Witnessing History with Jon Snow: McEnroe, Football Icons, and Wham!

Hello, everyone. I’m Jon Snow, and I’m here to share with you some of the most memorable moments of my career as a journalist and broadcaster. I’ve been lucky enough to witness history in the making, from politics and wars to sports and music. In this blog post, I’ll tell you about three of the most unforgettable events that I covered in the 1980s: John McEnroe’s epic Wimbledon final, Diego Maradona’s hand of God goal, and Wham!’s concert in China.

John McEnroe’s epic Wimbledon final

It was July 5th, 1980, and I was at the Centre Court of Wimbledon to report on the men’s singles final between Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe. Borg was the defending champion and had won four consecutive titles at Wimbledon. McEnroe was the young challenger and had beaten Borg in the US Open final the previous year. The stage was set for a clash of titans.

The match was a roller coaster of emotions, with both players displaying incredible skill, stamina, and determination. Borg took the first two sets, but McEnroe fought back to win the next two. The fifth set was a nail-biter, with neither player giving an inch. The highlight was the 18th game, which lasted for 22 minutes and featured 34 points. McEnroe saved five match points and finally broke Borg’s serve to level the score at 9-9. The crowd was on its feet, cheering and gasping at every shot.

Borg, however, was not done yet. He regrouped and held his serve to lead 10-9. Then he broke McEnroe again to win the set 11-9 and the match 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 4-6, 11-9. It was his fifth and last Wimbledon title, and one of the greatest matches ever played. I remember interviewing both players after the match and being amazed by their graciousness and respect for each other. They had given us a spectacle of sport that transcended tennis.

Diego Maradona’s hand of God goal

It was June 22nd, 1986, and I was in Mexico City to cover the quarter-final match between Argentina and England in the FIFA World Cup. It was a tense encounter, with both teams having strong reasons to win. Argentina wanted to avenge their defeat by England in the Falklands War four years earlier. England wanted to prove themselves as a footballing nation after years of underachievement.

The match was decided by two goals scored by Diego Maradona, arguably the best player in the world at that time. The first goal was controversial and infamous. In the 51st minute, Maradona leapt into the air and punched the ball past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton with his left hand. The referee did not see the foul and awarded the goal. Maradona later claimed that it was “the hand of God” that helped him score.

The second goal was brilliant and sublime. In the 55th minute, Maradona received the ball in his own half and dribbled past five England players before slotting the ball past Shilton with his left foot. It was a masterpiece of skill, speed, and vision that left everyone speechless. Maradona later said that it was “the goal of my life”.

Argentina won the match 2-1 and went on to win the World Cup for the second time. England were eliminated and felt cheated by Maradona’s first goal. I remember interviewing Maradona after the match and being struck by his charisma and confidence. He had shown us two sides of his genius: one that defied the rules, and one that defied belief.

Wham!’s concert in China

It was April 7th, 1985, and I was in Beijing to report on Wham!’s concert at the Workers’ Stadium. Wham! were one of the most popular pop groups in the world at that time, with hits like “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” and “Careless Whisper”. They were also the first Western pop group to perform in China since the Communist revolution in 1949.

The concert was a historic event that marked a cultural opening between China and the West. It attracted more than 10,000 Chinese fans who paid up to £20 for a ticket – a fortune for most Chinese people at that time. It also attracted international media attention and curiosity.

The concert itself was a mix of excitement and confusion. Wham! performed their songs with energy and enthusiasm, but also faced some technical difficulties and cultural barriers. The Chinese audience was unfamiliar with Western pop music and did not know how to react to Wham!’s style and songs. Some clapped politely, some danced awkwardly, some sat quietly, and some left early. Wham! tried to engage with the crowd and teach them some English words and phrases, but also faced some censorship and restrictions from the Chinese authorities.

The concert was a success in terms of breaking new ground and creating a dialogue between two different worlds. It was also a failure in terms of creating a musical connection and a lasting impact. Wham! disbanded the following year and never returned to China. I remember interviewing George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley after the concert and being impressed by their courage and optimism. They had given us a glimpse of a possible future that was not yet ready to happen.

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