I guess I'm in a very small minority: Serena Williams

[Doctor P]

I'm not a huge tennis fan, nor am I a huge Serena Williams fan, but I think that the incident that precipitated her outburst has not received the attention it deserves and the linesperson should have to pay the price for her stupidity and lack of a thick skin. The chair umpire should have also taken control before the whole thing blew up. I think it is absolutely idiotic that they don't identify the linesperson as well (as a matter of policy). Here we are talking about one of the biggest tournaments in tennis and you get to the semifinals and you have a linesperson make a call that should never have been made (and it is even unclear whether it was technically even a correct call or one that she could have seen from her position--if a camera on close-up is inconclusive, I'm not sure how a human can make that call in a split second from several yards away). And then she doesn't expect to get yelled at and be accountable for her decision? EGADS. Ms. Williams had hundreds of thousands of dollars riding on that game, was still in the match (they were on serve and the break in that game won the match--if she wins that game the set would have been tied 6-6), and gets victimized by this incident. Agreed that she went ballistic, agreed that she used inappropriate language and terminology--but the whole thing would have never happened if the linesperson didn't decide that she was bigger than the game. I think there are reasons why Serena has become the bad person in the story, but I will leave those to other more appropriate venues.

 

[lillygator]

Serena was way out of line no matter if the call was wrong or not...look at all the big games in sports that have had wrong calls...everyone always has something riding on it...who cares how much SW had riding on the game. She has no class and no manners....

 

[SkyGirl]

I'm not a huge tennis fan, nor am I a huge Serena Williams fan, but I think that the incident that precipitated her outburst has not received the attention it deserves and the linesperson should have to pay the price for her stupidity and lack of a thick skin. The chair umpire should have also taken control before the whole thing blew up. I think it is absolutely idiotic that they don't identify the linesperson as well (as a matter of policy). Here we are talking about one of the biggest tournaments in tennis and you get to the semifinals and you have a linesperson make a call that should never have been made (and it is even unclear whether it was technically even a correct call or one that she could have seen from her position--if a camera on close-up is inconclusive, I'm not sure how a human can make that call in a split second from several yards away). And then she doesn't expect to get yelled at and be accountable for her decision? EGADS. Ms. Williams had hundreds of thousands of dollars riding on that game, was still in the match (they were on serve and the break in that game won the match--if she wins that game the set would have been tied 6-6), and gets victimized by this incident. Agreed that she went ballistic, agreed that she used inappropriate language and terminology--but the whole thing would have never happened if the linesperson didn't decide that she was bigger than the game. I think there are reasons why Serena has become the bad person in the story, but I will leave those to other more appropriate venues.

I totally agree with you. Men can behave badly but the "little woman" should have kept in her place and been polite. John McEnroe constantly acted horribly but no one ever made a fuss like this about him.

The lineperson even said that Serena said she'd kill her. Never happened.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I'm on Serena's side; they were calling baloney foot faults on her all week. It was ridiculous.

The body language of the line judge said it all for me-little person getting to wield an inordinate amount of power and reveling in it.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Serena was way out of line no matter if the call was wrong or not...look at all the big games in sports that have had wrong calls...everyone always has something riding on it...who cares how much SW had riding on the game. She has no class and no manners....

I agree completely.

 

[Briarmom]

I totally agree with you. Men can behave badly but the "little woman" should have kept in her place and been polite. John McEnroe constantly acted horribly but no one ever made a fuss like this about him.

The lineperson even said that Serena said she'd kill her. Never happened.

I agree.

 

[dairyou]

I'm not a huge tennis fan, nor am I a huge Serena Williams fan, but I think that the incident that precipitated her outburst has not received the attention it deserves and the linesperson should have to pay the price for her stupidity and lack of a thick skin. The chair umpire should have also taken control before the whole thing blew up. I think it is absolutely idiotic that they don't identify the linesperson as well (as a matter of policy). Here we are talking about one of the biggest tournaments in tennis and you get to the semifinals and you have a linesperson make a call that should never have been made (and it is even unclear whether it was technically even a correct call or one that she could have seen from her position--if a camera on close-up is inconclusive, I'm not sure how a human can make that call in a split second from several yards away). And then she doesn't expect to get yelled at and be accountable for her decision? EGADS. Ms. Williams had hundreds of thousands of dollars riding on that game, was still in the match (they were on serve and the break in that game won the match--if she wins that game the set would have been tied 6-6), and gets victimized by this incident. Agreed that she went ballistic, agreed that she used inappropriate language and terminology--but the whole thing would have never happened if the linesperson didn't decide that she was bigger than the game. I think there are reasons why Serena has become the bad person in the story, but I will leave those to other more appropriate venues.

And what was her reason for smashing her racket? Right or wrong our youths look up to sport celebrities. That was a pretty bad example of good sportsmanship.

 

[RadioNate]

I'm torn. Her behavior WAS out of line but it is true that John McEnroe said that and much more and was never fined or anything.

The fact is that the line judge DID screw up. It was the wrong call and it is very much an unwritten rule in professional sports to not call fouls in make or break situations like that especially if it isn't 100% clear.

Serena did behave badly. And the line judge exaggerated the threats against her.

Think of how badly you might react if you had hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line and were called on a mistake that you DIDN'T make and because of that you lost everything. Would you be happy with the person that cost you the win?

