Double Fault: Serenas's Loss of Serenity Reveals Both Race and Gender Bias
Can anyone still recall the hazy afterglow following the presidential election -- that orgy of premature self-congratulation about suddenly becoming a "post racial" society?
That prematurity was on full display the other night in the women's semifinal match at the U.S. Open between Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters. Clijsters's thrilling return to the women's circuit was overshadowed by an intemperate outburst by Williams, who menacingly gestured to the line judge, who had just called a foot fault on a second serve which brought the game to match point. Williams exploded in a profanity laced-tirade. You don't have to be a lip reader to see she yelled that she was going to shove that bright yellow tennis ball up the line judge's butt.
Okay, let's acknowledge that this was not Serena's greatest moment, that she lost her temper -- it was match point in the semi-finals, after all -- and became both unhinged and enraged. And Serena is one big, strong woman. And a big strong black woman.
Those two last points, though, seem crucial. Serena's outburst -- and the rule-based, draconian penalty that cost her the match -- were both racial and gendered. Let me be clear: I am not saying that the call was overtly, intentionally, racist or sexist. But the context for both the line judge's reaction and the chair umpire's call depended on Serena being a strong black woman.
Ask yourself this: would the line judge have felt so threatened had she been yelled at by perky, pretty little Melanie Oudin, all 5 foot 6 of her bouncy teenage self?
How about a white man? White men can express anger and outrage -- indeed, they're supposed to. It's one of the few emotional men are allowed to express -- and we express it often, and often without penalty. And sometimes we go even further. Don't get mad, the saying goes, get even.
Hey, don't take my word for it. See for yourself. One of the pleasures of the rainouts and rain delays that marred the end of the tournament schedule was that CBS and ESPN rebroadcast some "classic" matches from earlier eras, matches in which the ever-bratty Jimmy Connors' rants and the once-bratty now elder statesman and superb TV commentator John McEnroe's outbursts were greeted with whopping rallying cries and often supportive crowd reactions. Check it out here and here.
Line judges didn't typically feel threatened by Marat Safin -- and he's 6 foot 4! (Safin broke 48 tennis racquets in 1999 alone.)
And watch Jimmy Connors in his famous 4th round match at the 1991 Open, when he twice explodes at the chair umpire (who seemed more bemused than afraid).
Note that Connors was not assessed any penalty, and went on to win the match. The crowd went wild.
Yes, Serena lost her temper, yelled and cursed at the line judge. Bad sportsmanship. Very bad. But the line judge said she felt her life had been threatened. (A charge Serena instantly and vehemently denied.)
Let's face it: it's different when black people get angry. Even black men. Being a 58-year-old Harvard professor with a cane didn't protect Henry Louis Gates when he lost his cool. And Joe Wilson sure felt entitled to express his outrage at that uppity black guy -- except that uppity black guy lecturing him happened to be the President. Being the Commander in Chief of the world's most powerful military didn't protect President Obama either.
Nor did being arguably the best female tennis player in the world protect Serena. She was a furious black woman with a weapon. Serena was neither ladylike nor did she "act white" and keep her cool.
The fans booed Serena, as they surely would have if President Obama had ever taken the bait and replied to relentless race-baiting in anything but an even-tempered, even-cadenced, tone. But make no mistake: those same fans found John McEnroe's antics "cute" and Jimmy Connors' constant tirades energizing, and plenty of other white male players just too tightly wound.
Memo to Gael Monfils, Jo-Wilifred Tsonga and James Blake: do not ever lose your temper. Ever. Memo to Venus Williams: double ditto.
America's post-racialist glow only lasts as long as you stay more serene than Serena.
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To those parroting the theoretical phrase, "rules are rules," consider this historical example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtkKdCeQgQM
Game, set, match--hypocrisy. Until the USTA deals the very real problem of corruption (racially motivated, or otherwise), professional tennis' reputation will be, deservedly, assailed. (Something tells me that given the Williams' proven prowess, they'll continue to win anyway. That says a lot about them and their family.) While Serena was wrong to lose her cool, it was an altogether ridiculous call. Further, given the historical precendents of terrible (read, corrupt) calls made against her during past U.S. Open matches, there's more than a little room for understanding. In the meantime: USTA, wake up, do the right thing (as you did after the Capriati travesty, by revamping your rules), and continue to address a very serious and pernicious problem that is not only tainting your tournament, but also a great sport.
