The Outsider

A Memoir

By: Jimmy Connors

Narrated by: Rich Orlow

Length: 12 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

Jimmy Connors is a working-man's hero, a people's champion who could tear the cover off a tennis ball, just as he tore the cover off the country-club gentility of his sport. A renegade from the wrong side of the tracks, Connors broke the rules with a radically aggressive style of play and bad-boy antics that turned his matches into prizefights. In 1974 alone, he won 95 out of 99 matches, all of them while wearing the same white shorts he washed in the sink of his hotel bathrooms. Though he lived the rock star life away from tennis, his enduring dedication to his craft earned him eight Grand Slam singles titles and kept him among the top ten best players in the world for sixteen straight years - five at number one.

In The Outsider, Connors tells the complete, uncensored story of his life and career, setting the record straight about his formidable mother, Gloria; his very public romance with America's sweetheart Chris Evert; his famous opponents, including Björn Borg, John McEnroe, Arthur Ashe, Ivan Lendl, and Rod Laver; his irrepressible co-conspirators Ilie Nastase and Vitas Gerulaitis; and his young nemesis Andre Agassi. Connors reveals how his issues with obsessive-compulsive disorder, dyslexia, gambling, and women at various times threatened to derail his career and his long-lasting marriage to Playboy Playmate Patti McGuire.

Presiding over an era that saw tennis attract a new breed of passionate fans - from cops to tycoons - Connors transformed the game forever with his two-handed backhand, his two-fisted lifestyle, and his epic rivalries.

The Outsider is a grand slam of a memoir written by a man once again at the top of his game - as feisty, unvarnished, and defiant as ever.

©2013 Jimmy Connors (P)2013 HarperCollins Publishers

Worthwhile--but shoulda had Conners reading it

Would you listen to The Outsider again? Why?

Yes--interesting insight from a legend

What did you like best about this story?

He goes into everything--the good, the bad and the ugly

Would you listen to another book narrated by Rich Orlow?

Maybe

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no

Any additional comments?

As with most biographies, especially of famous people who you've heard speak, it would be much better had Conners read it himself

Outstanding!

This was my first audio book, and I got hooked! Congratulations for either the writer and the narrator. I loved the french accent and the #$&%$&% dirty words...

great behind the scene stories

very entertaining stories, genuine, hilarious. very easy to listen to. always looked forward to picking up where I left off

Talking to Jimmy

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys the game of Tennis. I never played competitive Tennis and I found the story and history interesting. That history has helped me appreciate the game more today.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked how Jimmy wrote the story which is conversational. I imagine myself sitting down in a bar asking questions of Jimmy and he telling me about his life. I enjoyed that very much.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

An honest life.

Any additional comments?

I understand Jimmy Connors much more after reading this book. He is honest and unapologetic which is great in an autobiography. I read Open by Agassi and enjoyed that book as well but what this book has that Open didn't is the history of the game and how the game was played and developed and Jimmy did a great job giving me that history.

Thoroughly entertaining

Any additional comments?

If you grew up or are familiar with the Connors, Borg, McEnroe era you will not be disappointed. Hearing his side of things actually made me a Connors fan whereas I grew up siding with McEnroe and his temper tantrums. Highly recommend.

Old School Tennis

Where does The Outsider rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is a solid book if you are a tennis fan and remember Connors, McEnroe, et al. from the 70s and 80s.

What did you like best about this story?

It is interesting to contrast Andre Agassi's childhood (as told by him in his book) with Jimmy Connor's. Andre hated tennis, Jimmy loved it. It is clear from Jimmy's story that he truly loved the game, loved to play it any chance he got, and that is ultimately what drove him to success.

Which character – as performed by Rich Orlow – was your favorite?

Orlow is convincing as Connors.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I thought the first half of the book was great; surprisingly, things slowed down and gets a little boring as Jimmy gets more and more famous. Probably because he didn't want to do a "tell all" and reveal too many stories about other players and his own exploits off the court. But the stories he does tell are revealing.

Any additional comments?

It's an easy read, and although Jimmy doesn't put his life out there 100%, he puts enough to keep it interesting and insightful. Recommend.

Great Insight

Gave a good insight of a champion. I could see the effort that goes into making a champion. Also he loved his journey unlike Andre Agassi which is also inspiring.

Good

Not as good as Agassi's and McEnroe's book, but better then Sampras's. I'd recommend to anybody that loves the legends of tennis.

great read

Conners was always my favorite player on the tour. I miss seeing him on the court.

Interesting story

If you could sum up The Outsider in three words, what would they be?

I loved Jimmy Connors as a player, but found him less likable as a person after listening to this. Contrast the story with Andre Agassi's, who I grew to like more.........left me a bit disappointed.

What did you like best about this story?

The details