The Tennis Thread

[Burwood]

AWG said:

Robbo66 said:

bstb3 said:

So the moral of the story is... If you don't play by the rules & don't like being called up on it, if you want to be able to behave like a brat and disrupt your opponent whilst feeling free to try to intimidate and threaten the officials, simply call a discrimination card and the whole narrative will change to completely ignore you being in the wrong in the first place. Marvelous. I'm sure girls and boys all over the world will be reveling in this life lesson.

If Williams really wants to be seen as a role model for her kids (and others) then she needs to front up and admit her behavior was totally wrong and properly apologize to her opponent and the official. She may have a valid point about the sexism in the US Open (she probably does), but you should not get to hide such unprofessional behavior behind it. Two wrongs don't make a right, or is that not the case anymore?

Exactly, can't play race card, so jumped on the 'sexist' horse. Fellow professionals too weak to stand up for umpire. They will see it as, nothing in it for them to do so.
Why have the wrath of the Williams entourage on your back, when you can offer PR mush to deflect to 'next question'. If they arque for the umpire then they would be considered 'sexist' too. Umpire's been hung out to dry whilst Williams hides behind a convenient cover.
That faux concern for Osaka at the ceremony, to curry favour with fans was utterly despicable.

Yet the crowd still applauded her during the rant... I'm amazed that she still gets recognition.

That’s a New Yorkers for you. USA USA USA

[Robbo66]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI4eVt_sYbw

USA Open crowd...bused in from Ryder Cup

[GloverMart]

Just watched Virat Kohli, the Indian cricket captain, speak after his team's defeat to England today.

Lost the series 4-1 but still managed to speak very well of England, their tactics and also a nice tribute to Alistair Cook who officially retired at the end of the match. Very classy words and maybe Miss Williams could do with watching it to see how to behave when you've just lost.

[Stan the Bat]

I bet Williams still doesn't get it and never will.

[noble12345]

Her coach said he cheated and he always has, she says shed rather loose than cheat. So why hasnt she given all her trophies and prize money to all the girls she beaten while using that coach? Then she can retire in shame.

[CoolHands]

I think juvenile pictures that grown men have excitedly made to demonstrate their misogynistic and frequently racists views is just sad.

[simoid]

CoolHands said:

I think juvenile pictures that grown men have excitedly made to demonstrate their misogynistic and frequently racists views is just sad.

Do you know who made the pictures, or are you making assumptions?

[E24man]

CoolHands said:

I think juvenile pictures that grown men have excitedly made to demonstrate their misogynistic and frequently racists views is just sad.

I agree, but I think that history clearly shows that cartoon or satirical imagery can all too often reveal messages, opinions and commentary that humans are sometimes too afraid to voice.

I also think that the very public and unrelenting personal abuse, bullying and attempted intimidation of a referee by any competitor in any sport is far worse than any juvenile picture, wouldn't you agree?

[CoolHands]

simoid said:

Do you know who made the pictures, or are you making assumptions?

Err just look at that first one

[Ali2202]

BJK now backtracking somewhat. A lesson in just STFU in the 1st place.

Money has done all this. May I go as far as blaming the internet?

I'm old enough to remember when I had a palpable sense of excitement over a World yet to be 'discovered' and ruined by the masses. A World now largely lost to ''I want it NOW, I want it FAST. I'm ENTITLED!!''

As I head full-pelt into the nether-years of Life I do indeed wonder where Grace has gone?

In riposte to my rhetorical question, I'm picking up my truck from a field in Portugal tomorrow, heading for the Sierra Nevada mountains in Spain and hoping for no connectivity over the next 4 months...

I may be the dead solo Mountain-Biker discovered half-eaten in a gorge in the thaw next March. Way to go I feel.

Serena and your ilk, hope you just find some peace and perspective one day. You've all created a gilded-prison for yourselves. Bunch of trapped muppets.

