This isn't the first and not the last that we'll hear about it,'' he added. "I don't know what she is trying to accomplish. I'm concerned about my kids. I can handle it, I'm a big boy.

"Am I surprised? No. Am I disappointed? Yes.''

O'Neal had said McEnroe, 43, took steroids while he was on the pro tennis tour, and used cocaine and marijuana -- but only off the court. She spoke about McEnroe on ABC's ''20/20,'' which is scheduled to air Friday, in response to his new autobiography, "You Cannot Be Serious.''

Pressed to respond to the steroid allegations, McEnroe said: "You need to read the book. I made it pretty clear, if you read the book. Do I have to spell it out in every ugly detail?''

O'Neal said McEnroe used steroids "when he was coming back after Sean (their son) was born'' in 1987. McEnroe won seven major championships during his career; his last Grand Slam tournament was the 1992 U.S. Open.

Testing for steroids and other substances in men's tennis started in 1990, when the ATP Tour was founded.

McEnroe called O'Neal's comments "unpleasant.''

"She's looked at this situation, and she's not too happy that I'm happy and in a good place. My kids are 16, 14 and 11 and I'm worried about them,'' he said.

The 38-year-old actress also told ABC she is "being drug tested by a doctor in L.A.,'' and added, ``I've been clean now for a few months.''

McEnroe and O'Neal divorced in 1992. He has been married to singer Patty Smyth since 1997.




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