The Tennis Thug (Updated)

Serena Williams' behavior on Saturday night at the U.S. Open was so appalling, so disgraceful on so many levels it's hard to know where to start.

Certainly, it was unusual to see a female professional athlete conduct herself in such a manner, something we've just not seen even with the explosion of women's sports. We now know a woman can be just as much of a jerk or a thug as any man while playing a sport. Congratulations.

What bothered me the most? It was the attitude, the sneering of the multi-millionaire Williams who rained insults down upon the official as though to say, "I'm Serena Williams. You are nothing. You have no right to make a call that interferes with my wonderfulness. You are dirt. You don't deserve to live, but because all these people are around, I will spare your worthless life."

For someone who has on occasion claimed racial prejudice when she has been offended by treatment in tournaments, it was indeed bizarre to see Williams screaming profanities at the small, Asian female judge while brandishing her racquet in a threatening manner.

Full marks to the lineswoman for standing up to Williams, and full marks to tournament officials for backing their official and imposing the code violation that ended Williams' tournament. Some are suggesting the foot fault that ignited the entire controversy shouldn't have been called, at least not at that point in the match. And if a serve was slightly out? Don't call that rule because the match is too close? Tennis pros will tell you foot-faulting doesn't really provide much of an advantage, if any, to the server, but if you have an person there to make the call and they make the call, suggesting they should hold their tongue depending on the score is absurd.

Williams has already been fined $10,500 in total for her ridiculous performance, and it's theoretically possible she could lose her entire $350,000 purse if tennis decides this was a major violation.This one's up to the Grand Slam committee and the USTA, but it's a tricky problem that also lands in the lap of Stacey Allaster, a Canadian who is now at the helm of the women's tour. The already trashy Serena has now veered into Britney Spears territory, and women's tennis understands image is a very big deal in that industry.

Some have talked of suspension for Williams, but really, being eliminated from a Grand Slam semi-final is a pretty big penalty already. It's not like the next Grand Slam event is next week. It's in January in Australia.

A simple heartfelt apology would make the difference, not the contrived public relations doubletalk produced in an official statement yesterday. The apology should be made publicly and in person to the official in question

(Ed. Note: Well, despite some who believe Williams had nothing to apologize for, she has now done so, albeit 36 hours after the fact. It took her a botched press conference and one lame press statement before she got it right, but she has now "sincerely apologized" for her "inappropriate outburst", offering that apology to the lineswoman, her opponent Kim Clijsters, the USTA and tennis fans. Glad to see she finally figured it out.")

Comments

[Elton]

You are right that Serena's behavior was disgusting and inappropriate. You are wrong when you say the official was in the right to make that particular call. First of all, if you are going to make that call you better be darn sure that it happened (and video replay apparently showed that the call was in error). Second of all, the insignificance of such a call at such a critical point of the game is exactly what the officials are payed and trained to make or not make. Just as NBA officials 'let the players play' during play-offs and championships, this official should have known better than to make that call at that particular point of the game. As for Serena, no one deserves to be disrespected in that manner, shame on you. Whether or not the final result is deserved, I am not sure. I would have liked to see them play out the match and let the decision be made on the court of play. Sanctions can be handed out later. Poor decision making by everyone all around I think.

[Gilbert Leo]

In this day and age of celebrity and excess, it is becoming all too commonplace to see athletes and entertainers abuse and demean others, break the law outright, etc., in a manner that would justify professional or legal retribution to the fullest extent. Normal workplaces would not tolerate such absolute stupidity, however in some sports institutions such as the NFL and MLB, their policing of athletes is sending a message that if you embarrass our sport and therefore our integrity, we will take care of you through suspension or federal scrutiny (witness Vick, Bonds, Pacman, McGwire, to name a few). But tennis?

We remember the days of Ilie Nastase and John McEnroe, but the actions of Serena Williams defy anything previously seen in this sport. Imagine Tiger Woods or Phil Mikkelson profanity lacing an official for a poor call. Bye bye Buick endorsements, farewell to big Nike contracts and popular celebrity. A footfault is a footfault is a footfault, perhaps Ms. Williams was overly stressed because she was close to losing to a mother and a recently retired competitor. Well Serena, if you can't take the heat get out of the kitchen. If Ms. Clijsters was called for a footfault, I doubt if she would have acted in the same way. The race card? Sorry Serena, but the official was a small Asian woman doing her job and getting paid far far less to do it well.

