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Way-Back Playback: McEnroe tossed from Australian Open

Action Images / Chris Cole

John McEnroe was a firecracker on the tennis court. One of his most famous outbursts came 25 years ago Wednesday, resulting in him being booted off the court and out of the 1990 Australian Open. 

McEnroe was in a McEnroe-like mood during his fourth-round match against Sweden's Mikael Pernfors. He intimidated a lineswoman by bouncing tennis balls off his racket right in front of her face, which was violation number one. 

Violation number two came after McEnroe slammed his racket off the court.

Violation number three came after McEnroe used McEnroe-like language when arguing with the official. 

What McEnroe didn't know was that violation rules had changed. He thought he had four strikes. But the revised policy was three strikes and you're out, and after picking up his third violation, McEnroe defaulted the match - which he was winning - and his Australian Open was over. 

The look on the face of the world No. 1 before he made his walk of shame said it all. 

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