McEnroe refused $1m to play in South Africa: "They're going to take advantage of me and sort of use that propaganda in a way"

John McEnroe explained why he declined a one million offer to play an exhibition match with Bjorn Borg in South Africa.

McEnroe has always been one that doesn't shy away from speaking his mind and he's still like that today. In 1980 he was offered one million dollars to play an exhibition match with Bjorn Borg but he didn't take it due to the country's apartheid that was still going on.

He explained:

"Lot of people over the years have come up to me and thanked me for not going to South Africa when I was offered a lot. A million dollars that time was like, at least 10 million or more, to play an exhibition against Bjorn. So I feel proud that I made that decision at the time. Had I done it, I don't think it would have changed the world one way or the other but I'm proud I didn't do it."

He continued:

"I remember that it felt wrong and I remember thinking that I had just walked into a sport that was exploding, and it was thanks to the people I idolized. So I thought to myself, 'Yea this is an unbelievable amount of money at the time but there's a reason why they're offering me an unbelievable amount of me. They're going to take advantage of me and sort of use that propaganda in a way. So, I wasn't gonna be the pawn in that whole thing. I took pride in that, it wasn't that difficult a decision. I'm 21, I don't need the money that bad yet. I think that was one of the better decisions I made in my career."

He also recalled meeting former president Nelson Mandela many years after refusing to play:

"He said that it was an honor to meet me. That's what I should be saying to him but he's saying that to me. When he told me, 'I listened to your match, you and Borg at Wimbledon', I realized he was in Robben Island listening to my match on the prison radio. I'm like, 'What a jerk you are, sitting there whining about everything'. So, you know, that was a serious jolt of perspective and a reality check there, but nonetheless, he was the most amazing person I ever met, I will say that."