Does she deserve losing her $350,000 stipend for reaching the semifinals? Yes. Does she deserve further suspension for her insolent behavior? Yes, so that tennis' integrity remain intact and so that a message is sent to Ms. Williams to refrain from future insolence. While I'm sure that in the life of a celebrity
there is much enabling, the fact remains that you're still a professional and there is a code of conduct. Deal with it Serena, or get out of the kitchen.

[Clive Pinnock]

Stick to hockey, Damien. She's got nothing on McEnroe.

[TMF]

How come this outburst is regarded as appalling and disgraceful, but a baseball manager cursing out an umpire and getting ejected is often seen as nothing more than "giving his team a spark"?

[Bill Gotro]

Do the lines people get paid for their work or are they volunteers? If the latter, why bother? No one should have to take this sort of abuse from anyone!

[Richard]

Damien,

In reading your account of the Serena Williams incident I would be totally inclined to agree with your depiction and characterization of her behaviour, until you saw fit to make a comment alluding to some form of racial irony being played out in your observation of the scene. In the various accounts and replays I have come across, yours is the only one to have included any kind of racial angle or comment. If it was reported that Serena's tirade towards the official had included some sort of racial slur or insult your comment would be justified. But since there has been no indication of that at all (in your account or any other I've seen), any mention of race is uncalled for, irrelevant, inflammatory and irresponsible. Especially on the part of an experienced, respected professional like yourself.

[Geoff Read]

Thank you Damien. You are the first person I've read or seen who's told it like it is. Conversely, Tom Tebbutt at the Globe had a nauseating piece today about how it wasn't that big a deal etc. He even edited her comments to take out the "I'll kill you" part. What a whitewash. I lost all respect for him. In fact, not only was it a big deal, but the NYPD could charge Williams with uttering death threats if they received a complaint. Maybe they should. At the very least, as you rightly point out, Williams has shown herself to be a bully with zero class.

[Rhoda Stewart]

Nice piece, Damien. My thoughts exactly! As for her punnishment, in addition to her "onsite" fine of $10,000, Serena should lose her semi-finals purse, and she should be suspended for one year from all tennis competition, from that moment on, which would include being suspended from the women's doubles final being played today. She should have been instantly "redcarded" off the courts for a year! As for the notion promulgated by the likes of the McEnroe brothers, notably John, that officials shouldn't call foot faults at such a crucial moment in a match, well, when should such faults be called?? Seems to me it is the player's responsibility to avoid foot faults at such important moments, not the official's to determine whether to call it or not. But that would be assuming responsibility for one's play and one's actions, not a responsibility, either personal and professional, such a thug (indeed!) as Serena is capable of assuming to herself. Thanks to Damien for speaking out so bluntly and forcibly. Would that more sports columnists and commentators do the same! And my congratulations to Kimmie! Now there's a true champion, something Serena will never be! Rhoda Stewart, a Canadian ex-pat and avid tennis fan, Napa, CA

[James]

~Headline~

Old White guy Doesn't Like 'thuggish' Black Woman's 'attitude'

Good thing shes not a white man named McEnroe; Otherwise that outburst could have been endearing!

[Robin Lambros 1085 Harrogate dr. Ancaster L9K 7U8]

Who cares if Serena Williams is a female athlete or if the judge was small and asian? It was a bad call by the line judge, Serena paid the price. Andy Roddick is 1000x worse. At least Serena has the talent to back it up. And in her defense she's an athlete in the middle of competition, she's not having tea with the queen.

[tootall]

I think its a misnomer to say that losing the semi of a Grand Slam is penalty enough. She was penalized a point in a match she was losing. Had she not lost the point, it was unlikely she was going to win anyway. That is lost in the fact that it was the final point. She was a bully. Saying the rule shouldn't be called late in the match is ridiculous (but Damien didn't say that) - just like calling an narrowly wide serve good late in the match. If she had lost the match on a foot fault or bad call she would be singing a different tune. A bigger fine that she feels ($10,000 is walking around money) and some actual contrition would be nice.

[simon]

"I'm Serena Williams. You are nothing. You have no right to make a call that interferes with my wonderfulness. You are dirt. You don't deserve to live, but because all these people are around, I will spare your worthless life."

Except she said nothing of the sort. Stick to hockey Damien.

[Zaddups]

I read your comments about Serena Williams...and I must say Mr. Cox...that I am tired of the media using the word "Thug". It seems to me that it's always used to refer to black people and truthfully I am sick and tired of it! Why must you use that word? It's negative connotation that is used primarily to people of colour and it's done purposely in my opinion.

I have a few comments about your piece.

