Johnny Mc says: "You CAN'T call a foot fault there." But Serena should apologize.

[chimpymustgo]

He thinks there should be a suspension: to make her keep playing tournaments, because she probably doesn't want to play much right now.

I think she and Venus should threaten to retire. Tennis needs them more than they need tennis. I am so sick of the way they are treated by the officials, the commentators and the crowds.

I respect John McEnroe - he's been there (was a GREAT, but highly emotional player). And he has been the one FAIR commentator about the Williams sisters since Day 1.

But if Serena needs to apologize, the world tennis community needs to look long and hard at itself, and how it treats the Williams sisters.

[rockymountaindem]

1. There's nothing complicated about this

You *cannot* physically threaten officials. In any sport. If you do that in the NBA, you'll get called for a technical and basically give free points to the other team. If you manage to piss off an MLB umpire enough he can unilaterally toss you from the game. There's not even an official rule about what players/managers can say to cross the line. It's arbitrary, so everybody would be well advised to keep their cool if they don't want to hit the showers in the 5th inning. If you lay one finger on the refs in the NFL for any reason, you're in a world of hurt.

Let's not turn a blind eye to the fact that Serena was completely thrown out of whack that whole match. That's why she smashed her racquet, which I've never seen her do before. That's why she was pouting all over the court and yelling at herself more than usual. Let's not kid ourselves that she could have come back and won that match. You're not going to pull off the win when you're only winning 37% of your second-serve points. She was making tons of errors. So to some extent, I can understand why she would be upset with herself. She was losing to someone who hasn't played in years and who she had handily beat in the past numerous times. Even if the call is unfair, and I don't agree there is conclusive evidence that it was unfair from the camera angles I saw, that's not why she freaked out at the lineswoman. She flew off the handle because she was already furious about the whole situation.

Remember that time Jeff Tarango lost his shit arguing with the chair umpire and yelled "THAT'S IT!" and stormed off the court? That was way less serious than this infraction and he got slapped with a fine. If Serena Williams doesn't get any disciplinary action against her, I'll be surprised.

[LisaM]

20. Is this a serious post?

You're saying you can't enforce the rules?

[Royal Oak Rog]

2. It's hard to defend her, but

that was a clear case of over oficiating. That call wouldn't of happened at a YMCA tournament, let alone the U.S. Open.

And I also agree on how they've been treated badly. Read alot this week how the crowds have been pulling for Oudin to beat Serena and Venus because she represents more what an American looks like, that was from the Examiner in London.

Also in the NY Times yesterday I was reading that the crowd last night was going to be very pro Clisters, even though she was a Belgium playing an American in NYC. When's the last time you saw that happening? Even Mcenroe was wildly supported at the Open during all his antics,and don't get me wrong I loved Mac.

I really think it's mostly a case of racism rearing its ugly head again in the world of tennis, it's really nothing new.

[thewiseguy]

3. Mostly a case of racism?

Yea that Asian looking referee obviously did not make the right call because Serena is black and Clijsters is white. :eyes:

Oh the stupid things I read on this forum.

[Royal Oak Rog]

13. not what my post said

I said the referee's call was a clear case of over officiating. The tennis fans at the US Open and the tennis community is where the racism comes in. Comprehension of what you're reading can go a long way before you start judging others.

The American Williams sisters have gone through hell in the tennis community, and they still can't be supported over the white Belgium super mom!

And yes I still believe what Serena did was reprehensible.

[joeybee12]

16. I repeat, you know nothing...let;s talk about what Arthur Ashe and Althea

Gibson went through.,..they're the ones who paid the price so Serena could act like an ass and cry racism just like her father. you know nothing about tennis and the tennis community...nothing.

[Royal Oak Rog]

17. If you really believe

that racism does not exist in the country and the tennis community, then I guess I know nothing. I'm sorry we're in the post racism period now, is that correct?

[Royal Oak Rog]

19. This Is What Tennis Racism Looks Like

They are simply despised because they are black and proud and unbowed. This week, the tournament at “Indian Wells” begins – but without Venus and Serena. Eight years ago, an exceptionally ugly incident took place that has been hard to find on YouTube or on video anywhere.

http://afrospear.wordpress.com/2009/03/10/this-is-what-tennis-racism-looks-like/

And after this I still find what Serena did reprehensible. But to infer that the Williams sisters have not incurred racism well....

[joeybee12]

5. Follow tennis much? I doubt it...for those of us who have for over 35+ years...

...it's simply a case of rooting for the underdog...even Chrissie Everrt America's Sweetheart was booed and cheered against at the US Open. Why? she won too damn much!

