OT: Calling the official a "hater" and "loser"
 

Here is the footage of Serena Williams committing the yelling violation during the point, the chair umpire's application of the rule, and Serena's reactions to the penalty, both after the point and between games, where she results to name-calling of the ump.

While it wasn't a profane tantrum, I dare say we still have a much shorter leash at the scholastic level.

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I would not even compare it to what we do. Tennis has a long history of this behavior as most of the participants are not people that are used to be told what to do in many aspects of life. I just remember what McEnroe, Connors, Agassi and Borg used to do. This was tame on many levels, even tamer compared to how she acted two years ago.

Peace

I agree. There's "game management" and "unsporting conduct" in all sports but the specific guidelines are completely differerent. They also vary by level (pro v. amateur).

So, I don't think there's much we can learn from this depiction of a different level in a different sport.

Tamer but still ridiculous to me...she spent nearly 50 seconds berating the chair umpire there! She's fortunate she plays a sport that's in such dire need of her talents so much...a $2,000 fine is an absolute joke.

Serena should be embarassed for sounding like a 16 year-old girl in a high school hallway...smh

This.

"You're a hater", "What a loser", "Don't look my way", "Are you the one that screwed me here last time?"

She sounds like a coddled 16 year old brat. The fine was a JOKE. Worse, it seems like it's becoming a pattern with her. Maybe ban her a** from this event for a year to see if she really wants a chance to play there. I never understood why McEnroe's nonsense was tolerated...now Serena. Glad I don't officiate tennis.

Until there is some real teeth to the penalty/fine, these "pros" will continue to act like little spoiled brats, embarrassing themselves and the game......

Now, about McEnroe.......?

PS - Tennis? We're discussing tennis? :eek:

Serena brings nothing positive to the game. She's nothing but a winer. I can't wait until she's purged from tennis.

What BS you spurt Rut. She threatened to kill the line judge. Even a fan in the stands heard it and had no problem exposing Serena. She should have been charged with a criminal offense.

Giving the opponent is the correct call. Good job by the chair umpire!

What is funnier is Serena calling the CU "unattractive on the inside" and "we're in America". :D I knew she had no clue about sportsmanship when she came into the tour. But how she hasn't learned after all these years, I dunno - it eludes me. Bad coaching from her parents I guess.

That was JRut's point...this incident was tamer than her last incident with the line judge.

You tell that to all the sponsors and American viewers she brings to the TV...the people who run the U.S. Open aren't going to shoot themselves in the foot and suspend her from the next tournament. If they're not going to suspend her from the next tournament (which won't happen...not for this), then they should have fined her a lot more then $2,000.

"Don't look my way."

Well, Serena, she wasn't looking at you except when you were shooting your mouth. You obviously wanted her to look at you. If she would have ignored you, you probably would have said, "Look at me when I'm talking to you."

If she was gone from the tour, another capable athlete would take her place. One that isn't rude, demeaning, etc.

She's a cry baby. And likely always will be.

I'm used to Rut being wrong, so I must have been on auto-pilot.

Sorry, Rut. ;)

Sure...an athlete that the public would care about even less. There's only a handful of recognizable names in tennis...and you guessed it, the Williams sisters are two of them. Heck, part of the reason this is such a story is the fact that the public cares about the Williams sisters.

Any relation to the Williams sisters? :p

Shut up! :cool:

I agree with APG.

I don't recall making this a poll...

2k fine for someone making more then 12 million, is the same as fining someone who makes 50k a year 8 bucks.

Either you are ok with this behaviour and need to let her rant, or you have to send a message to your athletes that they behaviour is unacceptable. If you are going to make insignificant gestures do not expect anything to change. if you don't expect it to change spend your time worried about something else.

LOL! Like anybody watches tennis! :D

Don't you have a Canadian football ruling that absolutely no one but you gives a damn about?

LOL!!! Thanks for the laugh.

Name two other tennis players and spell them by name without looking? I will be waiting. Because the American public at least do not give a damn about Tennis. No one talks about it on discussion sports boards. Actually this was probably the most attention that tournament got because I could not tell you who she played or won the damn thing.

Peace

Exactly. $2k out of $12M is likely thought of as "money well spent" because she got to make a point for so little of a fine.

Then, what's this?

It's a big world out there, Rut. The later rounds of the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, and French Open are still picked up by either NBC or CBS. Someone in America must be watching.

Anyway, Bob wondered aloud what we can learn from this. I've learned that we have it easy, compared to some officials. Most of us wouldn't tolerate this kind of talk from athletes toward us, and we'd handle it immediately. Certainly, though, it's a different world. We get paid significantly less than this official, whose payment is partially dependent upon the television ratings her tournament receives.

Should it matter, though? Shouldn't name-calling like this toward an official always be immediately punishable within the contest? This official did nothing to squash Serena's sililoquy. Should she have taken a firmer stance?

Wasnt' Borg known for his stoic nature on the court? I don't remember him ever throwing a tantrum. Also, professional sports, expecially an idividual sport like tennis, is all about the players. That's where the money is. Obviously they'll get away with much more.

No. different sports have different standards and operating procedures.

Take any more to the tennis forum.

No such animal, boss. Not in this realm. (That's why I prefixed the topic with "OT.")

Not yet. :D

I am sure you could find one, but show me a major forum dedicated to sports that talks extensively about Tennis.

I can make a case that someone watches the LPGA too, but that does not mean it comes with the same ratings or following in this country as the NBA Finals or an NFL Sunday Night Football Game.

We can debate all day what should be allowed, but this is Tennis, not the same as a basketball official or the situations we are put in. There would not be that much dialog anyway with a player even if we tried. Not sure why we are even talking about this in the context of other sports?

This is a country club sport. People get upset when Tiger curses on the golf course.

Peace

He may not have been like McEnroe or Connors, but he had his moments when he did not like a call. I have seen tape on him and I remember him playing. He was not an angel, he just was not as much of a devil as others.

Peace

Then the other option involves the four initials S, T, F, U.

True. I seem to recall Borg losing a game by protesting silently, refusing to serve, just staring blankly. Warning, point lost, point lost, game.

Also true. Intermission or time-out discussions of this length just don't happen. My point is this: Some things are universal, and name-calling from contender to official is one of them. It's about respect for the position. It should be dealt with swiftly, and I don't see why it matters what sport and/or what level it is.

Classy, sir.

Not sure what the penalties or recourse are for the official. Also this is about context, how often does this take place but we only care because she is probably the best in the game?

Peace

There, all better now........
 

Serena Williams tweets mea culpa

Mega sincere! :(