Many players in Tennis swear and curse linesmen/women in the game today and in the past.

John McEnroe was one of the most unsportsmanlike players in sports history. But look at him now...he's the "darling" of the networks that broadcast tennis!
Anyone remember how "appalling, so disgraceful on so many levels it's hard to know where to start." that he was during his playing days?
I have forgiven his behaviour...
People move on and it seems he can be forgiven...mmmn...wonder why?

"We now know a woman can be just as much of a jerk or a thug as any man while playing a sport. Congratulations."
Why was she a "thug"? because she was under tremendous pressure in a very tough match and was on the verge of losing and was called for a foot fault? Call her a "jerk" a sore sport or whatever but why use that word "Thug"?
Did she physically harm the line judge or umpire? No she didn't.

In fact...Serena noted in her presser that all of a sudden in this U.S. Open tournament she was getting called for all kinds of foot faults.
No one is saying Mr. Cox not to call violations(of course if a serve is out it should be called so)...but come on...who gets called for a foot fault at such a crucial point in a GRAND SLAM final. You go back and tell me shich defending champion and double digit Grand Slam winner has and then I will concede my point. It was utter disrespect to be treating a champion the way the umps and judges did during the match. A match should NEVER ever end without playing out the point in my opinion.
Yes fine her and it was a very poor display of sportsmanship...but don't make her out to be the worst person on Earth...don't try to tarnish her amazing accomplishments.

You say she should offer a "heartfelt apology". Why should she? She feels she was wronged...in fact in my opinion she was "jobbed" out of that match so the better "story of the Mom coming back to win the Grand Slam" could be told. First Mom to win in over 35 years or something like that.

Why is she arrogant? You don't know what those two Williams have had to go through over the last decade or so breaking in the sport of tennis which is a predominantly "white" sport?
You said they "claimed" racism at tournaments...so that means there was no racism aimed toward those two black girls kicking butt For the last decade in a "white sport"? C'mon man...get real.

You said "...claimed racial prejudice when she has been offended by treatment in tournaments, it was indeed bizarre to see Williams screaming profanities at the small, Asian female judge while brandishing her racquet in a threatening manner."

So because the line judge was "small and Asian" means Serena should have at that moment equated the judge being Asian to her experiences dealing with Racism on the Women's tour? Again please get real sir.

It hurts when I see that "thug" word thrown about...
Mr. Cox...try to put yourself in a black person's skin when a black person does something bad...the whole black community is forced to be blamed when the media uses a word like "Thug".

Try to put yourself in the shoes of a young black boy or girl growing up and being called this word!
Have some respect please.

Serena is no "Thug"! She was heated...she was upset because she wasn't playin up to her capabilites...she was mad because her opponent was playing very well...she was wrong to say those things to the line judge...she was wrong in many counts...but sir she is no Thug.
Please be careful when you choose words...because those actions we saw from Serena were wrong...but yelling an berating an official and breaking a racket does not a Thug make sir.

You may or may not post my comment...but I hope you can show some compassion to people who may not look like you...but Mr. Cox all of us bleed red blood.

[TennisIsLame]

For the first time ever, tennis is interesting. *snore* Most people that flock to tennis tournaments are not dissimilar from the Serena Williams' of the world w/ respect to how "little people" are regarded/treated.

[Marijan Kalman]

Her behaviour is nothing compared with the way NHL Daily, Batman, Walker and Campbell STOLE Stanley Cup from Detroit. It was way more blatant then pitiful Serena but not one of you Canadian journalist still don't have a guts to check text excange between Campbell, Walker and Batman after Malkin was supposed to get automatic game suspension.How the refs where forced to change game report and change actual facts, NOT TO MENTION 6 PLAYERS ON THE ICE FOR 30 SECONDS!!
Serena looks like baby comparing with these scumbags.

[KPK]

In a competitive match Williams was victimized by a call of monumental stupidity. The trivial nature of the foul contrasted starkly with the importance of the event. A one-celled organism, perched primly in her blue Ralph Lauren wind breaker, saw fit to pronounce a “foot foul” while Serena struggled to remain alive in a draining contest. Williams was an emissary of common sense and moral decency when she stalked to the official and said, apparently, “I’ll take this ball and shove it right down your f%#!!#&* throat”. Bang on, girlfriend! These tedious librarians, unable to process context, are a bane to the passionate and the great. That the official sought to announce her clumsy inability to factor perspective into her actions while Serena was engaged in a battle to reach the final of a Grand Slam absolutely demanded a response of outrage and extreme indignation. It was the human response, the logical response and the right response. Bravo to Serena for seeking to stomp on a worm instead of meekly acceding to its slimy transgression.

