Let me start off by saying that I am a true tennis fan and player (albeit an incredibly out of shape one compared to my not so illustrious days on my high school team another lifetime ago). I should also add that I am enough of a tennis nerd that I remember the days when Kim Clijsters and Lleyton Hewitt were sort of like the Prom King and Queen of tennis, so I was proud to see Kim, a new mom, battling her way into her first Grand Slam final in years, on sheer grit, determination, and talent.
And then she got a little unnecessary help from a lineswoman.
Now I want you to honestly ask yourself the following. If a lineswoman had called a questionable foot fault on Andy Roddick in the final game of his marathon Wimbledon battle royale against Roger Federer, near match point no less, what would the general reaction of most tennis fans -- particularly American tennis fans -- have been? Or if a linesman had called a foot fault on Melanie Oudin at a crucial point during her fairy tale like run at the Open (where I had the immense pleasure of seeing her play) what would the general reaction of the fans filling Arthur Ashe stadium have been? If the way we behaved during her match against Dementieva is any indication, then I'm guessing we would have seen an Attica-like riot.
Before the eye rolling begins, let me be clear. I am not arguing that Serena Williams -- with her countless titles and millions of dollars -- has somehow been a victim of racial bias. But I don't think anyone who is a real tennis fan can argue that she hasn't been a victim of some bias throughout her and her sister's, history-making careers, and Saturday night was one such moment.
In spite of how they have dominated the sport at near Tiger Woods like levels, it has long been acceptable to not like and not root for the Williams sisters even though they have been one of the few bright spots for American tennis fans of the last few years. (During her 2001 meeting with Clijsters at Indian Wells, Serena Williams was booed so badly that she and her family have never returned to the event).
One can't simply blame race. After all, James Blake has enjoyed immense popularity among American tennis fans, many of us hopeful that he will one day fulfill the promise so many of us see in him. With the Williams sisters it has always been less about what color they are and more about who they are: from Compton, not from Connecticut; wearing wildly colored fashion combos, instead of pristine tennis whites; talking loud and proud of their roots, instead of quietly trying to blend in; rocking braids and cornrows in the early days, instead of joining the ranks of Beyonce (and some of the rest of us) by getting a more socially acceptable, "lady-like" weave.
And then there's the dad. When Richard Williams held up a sign during the 2000 Wimbledon final proclaiming, "It's Venus' Party and No One Was Invited" there were more than a few Americans -- including many black Americans -- who cringed. But he came by his over-the-top nature honestly. He and his daughters have made no secret of the role class played in their early struggles to find acceptance on the circuit. (Let's be real. Tennis remains, to this day, very much a country club-esque sport and while the Williams scream a lot of things, country club is not one of them.) In one of their earliest "60 Minutes" appearances a sports journalist recalled that it was common knowledge that many in media and the sports world had rooted for them to fail, if only to spite their abrasive father. Subsequently their love, hate relationship with American fans became a bit like debating which came first: the chicken or the egg. Some wondered how they could lift their rackets with such huge chips on their shoulders and for a while it seemed to become a self-fulfilling prophecy: They acted as though the whole world was against them and the whole world obliged.
There's a saying: "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean 'they're' not after you." In the case of the Williams sisters there have been questionable calls over the years that have cost both of them grand slam matches before this latest one, including a 2004 call that cost Venus a Wimbledon match (and cost the umpire in question his participation in the remainder of the tournament) and a series of questionable calls in the 2004 U.S. Open that led to Serena's loss, including one that former player and analyst Tracy Austin labeled "quite literally the worst call I've ever seen."
Instead of their attitude and outbursts being cited as proof of their passion for the game, as it had with other players (Mac the Knife anyone?), it became further proof to some that they didn't belong.
But in those moments when they seemed to forget about the rest of the world and just let go and play, they managed to give us tennis fans a real gift. (Even their father displayed moments of grace that surprised many, such as when he said of Venus's Wimbledon opponent Lindsay Davenport, "I love Lindsay...She's a wonderful human being.")
Which is why Saturday's events leave me so saddened.
Yes Serena was wrong.
But so was the lineswoman.
And so is every tennis fan who isn't willing to honestly admit that Saturday's call never would have happened, nor been deemed acceptable for any other player under those circumstances.
But other players are not named Williams.
Follow Keli Goff on Twitter: www.twitter.com/keligoff
If everyone was out to get them, why do they have so many trophies?
If Serena hadn't lost her cool and just played on, the story would have been the bad call. Period. You say such a call wouldn't have been acceptable if called on anyone but a Williams. I completely disagree. Fans, sports columnists and everyone would have argued about it no matter who was playing.
I think Serena is an amazing athlete and the Williams sisters are one of the best sports stories in American history.
However, "Yes Serena was wrong. But so was the lineswoman" is a weak attempt to deflect criticism of Serena's behavior. She acted like a poor loser and a bully, plain and simple.
