JOHN McEnroe took possession of the Scottish Lawn Tennis Association's

championship trophy and almost immediately it fell to pieces in his

hands. These things happen to the enigmatic American. Accidents go

looking for him.

His performance in yesterday's final against Jimmy Connors, the

perfect climax to the Bank of Scotland Grasscourt Championships, was

beyond reproach until he lost control and the demons took over for a

brief spell in the second set. Bad words tripped out, but he bit his

tongue and was able again to channel his feelings towards beating

Connors.

It is testimony to the splendid, often awesome serve-and-volley games

of each player that there were no breaks of serve in the match which

McEnroe won 7-6, (7-2), 7-6 (7-4) in 1 hour 52 minutes. ''I hope all the

people out there realised what they were getting. That was good

tennis,'' Connors said later.

It was the first time these two had played one another since Montreal

two years ago, and since Connors, who will be 37 in September, says he

can take only one year at a time, it is likely that no other tennis

audience will see these two adversaries meet in a competitive final.

That in itself was worth the admission price of #18 a brief.

Craiglockhart's centre court was full for the first time in these

championships and the organisers, ProServ, were quick to take advantage

of the belated upsurge in interest. They introduced a grass pass which

allowed holders to sit on the bank above the south stand. A grass pass,

incidentally, also retailed at #18.

Who would have thought it, the citizens of Edinburgh parting with

bundles of greenbacks to sit on the grass. McEnroe and Connors packed up

their kitbags and headed towards the biggie, Wimbledon, unaware of the

breakthrough in traditional values their presence had achieved. Still,

as they went, both left ProServ, the sponsors, and the City of Edinburgh

picking through words of hope.

''I always try to defend titles and I'd like to come back,'' said

McEnroe, whose sentiments were echoed by Connors. Much may depend on

whether or not the tournament is granted grand-prix status, but as

Connors said, that's up to how hard the people involved are prepared to

push.

There is no doubt Craiglockhart is a splendid arena, particularly when

the sun is blazing. The tranquility, however, was disrupted when McEnroe

threw his racket -- the fourth time he had perpetrated such a

misdemeanor -- as Connors moved ahead 30-0 in the fifth game of the

second set. John Frame, an umpire from Penicuik, decided he would like

to be a hero, or a martyr, and he warned the top seed against racket

violation.

The man child in McEnroe resurfaced and Frame's ears picked up an

audible obscenity. The official docked McEnroe a point but still Junior

could not put a lid on his temper. Another colourful gem from the

McEnroe book of favourite quotations cost him that game.

He decided it was better not to test Frame further and everyone, the

organisers especially, no doubt, breathed sighs of relief. The umpire's

next demonstration of his authority would have been to disqualify the

eventual champion. McEnroe would have flown south in the huff but Frame

might have been placed in a different kind of chair, one that plugs into

the mains, next time he took a seat.

Fortunately, there were no other confrontations and McEnroe went on to

take a cheque for #14,000 and the glittering trophy on which his name

will be etched alongside such past luminaries as Ken Revie, Harry

Matheson and that would-be Conservative politician Buster Mottram.

As McEnroe took the crowd's applause Connors sat on the steps of the

umpire's chair staring into space. So this is where it all ends? No

chance. ''There's a tournament in London next week,'' he reminded

everyone.

The women's event also has a new champion, 17-year-old Mary Joe

Fernandez, who beat the defending champion, Gigi Fernandez, 6-2, 6-3, in

Saturday's final. Like McEnroe and Connors the women's finalists also

say they would like to return.