Williams Sisters Must Continue Boycott Of Indian Wells Event
The WTA Indian Wells event starts this week in Palm Springs California. The D list of the WTA tour such as Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, and Lindsay Davenport will be competing. The best players on the WTA Tour world number one Justine Henin and the Williams Sisters of course are skipping the event. The only marquee player at Indian Wells is Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova. Sharapova is the new white “It” girl of the WTA. The WTA are attempting to market Sharapova but she is bland and boring. Sharapova has no personality she is aloof, arrogant, and has a haughty attitude.
The bottom line is the only superstars on the WTA are the Williams Sisters. The organizers of the Indian Wells event have paid the ultimate price by not apologizing to Venus, Serena, and Richard Williams for the pernicious racism at the 2001 event.By contrast, the ATP Tour Masters event all the top male tennis players will be playing the event. Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal will be there. ESPN television is not even televising the Indian Wells or Miami Masters events this year. ESPN already has a full plate with the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball championships.
I will never forget watching ESPN television and being so angry and disgusted at the white lynch mob screaming at Serena Williams. Serena was only nineteen years old in 2001 she was competing against the Belgian Kim Clijsters in the finals and she won 4-6 6-4 6-2. Serena has incredible mental strength to be able to block out the racist crowd focus on her tennis and win the match. The incident was an ugly example of the bigotry against the Williams Sisters. The most disgusting aspect of this nightmare was it took place on American soil.
Also disconcerting was reading the covert racist articles by white American journalists such as Jon Wertheim and Greg Garber defending and attempting to minimize the racist incident. Wertheim and Garber are racists along with the lynch mob at Indian Wells. Since Wertheim and Garber are both the mythical norm I shouldn’t be surprised by their pernicious bigotry.
The incident was clearly an example of white supremacy it is easy to point out. The question has to be asked would a white female tennis player ever be treated so harshly and so unfairly? This kind of racist treatment would never happen to a white female tennis player. You have one black American girl Serena Williams on the tennis court the rich white crowd are screams at every single shot she hits.
Next, you have a packed stadium of several thousand rich white Americans going overboard cheers for her foreign born white opponent. The audacity and the perfidious attitude of the American media was also abhorrent. The United States has a long way to go in race relations and the Indian Wells incident was a perfect example of this. It is simply outrageous that anyone can actually deny this incident was not an example of white supremacy and white skin privilege. The Indian Wells organizers should be ashamed of themselves they don’t have an ounce of credibility. Sometimes I feel the Williams Sisters get more respect when they play internationally then when they compete in the United States.
The white upper class audience claps at every single mistake and error Serena made even though Serena is American. Serena may be an American champion but she’s not white and Kim Clijsters is. The whiteness was the unifying factor for the rich upper class crowd they have no respect for black people in Indian Wells. The white country club crowd claim that because Venus pulled out minutes prior to their semifinal match that the result was fixed. However, Venus consulted with the WTA and she was unable to play. The country club crowd unleashed their irrational anger at Serena. The incident was a perfect example of racism and sexism against black women. Although Richard Williams the father of Venus and Serena can be confrontational at times I believe him when he said he heard racist slurs during the match.The Williams family have kept their vow never to play Indian Wells ever again and it has now been seven years since they played the event.
The absence of the Williams Sisters weakens the women’s event in Indian Wells. It also underscores the serious issue of race relations in professional tennis. It is obvious to the discerning eye the WTA does not care about discrimination against non white tennis players. The WTA have refused to force the organizers of the Indian Wells event to make a formal public apology to the Williams Sisters and their father Richard in front of the world media.
The WTA’s president Larry Scott is actually attempting to force Venus and Serena to play Indian Wells in 2009. Does Larry Scott have any morals or class? However, Richard Williams has made it clear he might take the WTA to court if Larry Scott even thinks about trying to fine the Williams Sisters. The reason Larry Scott and the Indian Wells organizers want the Williams Sisters to play Indian Wells is because they are the only bankable stars on the WTA Tour.