[Katwomen]

Big deal... Please look at all the other outburst from male tennis players before her time. The racial comment was definitely misdirected. I suppose you had to try hard to some how align race to your story.

[Tabber]

Okay, Serena defenders, you are now fair game for any and all abuse (including physical abuse) for any of your actions. Fuss was made in McEnroe's day, and he was fined for such outbursts. If you want to allow these spoiled brat athletes to run ragged over everyone, then put up - go accost them and accept their behaviour towards you, and then do NOT complain - or shut up. Return these spoiled brats to reality and the fact that they are human beings dealing with other human beings who are no less justified in living that you are. C'mon, have the courage of your convictioins, go accost a millionaire athlete today!

[James]

I don't know what's wrong with you people. You all say that john mcenroe was worse or roddick etc. John mcenroe never did what Serena did. Did you people actually hear what she said??? She said she was going to shove the xxxxing tennis ball down the judges xxxxing throat, and I think i missed some exes there. I don't recall johnny mac ever even getting close to this!

[Zaddups]

Damien,

In reading your account of the Serena Williams incident I would be totally inclined to agree with your depiction and characterization of her behaviour, until you saw fit to make a comment alluding to some form of racial irony being played out in your observation of the scene. In the various accounts and replays I have come across, yours is the only one to have included any kind of racial angle or comment. If it was reported that Serena's tirade towards the official had included some sort of racial slur or insult your comment would be justified. But since there has been no indication of that at all (in your account or any other I've seen), any mention of race is uncalled for, irrelevant, inflammatory and irresponsible. Especially on the part of an experienced, respected professional like yourself

Great COMMENT Richard!
Again what does the Race and size of the line judge have to do with Serena being upset at the outragious foot fault call by the judge?

"Headline~

Old White guy Doesn't Like 'thuggish' Black Woman's 'attitude'

Good thing shes not a white man named McEnroe; Otherwise that outburst could have been endearing!"

GREAT COMMENT John!

" i hope you were writing all of these pieces about how appalled you were when this was john mcenroe or any other number of tennis stars who have done this. and what's with the non-sequitur about racism? serena was upset at the call, not that the judge was asian. until now, i don't think anyone cared where the judge was from. misdirection at its finest."

GREAT COMMENT JAY!

How come this outburst is regarded as appalling and disgraceful, but a baseball manager cursing out an umpire and getting ejected is often seen as nothing more than "giving his team a spark"?

Great comment TMF!

Wow...it's amazing how things change when the media reports bad things done by black people and white people...especially by athletes and entertainers"
TMF simply put...baseball and hockey brawls are looked upon with admiration and the players are said to be standing up for the "honour" of the game. Meanwhile a brawl in basketball(80% black players) is seen as a disgrace to the league and all the players are labelled "Thugs" just like Mr. Cox did in his piece!
Personally I'm sick and tired of the double standard in society and the media when black people(or people of colour) do wrong versus. when white people do. We see it in the Michael Vick situation. I'm not condoning what he did at all. It was a disgrace! It was wrong...He should have been punished and suspended but he served his time in jail and should be given a 2nd chance to atone. But some in the media and the public basically said he should be locked up and the key thrown away...when there are killers and other criminals playing in pro sports as we speak(Ray Lewis, Dan Heatley, etc.). Society doesn't care when a human dies...but don't let any animals get harmed. We have our priorities and allegiances wrong...so very wrong. Last year there were 16,200 murders committed in the U.S. Where is the outrage at the senseless loss of human lives??????

Gibert Leo said...
"Well Serena, if you can't take the heat get out of the kitchen. If Ms. Clijsters was called for a footfault, I doubt if she would have acted in the same way. The race card? Sorry Serena, but the official was a small Asian woman doing her job and getting paid far far less to do it well.

Does she deserve losing her $350,000 stipend for reaching the semifinals? Yes. Does she deserve further suspension for her insolent behavior? Yes, so that tennis' integrity remain intact and so that a message is sent to Ms. Williams to refrain from future insolence. While I'm sure that in the life of a celebrity
there is much enabling, the fact remains that you're still a professional and there is a code of conduct. Deal with it Serena, or get out of the kitchen."

This comment by Gilbert Leo makes no sense. "Future insolence"? what is that all about? So Serena has to listen to her masters?
How do you know the "Asian" judge made the "right call"? So Asian women cannot be racist...even though this is not a racial issue...Serena never said anything about race...Damien Cox the Toronto Star "writer" said that sir! Why wouldn't Clijsters have acted similar to Serena Mr. Leo...because she is white? How do you know this?

