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Home » John McEnroe’s Speech at 2023 Stanford Commencement (Full Transcript)

John McEnroe’s Speech at 2023 Stanford Commencement (Full Transcript)

Here is the full transcript of tennis legend John McEnroe’s speech at Stanford’s 132nd Commencement Ceremony on June 18, 2023.

Listen to the audio version here:

TRANSCRIPT:

Thank you. I don’t see like I used to, so I’ve got to put these on. Great crowd. Oh, wow. There’s more people here than at football games this year.

Thank you, MTL, for that nice introduction, and thank you to the senior class presidents for inviting me to speak. You’re all officially badasses in my book. Thank you. Most of all, to Stanford’s class of 2023, congratulations. You did it. You’re officially overachievers. Well done. I mean, it is an absolute honor to be here, especially given that it’s Father’s Day.

I never got to walk in cap and gown, so technically, this is my graduation, too. I know that my father, if he were alive, would be one of the proudest people in the stadium. I can’t imagine a better Father’s Day gift than watching your kid graduate from this incredible school. To all you dads and moms out there who sacrificed your child to attend Stanford, well done.

Family Ties to Stanford

To those parents who had to put just one kid through college, consider yourself lucky. I’m the father of six college graduates. You can appreciate my pain. The McEnroe family has a long history with this fine institution.

I attended for one year. My two younger brothers graduated from here. We bleed Cardinal Red through and through. But I do have a bone to pick with Stanford.

In March, I get the invite to be your commencement speaker. While I’m busy figuring out my flights to San Jose, my youngest daughter tells me she was rejected to Stanford Law School.