Bless You, my son................
To the person who left the cooment that the Williams sisters don't get thier just do must be watching some strange tv channel that nobody else gets. These two have been superstars on the tennis seen for many year now. They have the most endorements then any female tennis player playing now or in the last 15 years. They do more commercials and more appearances then any female tennis player out there. They have made the most money from the sport and endoresments and so forth that they even bought into ownership of the Miami Dolphins. Now what in the world are you talking about not getting thier just do. I've been following these two since they stepped on the court and watched both of them progress. Believe me they have thier just do and more.
Plain and simple she was wrong and her own actions cost her the match. The only differenc with the other tennis players that got into confrontations with judges is that they never threaten bodily harm to them. Serina and thats my girl I love her game did in fact threaten the judge. That is a big difference then just cursing and disagreeing with the call. No racism or gender bias played any part in what happened other then Serina's own stupidity. I am sick and tired of every thing being a race issue. I think this is creating more of a divide then unity. We really need to stop this nonsense and the media needs to stop saying that it was race when it wasn't.
It is true that Arthur Ashe was the utmost sportsmen in spite of the high level of racism he experienced in a sport so overwhelmingly "white". He had to...just like Jesse Owens in Germany.
Serena behaved in a bad way, no doubt about it, but so have many other white players throughout history. You mean to tell me that James Blake would be looked upon the same way as Marat Safin had he pulled down his pants on the court during a match, like Safin did? I don't think so.
Serena and Venus have been the recipient of prejudice during the rise and through their domination of the women's tour. They have different personalities...Not everyone responds the same. Venus is more tame. Serena is more demonstrative...and again yes, she behaved badly.
If rules are rules, then you would see the penalties for certain players who break them consistently (e.g. taking too much time between points, no profanity allowed on court, breaking racquets and warnings, talking back to umpires in unsavory language).
I wish rules were rules but pro tennis is proving that they are subjective and applied only as the umpire desires.
No, no, no. No way. You are FLAT OUT WRONG on this. Serena THREATENED the line judge. She has been in the public eye for many, many years & gets all the benefits of stardom. She needs to OWN her mistakes, too. She was WRONG, period. Her being black & female had nothing to do with it. No excuses!
If you'd CALM DOWN and try to understand the message and the point of the article, you just might learn something. Whether she was right or wrong is NOT the issue. The BACKLASH -- rather, the DISPROPORTIONATE amount she has had to suffer -- is the issue.
When a B/ack athlete, entertainer, or 'everyday Joe' does something inappropriate, they have to endure the DOUBLE STANDARD of being looked at as some sort of brute, incapable of civility. If said athlete, entertainer, or everyday person is a B/ack WOMAN, it's even worse because of the negative, preconceived notions society holds against B|ack women (and don't deny it; Huffpost's own threads provide more than enough evidence.)
From the article:
" Ask yourself this: would the line judge have felt so threatened had she been yelled at by perky, pretty little Melanie Oudin, all 5 foot 6 of her bouncy teenage self?
How about a wh!te man? Wh!te men can express anger and outrage -- indeed, they're supposed to . . . and we express it often, and often without penalty."
He's exactly right. If a "perky little Melanie Oudin" did the same thing as Serena, she might face backlash, but it wouldn't be NEARLY to the same degree. In fact, some of you wouldn't complain at all; you'd be praising her, saying "Good for her! What a spunky gal. She's got chutzpah !!"
I know it, so do you, and so do the people on this thread -- even if you refuse
Sorry Michael, but your lip reading was faulty. She said "down your throat" not (ugh) the butt line.
Did you change those words on purpose to make it sound even worse, and why?
Roger Federer swore at the umpire twice last night...no one said a word. Mary Carillo didn't demand he be ejected from the game and suspended, which she did in re: Serena. Carillo apparently is not aware that there are Officials that make those decisions, not sportscasters.