Man I'm so peeved right now. We are all humans...and whether white, black, brown yellow...have compassion please. Just because people look different we are all one race folks. The humane Genome difference between white and black shaded people is less than 1/10 of a percent...meaning we are 99.990 percent the same despite being different shades.

[Ed Kelley]

I find it funny that everyone is jumping on Damien for bringing this issue to the forefront by saying "where are you when hockey players do this type of thing?" or "you are just using the term 'thug' because she's black." Apparently you don't read him very often, but he is constantly derided for his stance on violence in hockey, and has more than once referred to Todd Bertuzzi as a "thug." Short memories that many of you have!

[Zaddups]

"Well said Mr Cox. I'm glad you didn't make the comparison with the epic confrontations of McEnroe as many commentators have done... they are two different entities entirely. McEnroe never threatened physical violence; he was also (usually) apologetic after the fact. He also focused his rage on the technical call, not on the person making the call. Serena's behaviour seems to match nicely with Kayne West's attitude at the MTV movie awards, the curse of the black urban 'thug' attitude. Intensity is a necessity in sports at high levels of performance, but Tiger Woods would never behave this way. Michael Jordan had his temper, but never would behave so much like a lout. Such a pity that the sport that gave us Arthur Ashe has now been degraded by the behaviour of Serena Williams."

Posted by: D.B | September 14, 2009 at 10:50 AM

Again...here it is. The actions of one or two black people...and the whole black community is labeled. Why do you people act like this? Why can't you see how ignorant comments like "the curse of the black urban 'thug' attitude".

What the hell is this D.B?
Black people are not all the same! We are all individuals but you insist on labeling us as one homogenous unit! If a white person molests a child...does the rest of the society label all whites "the curse of the which surburban 'perv" attitude?

The Kanye West incident and the Serena Williams incident have absolutely NOTHING to do with each other! It just so happens to be two black people. It could have been two white or asian or latio or whatever. Why do you lump them together? The fact is the writer Damien Cox brought "Race" into this argument when he suggested that the line judge was "a small Asian".

You racists have come out in full force now.

[Paul]

George Brett got screwed on an obscure call involving pine tar. The insanity of the call is remembered as much if not more than the reaction. You can't seperate the two.

As for the racism paragraph, on top of everything else are suggesting that asians themselves can't be prejudiced towards black people? In your view is that reserved strictly for whites?

[ryan]

While I agree with many that there are problems with the tone of this post ("The already trashy Serena", thug, references to the sisters' encounters with racism), I agree with the larger point you are making here. I have seen players get mad on court, and even get mad at officials, but I have never seen Roddick behave quite like this, nor Serena before this although she often gets upset. Perhaps people were not condemning John McEnroe once upon a time, but since he hasn't played in almost about 15 years, I think the point of comparison is lost. McEnroe did default a match at the Australian Open for his behaviour, so it is certainly not unheard of.

Baseball and basketball eject people for excessive abuse of officials (technical fouls, anyone?). Tennis has a well-established code of conduct which Ms. Williams clearly violated. She didn't argue the call, or insist she didn't fault, she said she would "shove this f***ing ball down your f***ing throat" and then went back for more. It was abusive, not simply venting. And yes, it was threatening.

The fact that she took two days to issue any kind of legitimate apology is a sad state of affairs. The press conference was painfully awkward, as though she is in deep denial.

It was bad. It needed to be addressed. But Mr. Cox, I would advise you to rethink how you present the issue.

[D.B]

@ Zaddups -- "What the hell is this D.B?
Black people are not all the same! We are all individuals but you insist on labeling us as one homogenous unit! If a white person molests a child...does the rest of the society label all whites "the curse of the which surburban 'perv" attitude?"

I did not call all black thugs. I called out Serena's adoption of the 'thug' image -- her uncouth, arrogant, self-entitled, physically threatening, arrogant, petulant beahviour. If you deny this image exists and has been popularised in media culture, then you're in denial. Of course, i also made the point of indicating that there are many other 'black' atheletes that have met great successful without such disgusting behaviour. She has no further to look than to Arthur Ashe, who accomplished as much (or more!) than she has while being LOVED by millions. His loss is a tragedy.

But that's ok, you've already declared me a racist so everyone should stop reading my posts now. I find it ironic that the person complaining about wild generalisations resorts to using one in the same message post...