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Serena's meltdown

Kivaro

Being an admirer of what she has done on court and proving that mothers can be excellent athletes after giving birth, a different side of Serena Williams may have been exposed in her outburst at the US Open yesterday.

But here's the deal after watching a number of reports of the incident, I am amazed by the amount of people rushing to support her. Experts in tennis validated the sanctions imposed by the umpire; yet still she publicly called him a liar and a cheat, and said that she was "here fighting for womens rights" and the umpire sanctioned her because she was a woman. She said if a man was on court, it would not have happened. So the umpire, according to Serena, was a sexist, liar, and cheat. And she said all of this on the court in front of a massive crowd and on live TV.

Speaking to the media after the event, she said it was "sexist" of the umpire to take a game away from her. "But I'm going to continue to fight for women.", she said. Some of her supporters have accused the umpire of being racist and that he was on a misogynistic power trip. Get a grip, it was a tennis game; not a human rights march.

You can go online to see her outbursts yesterday, but I find it mind boggling that so much these days is attributed to sexism/racism/whateverism when things don't go their way.

Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka, who became the first Japanese player to win a major singles final, was left in tears as a result of the incident.

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Franz Von Peppercorn

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

What bullying has she engaged in, specifically?

She told the umpire she’d have his job.

Franz Von Peppercorn

Assetbacked wrote: »

Lisa Tierney-Keogh (it begins with the ridiculous double-barrel name) has written an article for the Irish Times on the matter and unsurprisingly, given her history with articles, she has gone off on some personal agenda, making ridiculous points about Serena standing up to sexism by pointing her finger at the man of an umpire etc. She links the whole thing to the MeToo movement and rapists together with sexual harassment then, predictably for such a self-absorbed weapon, she spends the last third of the article talking about herself and her returning from emigration (clearly she had to leave due to a lack of employable skillset). She appears to have zero context to the whole incident with Serena andto tennis in general! Genuinely, to attempt to reason with someone like her would be the equivalent to hammering one's head into a brick wall.

Does anybody buy that rag anymore?

There was a time the IT left would have attacked the boorish American bully. But with the rise of identity politics (largely driven from the US) that’s all gone. Here’s a privileged American woman, playing in front of a partisan American crowd, who ruins the victory of another woman with her histrionics. And she’s the victim.

[Deleted User]

The Talking Bread wrote: »

The umpire handled her outburst perfectly. ........that was what her problem was. She is used to getting away with her bullying

What bullying has she engaged in, specifically?

Huntergonzo

Murray TheDemonic TalkingSkull wrote: »

I dont get the amount of support for Serena on this (listening to Newstalk) seems like she can do no wrong. How is it sexism when your opponent is also female??

Haha listen don't mind Newstalk, they're the most anti-man station on radio, I honestly doubt a day goes by that they aren't highlighting womens issues and sexism and 'the gender pay gap' etc etc (all caused by men of course!)

Now that's not to say that they shouldn't highlight issues that women may have, they absolutely should but there's a very clear and dilberate imbalance because mens issues are not a concern for them and rarely get a mention.

WinnyThePoo

Gregor Dimitrov got a game penalty for continuously smashing his rackets a couple of years ago.

[Deleted User]

Deleted User wrote: »

Because she is refusing to take responsibility and cried sexism. Have any males players done that.

Well as Sue Barker has said, plenty of men have given umpires worse abuse, without being penalised. There is a legitimate question about how even-handed the penalty is, yes.

Franz Von Peppercorn

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

An umpire is appointed and paid to be impervious to players' outbursts. If they cannot handle that kind of pressure, they have no business sitting in a high chair.

I haven't read the entire thread, but it's pretty clear that nobody has their hands permanently super-glued to their cheeks over John McEnroe's or Novak Djokovic's (or countless other male players') unsportsmanlike behaviour on the court.

Yes, Serena Williams went way over the top, but can people not stand back and ask whether male players have attracted similar pages of debate for doing so? And why might that be?

Because they didn’t blame sexism when chastised.

What’s more sickening is the way the feral crowd reacted at the award winning ceremony.

Ficheall

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Yes, Serena Williams went way over the top, but can people not stand back and ask whether male players have attracted similar pages of debate for doing so? And why might that be?

Because the other players who went over the top didn't rant and rail that they were being discriminated against?

Sorry, it was unclear whether your question was rhetorical.

DEFTLEFTHAND

Murray TheDemonic TalkingSkull wrote: »

I dont get the amount of support for Serena on this (listening to Newstalk) seems like she can do no wrong. How is it sexism when your opponent is also female??