It was Serena who acted in an aggressive and abusive manner. So how did she become the victim? If it was a man, we'd call them for the aholio they are and leave it at that. You're right there is sexual bias. A woman can't seem to be held accountable for their actions when, for a change, it's they who are in the wrong. What she did was wrong. That's the element that's missing from this discussion. What she did was wrong.
What discussion are you reading? This is an opinion piece not a discussion piece.. and he wrote "Yes, Serena lost her temper, yelled and cursed at the line judge. Bad sportsmanship. Very bad. " The discussion is hypocrisy.. where in your "discussion" did you state that what Connors did was wrong? What McEnroe did was wrong??
Why should I list every man who did wrong in order to say what a woman did was wrong? thge discussion was about Serena, no one else. What she did was wrong. Why can't you say that?
Some people just won't ever get it. The author said repeatedly that what Serena did was wrong. Just try to understand what the author is saying first, without interjecting what you think.
Otherwise, you miss the points that he is making, which are excellent and can lead to a better discussion: A meat discussion rather than staying on milk.
There's no doubt that the Williams sisters never got their due because of racism and sexism.
However, McEnroe, Connors, Safin, Nastase, Lendl, Federer aside, I don't ever recall *any* tennis player who came within 10 feet of a courtside official and waved his or her racket menacingly in said official's face in addition to a full minute of expletive laden, threatening language and bodily gestures, and gotten away with it. Anything of that nature would have led to a near immediate sanction against the offender: Imagine a baseball player waving his bat in the first base umpire's face, or a hockey player raising his stick against a referee.
Plus, he players in women's tennis are held to an even more glaringly sexist standard based more on their looks than their ability. Anyone who recalls the seething hatred against Martina Navratilova in her matches against Chris Evert, or the glorification of Anna Kournikova, a second rate player by any measure, will know exactly what I mean.
So, you didn't look at the clips..
The author is reading WAY too much into this. The Foot Fault call was legitimate ( if rarely called ) . Serena blew a fuse and got what she deserved. Case closed.
The foot fault call was subjective, and therefore the author is on to something. And I hope the case is closed and nothing more coming.
"America's post-racialist glow only lasts as long as you stay more serene than Serena. "....poetic visual......
I beg to differ. You can´t argue that MacEnroe or Connors would have been treated more kindly by the media because the range and scope of media then was nothing compared to what they are now. We all know that the more you throw the information and the image out there, the bigger the snowball. I imagine that if Oudin or Nadal or Federer had done the same thing, it would have been just as huge a story on hundreds of TV channels and the Internet.
There are established conduct rules and corresponding penalizations in professional tennis. Serena messed up, period, and race and gender bias has nothing to do with it. Serena´s problem is called "having no class".
Wrong, just simply wrong. There was a media back then, more people read newspapers, magazines, heard Howard Cosell and anyone else who had something to say, and basically the media gave McEnroe and Connors a free pass. Actually the range and scope of the media was far more vast, I grew up in a NYC that had a bunch of newspapers with very different viewpoints.
Part of the passing of the Civil and Voting Rights Acts was the attempt by the US to stop being embarrassed before the world at large that was getting the news about the fact that a lot of people were not free in the land of the free.
What I don't think a lot of people get is that no one is defending Serena's outburst.
Mr. Kimmel is pointing out that the backlash she has recieved from the media/public is showing is a result of a racial/gender bias.
You've got people who suddenly have selective amnesia when it comes to Athletes(particularly in tennis) going crazy on Officials.
No one would be wringing their hands/gnashing their teeth if it was Nadal who did this or Federer. Just as no one was doing so when McEnroe, Connors, Safin acted like idiots on the court.
Exactly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UJlNRODZHA&NR=1
It's called White Privilege. The collective white subconscious mind is endowed with fear and paranoia. Look at a white person they get scared, hear things no one said, see things not there, shoot first and ask questions later. Slavery worked a number on white people too, as they dehumanized Africans. This is what we are seeing. The white melt down nonwhites are telling the white world we are not taking this BS anymore. The system that sustained white supremacy is falling like a house of cards. The reaction is teabagging, name calling, gun toting and all manner of uncivil infant-like behavior on the part of whites. Read the Willie Lynch Letter. What the slavers did to make the African be slaves has broken whites. The country is divided in the same way the slavers divided the African. White people have turned on themselves and don't even know it. The people are the government, they hate, which means they hate themselves. Every where you look white fear and anxiety abounds. For insight into the white conscious, subconscious and superconscious mind read Yurugu ( the author uses African terms to describe these 3 aspects.). What we have is the end of rule by some very ill people. All the reason for health care. White people are going to need a great deal of counseling in the coming decades to endure the karmic hell facing them all.