[Leithen]

Ali2202 said:

As I head full-pelt into the nether-years of Life I do indeed wonder where Grace has gone?

Happily Alistair Cook has given a masterclass in it over the last few days, so it does exist.

[Robbo66]

Leithen said:

Ali2202 said:

As I head full-pelt into the nether-years of Life I do indeed wonder where Grace has gone?

Happily Alistair Cook has given a masterclass in it over the last few days, so it does exist.

Agree entirely. I’ve a feeling that this is going to come back and bite her on the ‘assss’. It appears that the silence is deafening, from many well respected players and commentators.

[GloverMart]

Robbo66 said:

Leithen said:

Ali2202 said:

As I head full-pelt into the nether-years of Life I do indeed wonder where Grace has gone?

Happily Alistair Cook has given a masterclass in it over the last few days, so it does exist.

Agree entirely. I’ve a feeling that this is going to come back and bite her on the ‘assss’. It appears that the silence is deafening, from many well respected players and commentators.

While not anywhere near on the same scale as Williams herself, quite a few of those players have shown little class too in rushing to back her without knowing all of the facts in the story.

[simoid]

CoolHands said:

simoid said:

Do you know who made the pictures, or are you making assumptions?

Err just look at that first one

I’m not seeing what can’t have been thought, typed or drawn by a woman? I see nothing sexist or racist. Just calling out a sportsperson who is out of order are being rightly chastised.

[selym]

How does the sport mitigate the risk of the racist and sexist accusations? Women only umpire the women's game - that might deal with the misogyny that Williams is suggesting. However, racism? If it is 'in' the umpire, who makes the penalty calls, how do you eradicate that?
Not that I personally think either was in play in the final. She was getting bear fair and square and I doubt she would have blown up if it was the first game of the match - she was clearly seeing a loss on the horizon.
As for the cartoon - racist, maybe (if the point of the caricature bleeds into an opportunity for casual racist stereotyping). Sexist - how? Provocative - definitely. Misjudged - for sure.

[TaylotS2K]

I wonder if Virgil Abloh will bring out another Serena/Nike/Off-White collaboration.

"Bad loser"

[WinstonWolf]

CoolHands said:

I think juvenile pictures that grown men have excitedly made to demonstrate their misogynistic and frequently racists views is just sad.

Would her behaviour have been acceptable if she was white or a man?

When we all took the piss out of McEnroe for spitting his dummy were we being misogynistic or racist?

[selym]

WinstonWolf said:

CoolHands said:

I think juvenile pictures that grown men have excitedly made to demonstrate their misogynistic and frequently racists views is just sad.

Would her behaviour have been acceptable if she was white or a man?

When we all took the piss out of McEnroe for spitting his dummy were we being misogynistic or racist?

And Nick Kyrgios.....

[abzmike]

selym said:

And Nick Kyrgios.....

Kyrgios is an idiot - talented no doubt, but an idiot - and has accumulated plenty of penalties, suspensions and fines through his career. the kid glove treatment he got recently (Washington?) was absurd, but he has been well punished for his various transgressions.

I read this morning that umpires may refuse to take Williams matches in the future. The ITF seem to be backing the officials, the WTA the player. Someone will need to back down.

[selym]

abzmike said:

selym said:

And Nick Kyrgios.....

Kyrgios is an idiot - talented no doubt, but an idiot - and has accumulated plenty of penalties, suspensions and fines through his career. the kid glove treatment he got recently (Washington?) was absurd, but he has been well punished for his various transgressions.

I read this morning that umpires may refuse to take Williams matches in the future. The ITF seem to be backing the officials, the WTA the player. Someone will need to back down.

He is and idiot, but his idiocy gives us a litmus test for umpire fairness. He has been hammered for prattish behaviour.

The umpires should close ranks; everyone else is - tennis related or otherwise. Apart from Osaka, who probably still wishes the earth would raise up and engulf her. Incredibly sad.