In reply to John Ww:
> May I respectfully direct you to the thread about Basil D’Olivera - a man who suffered unbelievable racial prejudice in his chosen sport, yet who remained the consummate sportsman and gentleman.
What, you mean she should just suck it up? Anyway, that's entirely besides the point, Serena *wasn't* making it an issue about race in any way but you saw fit bring up the issue of race in a way that implied she uses race as some sort of get out of jail free card. You concocted a picture of someone who habitually plays the race card to get out of bother and in doing so betrayed the fact that, when it comes to the Williams sisters, they are singled out. It might not be overt, it might not be deliberate but it's there if not on this side of the Atlantic then, increasingly, on the other.
> And Serena Williams thinks she has been unfairly treated...?
As do the WTA association, Billie Jean King and many others. As someone who watched live (on telly, obvs) I thought she was out of order, she behaved petulantly and rudely and deserved censure but I find it strange that she has dominated the sport for 16 years, been written off time and again, faced abuse at every turn, come back from giving birth and a life threatening illness a year ago to reach the pinnacle of the sport (an individual sport, not a team sport where you can be used sparingly for half a match or moved back to midfield etc.) at the age of 36 and it would not have merited a murmur on here but the moment she behaves badly UKC turns into a hot bed of tennis fans appalled at behaviour they would not have seen if it hadn't been sensationalised in the media.
Yes she behaved badly and someone above cited rugby as an example of the sort of behaviour she should aspire to, but have any of you started a thread calling Bastareaud an arsehole for his behaviour yesterday? Yes, maybe you should send her footage of Alistair Cook's send off (you don't think Serena's peers will be just as respectful of her when she retires?) on the other hand you could send her the CCTV from Stokes night out. Yes she behaved badly but sports people do and her behaviour off court is pretty exemplary and, taken across 16 years in the spotlight, her on court rap sheet is no worse than most.
Finally, on the subject of spoiling her opponents day, Serena hugged her straight away, paid her all due respect at the end etc. etc., I imagine her day is far from ruined.
PS. I would point out that she has been suffering post natal depression but but I expect that sort of victimhood would be given short shrift.....