The whole thing is unfortunate, but I hope all this attention makes Serena reflect a little and understand that a bad call doesn't warrant that kind of response, no matter what's on the line...
Second, the media reaction is overblown.
Third, threatening? Really? Does anyone seriously think Serena was going to harm that woman?
Fourth, the Williams sisters have never been treated fairly by the tennis establishment. I will long remember the racist, sexist discussion about her body at the 2007 Australian Open. The sister have always been too "Black," with a father who is straight up country and ghetto. Sure, those in the tennis establishment love James Blake...but then again, he's a Harvard grad with an affluent white mother sitting in the stands and a "J crew" of affluent white fan friends.
Fifth, the sisters have never been given their due respect by the public. White American fans would rather cheer for Sharapova. Imagine being a dominate number one watching a blond seventeen year old Russian become America's marketing darling SOLELY because she is white and fits a very narrow notion of beauty. That they still manage to thrive after so many years of insult is a testament to the strength of their character.
Sixth, this country is still mired in racism and sexism. I refer to the public rancor over l'affair Foot Fault as Serena's Sofia Moment. Sofia was the Oprah character in the Color Purple who ended up humiliated and stripped of her dignity because she refused to show proper contrition. I certainly hope that any additional punishment for Serena is dropped. She has paid enough over the years.
Serena crossed the line, getting angry in the heat of the moment is understandable, to justify unacceptable behavior and then lie about is not. If she had uttered that threat in public, the police would have been called and then she clearly lied about what she said to the chair umpire and appeared completely unremorseful in interviews.
Physically threatening another individual is not acceptable and crossed the line. The tournament could perhaps amend its rules to "physical threats to an umpire results in immediate default of the match, ejection from the tournament and loss of all prize monies earned."
You seem to be justifying abusive behavior in your article, it is not that she is a Williams, it is not that she is an african american, it is not that she is a woman, and a line has to be drawn over acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Enough is enough with the media enabling unacceptable behavior, in the world of human beings. there is no excuses for what she did, she clearly crossed the line.
That being said, her behavior during this incident was utterly disgusting. As much respect as she has earned throughout the years, this poor display of sportsmanship makes me think twice about her. Come on! She's playing a grand slam semi-final, and she needs to realize that she's being watched by millions! Her behavior is distasteful and has no place in tennis. It doesn't matter where you're from (as your article discusses).. tennis IS a classy sport and Serena certainly doesn't emulate that.
Not only does she act trashy on court, but she has the nerve to not apologize in the post-game interview. I understand that some of you are content with her apology before her doubles match... CLEARLY THAT WAS NOT HER FEELINGS BUT HER PUBLICISTS!!
Also.. this is not about race. This is about humility and admitting one's flaws- a quality that Serena Williams does not have.
:-\
At one time i admired these former tennis players. But since the William sisters, they disgust me. Especially some of the former female players.
Venus had several herself in the early round. I was there.
New Yorkers love the Williams sisters, so I am not sure where this so-called non-rooting idea comes from. Second, the two, while personable off the court, are quite different on court (as it often is in sports). They screech and yell in order solely to intimidate the other player(s) on the other side of the net. (Coaches say if you have energy to yell, you are taking it away from your full game.) Some people, yes, do not like that, and I heard that in the stands.
If anything, the workers did not treat any of the matches as if "stars" were playing or that points were more key than others. Without a better angle on the play, it is not so easy to judge.
This article is so off base, it hurts those with real beefs about racism.
I am sick and tired of the excuses that some people feel they have to put forth on her behalf.
I didn't see a black tennis player berating a white woman. I saw a tennis player berating an official who was responsible for the "foot fault".
Why does it always have to do with race or where someone is from, for God's sake.
I am the first white woman, from southeastern Oklahoma, in the world to become the official photographer for the Navajo Nation's intertribal powwow and rodeo. NO ONE cares where I am from or what color I am. I just take damned good pictures just like Ms. Williams plays damned good tennis.
Give it up, folks. It's time to leave the building.
By the way... Do you (or any of your friends) know of any Indian photographers of whites? :-)
also, the most visible faces and voices of American tennis in the USTA and Fed Cup, on NBC, CBS and ESPN and in TV and print ads have been the McEnroes a couple of the worst behaived tennis players to ever hit the professional courts
throughout the past 40 years it has been deplorable to hear and see the talking heads on TV suck up to the McEnroes as though they were the equivalent to royalty and replay ad nauseum matches that show John McEnroe having meltdowns, yet, now the USTA and the talking heads suddenly want to renounce bad behavior
tennis has used and, profited from the antics and high drama of misbehaving tennis players to garner interest and viewers in tennis programing
That being said, the Williams sisters are generally two of the nicest people on the tour. I have seen Venus stay in a stadium signing autographs after she had lost a match, and believe me that almost NEVER happens--a player loses, they pack and head for the door. This was very atypical behaviour for Serena. I don't know what generated it, and I doubt that it will ever happen again, but it will still cost her. And it should.