This thing is like a religion.

It's not supposed to make sense to non believers.

The Talking Bread

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Deleted User wrote: »

To the people saying a ban would be an overreaction to her threatening the umpire with never being on the court with her again, I'd love to hear the justification for the biggest person in the sport bullying umpires to the point where they'd be afraid to penalise her in a game, lest they lose their chance to do the biggest events, the finals she's playing in.

An umpire is appointed and paid to be impervious to players' outbursts. If they cannot handle that kind of pressure, they have no business sitting in a high chair.

I haven't read the entire thread, but it's pretty clear that nobody has their hands permanently super-glued to their cheeks over John McEnroe's or Novak Djokovic's (or countless other male players') unsportsmanlike behaviour on the court.

Yes, Serena Williams went way over the top, but can people not stand back and ask whether male players have attracted similar pages of debate for doing so? And why might that be?

The umpire handled her outburst perfectly. ........that was what her problem was. She is used to getting away with her bullying

[Deleted User]

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

An umpire is appointed and paid to be impervious to players' outbursts. If they cannot handle that kind of pressure, they have no business sitting in a high chair.

I haven't read the entire thread, but it's pretty clear that nobody has their hands permanently super-glued to their cheeks over John McEnroe's or Novak Djokovic's (or countless other male players') unsportsmanlike behaviour on the court.

Yes, Serena Williams went way over the top, but can people not stand back and ask whether male players have attracted similar pages of debate for doing so? And why might that be?

Because she is refusing to take responsibility and cried sexism. Have any males players done that.

Assetbacked

Lisa Tierney-Keogh (it begins with the ridiculous double-barrel name) has written an article for the Irish Times on the matter and unsurprisingly, given her history with articles, she has gone off on some personal agenda, making ridiculous points about Serena standing up to sexism by pointing her finger at the man of an umpire etc. She links the whole thing to the MeToo movement and rapists together with sexual harassment then, predictably for such a self-absorbed weapon, she spends the last third of the article talking about herself and her returning from emigration (clearly she had to leave due to a lack of employable skillset). She appears to have zero context to the whole incident with Serena andto tennis in general! Genuinely, to attempt to reason with someone like her would be the equivalent to hammering one's head into a brick wall.

Huntergonzo

seamus wrote: »

What complete horses1t. "This is society's fault".

She gets into a temper tantrum because things aren't going her way, throws out a few ridiculous remarks (as people tend to do when they're seeing red) and suddenly it's "society's fault". Fcuking spare me.

Even after the fact, Williams taking the mic and saying things like, "Stop booing, we can get through this". What an egotistical asshole.

She should make a very public apology to the umpire and Osaka for her behaviour.

That's how I see it, if you disagee then fair enough but relax a bit, not good to be that wound up by a post on Boards :-)

TheValeyard

I dont get the amount of support for Serena on this (listening to Newstalk) seems like she can do no wrong. How is it sexism when your opponent is also female??

[Deleted User]

Deleted User wrote: »

To the people saying a ban would be an overreaction to her threatening the umpire with never being on the court with her again, I'd love to hear the justification for the biggest person in the sport bullying umpires to the point where they'd be afraid to penalise her in a game, lest they lose their chance to do the biggest events, the finals she's playing in.

An umpire is appointed and paid to be impervious to players' outbursts. If they cannot handle that kind of pressure, they have no business sitting in a high chair.

I haven't read the entire thread, but it's pretty clear that nobody has their hands permanently super-glued to their cheeks over John McEnroe's or Novak Djokovic's (or countless other male players') unsportsmanlike behaviour on the court.

Yes, Serena Williams went way over the top, but can people not stand back and ask whether male players have attracted similar pages of debate for doing so? And why might that be?

seamus

Huntergonzo wrote: »

This is societys fault really, in the western 'liberal' world we've basically been conditioned to believe that if you're a white man then your an oppressor and if you're in any other group then you're the victim.

So why wouldn't Serena play the sexism card, you can't lose when you're a woman and you play the ole sexism card. Just look at all the tools coming out to support her.

What complete horses1t. "This is society's fault".

She gets into a temper tantrum because things aren't going her way, throws out a few ridiculous remarks (as people tend to do when they're seeing red) and suddenly it's "society's fault". Fcuking spare me.

Of course the real victims here are the umpire and especially Naomi Osaka.

Even after the fact, Williams taking the mic and saying things like, "Stop booing, we can get through this". What an egotistical asshole.

She should make a very public apology to the umpire and Osaka for her behaviour.