*And* this is why the president isn't allowed to be a man. He isn't allowed to show anger in fear of being viewed as an angry black man.
It seems to me that every photo (by the main stream) of this man since the election has been one of him either smiling or grinning.
Same reason why the first lady has been kept under wraps. (planting gardens, not a bad thing) The fear of her appearing to be an angry black woman (militant, educated, intelligent) is threatening to some and offensive to others.
*for fear*
I VOW TO LEARN TO CONTRUCT A PREOPER SENTENCE!
*PROPER*
I am so going to bed.......
Dont forget your contruct too,,, is that like a different type of contruction site??
I think you meant contuct? contact? content? Oh wait, yeah CONSTRUCT.
Thanks for having the courage to say this. If people are honest with themselves, they will understand your point. Being black in corporate america, I see our white brothers and sisters have meltdowns, tantrums, and tirades regularly. But let a black woman have an attitude and its the end of the world. That little woman was terrified. People are so fearful of dark skin. Black will always be synonymous to being a villain.
Whether or not the 'little woman' was terrified is irrelevant to me. Serena, in her judgement, foot-faulted. Maybe it was a bad call. I have seen Serena respond with grace under similar circumstances. Here she lost her cool, loudly cursed and threatened to shove a tennis ball in an inappropriate place. You and the author are suggesting that a skinnyu white girl doing te same thing would not be penalized. That's ridiculous.
Another source of Serena's frustration, and contrary to the author's statement that "Serena's outburst -- and the rule-based, draconian penalty that cost her the match -- were both racial and gendered."
It was by being outplayed that cost Serena the match, and the penalty was just the standard penalty for such an infraction, not some 'draconian' penalty.
That point WAS match point, but she got to match point not because of racial and gender bias, but because she was beaten by Clisters. Badly.
Some people look for racism everywhere, and although it is still evident in our society (Kanye?) I do not think it is at the core of this particular issue.
That "litle woman" was terrified because a big, strong athlete was threatening her with quite unpleasant bodily harm! I believe she would have been just as terrified if she had been verbally abused and threatened by a big strong WHITE athlete. Color had nothing to do with it.
More to the point is why ms williams was unable to control herself after what she felt was an unfair call. Bad or unfair calls are made every day in every sport. True athletes just accept it as part of the game, protest it if they can and move on like ladies and gentlemen. At least, thats the way its supposed to happen..
I have to agree. Other tennis players have behaved in an equally shameful fashion. Yet, none of them has drawn the ire that has been directed against Serena. She behaved disgracefullly, but she is not the first and will not be the last.
Also, the Williams sisters have a history of enduring atrocious line calls that always seem to come at critical match moments. After all, it was the Serena Williams, Capriati match that was the impetus for the implementation of the "Eagle Eye" technology that is now employed during all tennis matches. The level of officiating was so biased and the resulting outcry so loud, that finally an objective measuring system had to be implemented. Ironically, foot faults are one of the few errors that remains the sole purview of line judges. Venus received such an unprecedented number of foot faults during one 2009 US Open match that she finally had to ask the line judge "could you please tell me which foot it was?"
Personally, I'm tired of the biased officiating and the US crowds willingness to root for everyone BUT the Williams sisters. It's a sad commentary on our country. Time for electronic judging of foot faults to be initiated.
In basketball, baseball, or football, any athlete who behaved in this manner towards an official would have been ejected from the game. It happens all the time. In tennis, any white male who behaved in this manner would have received the same penalty. It's absurd to claim otherwise. Don't go back to McEnroe and Connors; that's 20+ years ago! The game has developed way of dealing with behavior issues. I've seen many penalties assessed over the last ten years, and for far less objectionable behavior.
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