[Royal Oak Rog]

14. Wrong

I've been following the game for over 40 years. And you really don't know what you're talking about. If anyone was the villain back in the famous "Republican Chris Evert" era it was Martina Navratilova, and that was mostly cause she was a homo-sexual. The tennis community has always been extremely conservative Muffy.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Royal Oak Rog]

18. Insults huh?

well played, well played.

[hughee99]

24. I disagree, I think Martina got a lot of (undeserved) grief,

not for being a homosexual, but because of cold-war politics. She was the "Ivan Drago" of women's tennis in the 80's, even after becoming a US citizen in '81. Ivan Lendl was in a similar situation in men's tennis at the time.

[Iggo]

4. You also can't threaten a line judge...

...no matter what stage of the match you're in.

Tough shit, Serena.

[erpowers]

6. They Need Tennis More than Tennis Needs Them

U.S. and World Tennis has made it through periods without many major stars. It has made it without Steffi Graf, Chris Evert, and many others. It can be argued that many of the players in the past were either better than or more dedicated to tennis than the Williams sisters. If the Williams sisters choose to leave tennis the game will just move on and find new stars. No sport has failed just because former stars have left the game. Sports just continue to move forward even when players some people thought could not be replaced leave the sport. Take for instance Michael Jordan, who it can be argued was far more important to basketball than the Williams sisters are to tennis. Even though some may say the game suffered a few years without Jordan and took some time to find stars to replace Jordan basketball has survived and new stars have been found. The same things will happen with Tennis and the Williams sisters. The only thing is that it might happen much faster with Tennis and the Williams sisters.

[tishaLA]

9. and really the game is incredibly popular outside the US

the idea that "the game needs them more than they need the game" is rooted in an America-centric view of things. Part of the problem is that too many Americans can't be bothered to differentiate all those players with Spanish and Eastern European names. Another part of the problem is that the Williams sisters came along at a down time in women's tennis and racked up a lot of Grand Slam titles they wouldn't have in a more competitive era. It says a lot that Hingis could come back three years ago and make it to the top 6 within a few months--without ever lifting weights! And Clijsters comes back after 27 months off, plays three tournaments, and is now in the finals of the US Open. The women's game right now has two kinds of players, by and large: those who are head cases (Safina, Kuznetsova, etc) and those who aren't willing to work hard (Serena).

[ChiciB1]

23. Bottom Line... Serena Was Wrong!! And To Me... Without Black, Latina Players

in almost ANY sport, American Sports would be but a foot-note!! What blows ME away is that so many people root for NFL, MBA & NBA in the south, when MOST of the players AREN'T WHITE!!

My son is a HUGE Dallas Cowboys fan (I can't stand them) and my husband used to be and we are WHITE! It never ceases to amaze me how Ga-Ga Southern White Men love their football, when so many of them are ACTUALLY racist!

I've seen it time after time! If they aren't big in SPORTS, then they call them every name in the book, and many use the "N" word! And believe you me, I CALL THEM OUT ON IT!! It's sickening!

Serena should have been fine more, and she should have been much, much more gracious in her apology! I don't care if she was PURPLE!!

[BlooInBloo]

7. Sounds like the official fucked up, and then Serena fucked up...

And there's consequences only for Serena.

[tishaLA]

8. I don't think the official fucked up

You either call faults or not. The game either has rules or it doesn't. JMac is allowed to have his opinion, but some of us believe they should call foot faults just like they call serves out.

[AndreaCG]

10. I'm surprised that Serena couldn't have the foot fault reviewed

Use a challenge for it. However, even though the lineswoman clearly erred, Serena's outburstS were what cost her. She went back to haranguing the official a second time. If she'd stuck with just once she probably would not have been penalized. That was no one's fault but her own.

As for Oudin, I'd like to think if she was black she'd still have been greeted as a new American heroine for scrapping her way to the quarters from nowhere at 17. Maybe I'm naive to think so. Frankly I root against Serena cause she's a spoiled brat, rarely gives her opponents credit or even a mention in post game interviews, even if it was a tight 3 setter she won. Venus is her polar opposite temperament wise, so I root for her.

[joeybee12]

12. I agree about Venus...even though she had a hurt knee this Open

she never used it as an excuse...

[LisaM]

21. I don't like Serena and a lot of it is how she never gives her opponents any credit

It's always about how Serena was hurt, or sick, or wasn't playing well, or in this case, the official "didn't realize" it was a match point. Bullshit. I am sick of Serena Williams and I won't even watch a match if she's playing in it. I like Venus much better.

[City Lights]

11. Cliff Drysdale disagrees with JMac.

He said you must call a foot fault when you see one regardless of when it occurs.

[a kennedy]

22. cliff drysdale....

:thumbsdown: :puke: not a fan of his....will take what JMac says as way more important.