Huntergonzo

This is societys fault really, in the western 'liberal' world we've basically been conditioned to believe that if you're a white man then your an oppressor and if you're in any other group then you're the victim.

So why wouldn't Serena play the sexism card, you can't lose when you're a woman and you play the ole sexism card. Just look at all the tools coming out to support her.

Of course the real victims here are the umpire and especially Naomi Osaka.

Greyfox

[Deleted User] wrote: »

To the people saying a ban would be an overreaction to her threatening the umpire with never being on the court with her again, I'd love to hear the justification for the biggest person in the sport bullying umpires to the point where they'd be afraid to penalise her in a game.. if a player threatens the very bodies that are the sport, and puts doubt on their credibility, they should be gone.

She doesn't have the power to stop the umpire been on court with her again and if she does that's a problem with the tennis association. A fine is punishment enough. Eejits defending her actions on Twitter.. well that's social media. Things like this, Zidane head butting a player or a manager slating a referees decision are very bad but not on the same level as lance been a drug cheat or McGregor attacking a bus.

Pauliedragon

In my opinion the worst she said was the fact he'll never umpire her again. And she sounded confident about that so she runs tennis now? Forget the fine make him the umpire for her next 10 matches.

alan partridge aha

Good summary here.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/blogs/andrew-bolt/why-serena-williams-is-no-feminist-hero/news-story/db8e88c9c1395e32e293e30d62822c1c

upandcumming

Patww79 wrote: »

She had a baby? She's not mentioned it.

Should be repeated. :pac:

Badly Drunk Boy

pickarooney wrote: »

Just realised her initials are SJW.

I just realised that a few minutes ago so came to post it, but you beat me to it.

pickarooney

Just realised her initials are SJW.

Shanotheslayer

Deleted User wrote: »

I reckon in any sport, if a player threatens the very bodies that are the sport, and puts doubt on their credibility, they should be gone.

You ever watched a football match?

AllForIt

DrWu wrote: »

Well, well... Serena only has trouble with referees when she's losing.

https://www.weeklystandard.com/adam-rubenstein/funny-how-serena-has-trouble-with-referees-only-when-shes-losing

Anyone who follows tennis doesn't need to read that article to know this to be true. Venus was the first I noticed at that. Loosing graciously is not something that comes naturally to them. The only other sports person I know off who does that regularly is Ronnie O Sullivan in Snooker.

I was heartened last night to hear a live interview on radio with Annabel Croft, a former UK player and now commentator say she did not agree with the sexism argument. She actually sounded totally distraught and incredulous about the whole thing.

DrWu

Well, well... Serena only has trouble with referees when she's losing.

https://www.weeklystandard.com/adam-rubenstein/funny-how-serena-has-trouble-with-referees-only-when-shes-losing

Niles Crane

thebaz wrote: »

WTA association is backing Serena for calling out Sexism - what about Osaka's rights ?? she is a woman also - perhaps umpire did favour Osaka , but how it is deemed Sexism is beyond me , in that umpire would only be favouring another woman - is it that that some women are more equal than others ?? The crazy state of Political correctness gone mad , and people wonder how someone like Trump comes to Power , perhaps people are just fed up with uber Political correctness madness.

Obnoxious behaviour seems to be an admired quality these days and we see that from the ridiculous support Williams has received in America (mainly) and the fact that Trump won the election while being a complete asshole, the popularity of Conor McGregor etc etc.

It's quite sad that being an asshole seems to be the way to be popular these days.

[Deleted User]

A friend of mine on twitter is fully supporting Serena on this. Usually I can bite my tongue on contentious gender issues but I really don't think this is contentious at all. I'm really disappointed.

[Deleted User]

To the people saying a ban would be an overreaction to her threatening the umpire with never being on the court with her again, I'd love to hear the justification for the biggest person in the sport bullying umpires to the point where they'd be afraid to penalise her in a game, lest they lose their chance to do the biggest events, the finals she's playing in.

It is mindboggling that anyone thinks that's acceptable, in rage mode or not. The fact it entered her mind at all is worrying, nevermind the fact she said it.

We're going to see her getting away with more stuff now as every umpire will know millions of mongs around the world will support her no matter what. It will be an orchestrated campaign against a black woman if she gets called out on her rule-breaking and racket-smashing.

And if you're going to reply to this saying it's an overreaction, explain how and why, with some logic. I reckon in any sport, if a player threatens the very bodies that are the sport, and puts doubt on their credibility, they should be gone.

[Deleted User]

The only sexism in the sport is that one gender does only 60% of the work the other does, but gets paid the same.