Throwback Thursday: Athletes and the American image

Long before football players began taking a knee during the national anthem, there was a time when athletes, patriotism and controversy clashed on the court of a very different sport.

That sport was tennis.

National Home Center News, the forerunner of HBSDealer, reported the story in its Jan. 28, 1985 issue, under the headline: “L-P withdraws Davis Cup threat; USTA to address player conduct.”

Back then, LBM distributor Louisiana-Pacific was considering withdrawing its $1.1 million sponsorship of Davis Cup tennis matches because of the behavior of top male players on the U.S. team. Specifically, LP’s president Harry Merlo objected to the crude language and gestures of tennis stars John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors while they represented their country during matches in Stockholm, Sweden.

According to LP’s director of corporate communications, “The team embarrassed themselves and the [American] flag and really did not live up to the traditions of Davis Cup.” Still, the company continued to support the team, after being assured the governing body of U.S. tennis would take action.

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Did you ever cross paths with Harry Merlo? Tell us your story at [email protected].