Long before he created the ugly scene at the recent Fed Cup match, Ilie Nastase earned his nickname of “Nasty.” He has dodged fines, suspensions and disqualifications since his playing days in the early seventies.
Most of the infractions were the result of Nastase’s bad temper. He was the original “bad boy” paving the way for Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe. However, Nastase does not see it the same as everybody else.
“I am a little crazy,” he said, “but I try to be a good boy.” His comrade, Ion Tiriac, put it another way,” His brain is like a bird in a cage.”
At the Western Open in Cincinnati, Nastase received $4,500 fine for obscene language and abusing a linesman over a missed call. Nastase said, “I was very angry, certainly, but justifiably. But I did not act bad. I am not a mean man. I just play mean tennis. I like to win.”
In his heyday, Nastase would talk to fans in the stands and one time played holding an umbrella. It was amusing to the viewers, but not so much if you were an opponent.
In 1979 at the U.S. Open in a match against McEnroe, Nastase was penalized a point and then a game for arguing and stalling. The decision incited the crowd to throw beer cans and cups on the court. Eventually, the match restarted with a new umpire and Nastase being defaulted from the match
Nastase’s personal life has not been much smoother. The Romanian, married four times, by his own estimation, admits to sleeping with “800-900” women. He placed sixth on Maxim magazine’s “Living Sex Legends” list.
Throughout, Nastase has always defended his behavior. “They want me to be a bad guy, so they make me a bad guy,” Nastase said,” even when I am not a bad guy.”