 

[Doctor P]

Serena was way out of line no matter if the call was wrong or not...look at all the big games in sports that have had wrong calls...everyone always has something riding on it...who cares how much SW had riding on the game. She has no class and no manners....

Tennis is different from almost any other sport you can name. It is an individual sport that does not have any guarantees of income except based on one's own performance.

The problem that I have is that the sports have chosen to insulate their officials from accountability, and when they don't insulate them it is usually too late and ineffective and doesn't go to the original problem. Officials are humans, too. I understand that there will be a blown call that has bad consequences some times. The problem in this case was that a call was even made. As one of my teammates once said to a football referee who had made a particularly bad call at a particularly inopportune time--"why don't you put that flag back into your pocket so that you don't embarass yourself any more than it already has today." My teammate was ejected by the official. Fortunately, I was playing in a league where the commissioner had some guts because he overturned the suspension and fired the official for incompetence and inappropriate field behavior. In a couple other instances, I know of baseball umpires at the major league level being given hefty fines for calls that led them to wrongly eject managers or players because of their horrific calls and behavior afterwards. So, it does happen, but my complaint is that those reprimands and fines should be reported in the same way as the incident that they caused as well as the punishments to the players.

 

[Doctor P]

And what was her reason for smashing her racket? Right or wrong our youths look up to sport celebrities. That was a pretty bad example of good sportsmanship.

No argument there. I think that was even more egregious than the other outburst. I'm not defending Serena's behavior for a minute. I'm criticizing the other side of the confrontation.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

I totally agree with you. Men can behave badly but the "little woman" should have kept in her place and been polite. John McEnroe constantly acted horribly but no one ever made a fuss like this about him.

The lineperson even said that Serena said she'd kill her. Never happened.

Yeah, she did...she said she'd stuff the ball down her throat. I believe that's threatening physical violence which may very well kill her. Men these days would be punished the same way.
However, I do agree that the line judge made a big mistake and should be punished in some way as well.

 

[wvjules]

I'm torn. Her behavior WAS out of line but it is true that John McEnroe said that and much more and was never fined or anything.

The fact is that the line judge DID screw up. It was the wrong call and it is very much an unwritten rule in professional sports to not call fouls in make or break situations like that especially if it isn't 100% clear.

Serena did behave badly. And the line judge exaggerated the threats against her.

Think of how badly you might react if you had hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line and were called on a mistake that you DIDN'T make and because of that you lost everything. Would you be happy with the person that cost you the win?

She didn't lose the point because of the foot foul. Her outburst is what cost her the point and subsequently the game.

 

[RadioNate]

And what was her reason for smashing her racket? Right or wrong our youths look up to sport celebrities. That was a pretty bad example of good sportsmanship.

No argument there. I think that was even more egregious than the other outburst. I'm not defending Serena's behavior for a minute. I'm criticizing the other side of the confrontation.

Again, I don't really agree with the behavior but a 10 second youtube search turns up video of John McEnroe and Roger Federer smashing their rackets over bad calls.

Were they fined 10k? Forced to apologize? What was their punishment?

 

[RadioNate]

She didn't lose the point because of the foot foul. Her outburst is what cost her the point and subsequently the game.

Right, but it did effect the outcome of the game. The match was decided by the judge NOT though game play.

I understand what you are saying..that if Serena would have not said anything, she could have still had a chance to win.

However, it was an unclear foul and in the end the line judge decided who won not the players.

I actually don't have a huge issue with her losing the match over this.

I do take issue with the amount of grief she is getting over this when male tennis players have behaved similarly with little/no reprimands.

 

[dairyou]

Again, I don't really agree with the behavior but a 10 second youtube search turns up video of John McEnroe and Roger Federer smashing their rackets over bad calls.

Were they fined 10k? Forced to apologize? What was their punishment?

I agree, players smash their rackets all the time. I don't think that they took their rackets and waved and cursed at a line judge though.

 

[Gabes_mommy]

Oops, posted in the wrong thread.

 

[charlie,nj]

I'm torn. Her behavior WAS out of line but it is true that John McEnroe said that and much more and was never fined or anything.

There is a big difference between verbal abuse and a physical threat!

Serena

Instead of stepping to the baseline to serve again, Williams went over and shouted and cursed at the line judge, pointing at her and shaking a ball at her.

"If I could, I would take this ******* ball and shove it down your ******* throat and kill you," Williams said.

The line judge went over to the chair umpire, and tournament referee Brian Earley joined in the conversation. Williams then went over and said to the line judge: "I didn't say I would kill you. Are you serious? Are you serious? I didn't say that."


Johnny Mac

I'm not having points taken off me by an incompetent old fool. You're the pits of the world.- - - John McEnroe (to tennis judge Edward James)

You can't see as well as these ******* flowers - and they're ******* plastic.- - - John McEnroe (to a line judge)

What other problems do you have besides being unemployed, a moron and a dork? - - - John McEnroe (to a spectator at a tennis match)



.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

I agree, players smash their rackets all the time. I don't think that they took their rackets and waved and cursed at a line judge though.

Exactly...they didn't threaten the officials. There's a huge difference.

 

[Hercules10]

When John McEnroe says she went overboard that's saying something!

 

[dairyou]

When John McEnroe says she went overboard that's saying something!

That is so true!