Thank you Serena - fugg that racist, sexist Russian tennis official Shamil Tarpischev

[malaise]

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-tennis-official-blasted-for-comments-on-serena-and-venus-williams/
<snip>
Serena Williams says comments by the head of the Russian Tennis Federation referring to her and older sister Venus as "brothers" were bullying, sexist and racist, and that she supported the one-year suspension imposed by the WTA against the official.

Shamil Tarpischev was also fined $25,000 for making the comments on Russian television. He also said the sisters were "scary" to look at.

"I think the WTA did a great job of taking (the) initiative and taking immediate action to his comments," Williams said Sunday in Singapore ahead of her WTA Finals defense. "I thought they were very insensitive and extremely sexist as well as racist at the same time. I thought they were in a way bullying. "

Asked whether he regretted his comments, Tarpischev told The Associated Press on Saturday at the Kremlin Cup that the program on which he spoke was "a humorous show." When asked about his ban, Tarpischev said: "I can't comment. I don't understand it."
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The comment was not funny.

[imthevicar]

1. Why is it a "crime when Others do this.

when we do it it's Patriotic!

[Blue_Tires]

2. kick

[dilby]

3. I can see the bullying and sexist part but did not understand racist. n/t

[July]

4. I'll give this a shot, but this is just my opinion.

The Williams sisters have been the objects of quite a bit of over-the-top criticism, particularly when they were teenaged rising stars. The criticisms came from their peers on the tour, journalists, and former players.

It was, in my opinion, an unprecedented level of fault-finding that didn't seem to align with the nature of commentary about their fellow players, even when those players got negative remarks. The Williams sisters were also hated (yes, hated) by many fans. Why? It's hard not to see race as the main factor.

Other talented players, even those one might consider " nasty," whether males or females, really didn't get the quantity and variety of criticism they got, and in my view, while they are no more perfect than you or I, they did nothing to earn the vitriol they have had to bear for years.

It was a cheap shot to call them " brothers," and I cannot imagine such a comment being made by someone involved in professional tennis about the Radwanska sisiers (Polish), the Pliskoova sisters (can't remember their home country, but they're white), or, extending the idea, anyone's calling the Bryan brothers or the Murray brothers "sisters."

Just the opinion of a white baby boomer and tennis fan. I was glad to see that the WTA and fellow player Sharapova ( Russian, like the man who made this comment) responded strongly in support of Venus and Serena.

[Liberal_in_LA]

5. k&r