"But I've seen other men call other umpires several things. I'm here fighting for women's rights and for women's equality and for all kinds of stuff. For me to say 'thief' and for him to take a game, it made me feel like it was a sexist remark. He's never taken a game from a man because they said 'thief.'"
"I just feel like the fact that I have to go through this is just an example for the next person that has emotions and that want to express themselves and want to be a strong woman. They're going to be allowed to do that because of today.”
- Serena Williams, a true hero standing up for the rights of women to not be penalized for unsportsmanlike behavior
She did lose it. And what she said to the chair umpire was way out of line and I think he was right to assess the game penalty. I just feel reluctant to judge her on that one moment. We all snap now and then.
Especially with athletes when they may be exhausted, stressed or in pain, its hard to apply the usual standards that we normally expect of people. For some strange reason, this whole thing brings to mind Zidane's headbutt in the World Cup finals in 2008. It didn't change how I felt about Zidane and this won't change how I feel about Serena.
I'm fine with snapping and losing your temperature... but the constant "you owe me an apology" and "you wouldn't have done this if i were a man" were just absurd... it was ongoing and she didnt let it go.
She needed an excuse for getting her ass beat, I guess
She did lose it. And what she said to the chair umpire was way out of line and I think he was right to assess the game penalty. I just feel reluctant to judge her on that one moment. We all snap now and then.
Especially with athletes when they may be exhausted, stressed or in pain, its hard to apply the usual standards that we normally expect of people. For some strange reason, this whole thing brings to mind Zidane's headbutt in the World Cup finals in 2008. It didn't change how I felt about Zidane and this won't change how I feel about Serena.
You guys should have grown up in the era of John McEnroe...
back then i was more of a tennis fan...i loved McEnroe...i was never really offended by his antics
You guys should have grown up in the era of John McEnroe...
I did and always wanted the umpire to throw him out for his childish behavior. But with McEnroe his outbursts seemed more staged gamesmanship and a way to settle himself down.
Still, there should be one set of rules.
Martina Navratilova with a thoughtful op ed piece on Saturday's events.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/10/opinion/martina-navratilova-serena-williams-us-open.html
Solid take by Martina. I think it’s reasonsble to hold Serena accountable for her actions while acknowledging that she faces a myriad of double standards here and elsewhere based on who she is.
We apply this logic to racism against white people, right?