a long time. that's -- because i can't recall that ever having happened. >> there was a picture of arthur ashe propped up in the hospital bed with a huge white bandage running right down his middle. will you tell us what happened? >> that obviously ended my tennis career. because i retired about 2 1/2 months right after that. and got on with the rest of my life. >> i had made my official announcement of retirement in march '80. the incoming president of the usta asked to see me at the u.s. open and told me that i was the one person they wanted to coach the american davis cup team. i knew that our team would be built around mcenroe. >> in his first news conference