Tennis fans flock to every single event the Williams Sisters compete in they are money makers. So instead of making a formal public apology the pathetic and racist Indian Wells event organizers are trying to upset the Williams family even more. The Williams family must never play Indian Wells ever again because the message needs to be sent that racism and sexism is unacceptable in professional sports. Some sports reporters are trying to say the Williams family are being a bit overtly sensitive. It is obvious to me these sports reporters they are just racist and refuse to see reality.
The racist attitude of the American sports establishment and their views of black women is the real issue here. If a white female tennis player was booed by an all black audience you better believe the white media would immediately support that white female tennis player. However, when a black woman tennis player is booed by an all white upper class privileged crowd there is only apathy and indifference. It just goes to show how racist professional tennis still is.
The status of the event is no longer tier I the event now has a lower status among the other top women. The WTA Indian Wells event is a complete joke nobody cares that Daniela Hantuchova beat Svetlana Kuznetsova in the women’s finals last year. Kuznetsova and Hantuchova are D list players they may be highly ranked but nobody outside the tennis world cares about them.
The Williams Sisters absence at the Indian Wells event has reduced the star quality of the event it now has a D list status. Most of the top women skip Indian Wells in favor of playing the more important WTA event in Miami at the end of March anyway. The white feminist Billie Jean King and Chris Evert the termagant former tennis player are part owners of the Indian Wells event along with the washed up former champion Pete Sampras.
Billie Jean King and Chris Evert are both a disgrace to women’s tennis. Both women pretend to be ambassadors of the game. Are Evert and King only against discrimination that affects rich and privileged white females? Black women encounter multiple layers of oppression in relation to their race and gender. Both Evert and King have been silent about the Indian Wells incident for the past seven years. Does Billie Jean King or Chris Evert have any class at all? Why are King and Evert still reticent after all these years? King and Evert have a responsibility to speak out against the discrimination against the Williams Sisters at Indian Wells. However, King and Evert’s silence speaks volumes about the kind of people they really are.
I applaud the Williams family for standing by their principles. The WTA Indian Wells event will be a complete bore this year just like last year and the previous years. I can’t wait until the end of March to see the Williams Sisters play the more prestigious Miami event.
I find it unnerving, that after all your criticism of the Indian Wells tournament & the lack of apology issued 2 the Williams sisters after the appalling & vile behaviour they experienced in the past, that u immediately point out Chris Evert is part owner of the event, & omit to bestow any other mention in your writing.
I may be wrong, & I admit I am a huge fan of Chris,ergo potentially over protective, but u seem 2 imply that she not only failed to act to stamp out the aggression aimed @ the sisters, but that her inaction suggests that, perhaps, she didn’t oppose it. If that is your intended inference then I would suggest that u r @ best ill-informed or @ worst harbouring feelings of race related hatred yourself,u appear 2 b drawn to someone’s shin colour rather than their personality . I trust,as stated B4, I’m mistaken.
I’d like 2 point out that Chris was raised Catholic & (@ risk of stating the obvious), she is female. It is also worth noting that when some female tennis players openly said they were gay Chris remained firm friends with them when many other members of the ladies tour ostracised them, I very much doubt if she is racist as she is a very intelligent lady & has never demonstrated publicly ant unpleasant traits or ignoracne. She has frequented areas in the USA where, for want of a better phrase, there r many WASPs, as she’s Catholic she 2 may have encountered bigotry, herself.
I concur that their is no room for racism anywhere in life. I know she was friends with Zina Garrison, so unless for some reason she failed 2 notice her lack pallour it seems unlikely that she is racist. As I’ve said several times if I have misinterpreted your writings then, I’m sorry, but if I have not then I didn’t feel I could allow such untruths 2 b spoken about a person that(with the exception of Ms Andrassy), I’ve never heard anyone speak ill of.
I believe Chris still 2 b a great ambassador for the sport, ergo, I assume others r 2, as I doubt if I stand alone on my feelings for her integrity, & sportsmanship. Rarely has the world encountered such a successful, dominant & gracious athlete.
I am genuinely livid @ the inference Chris failed to act against bigotry, racism, or sexism, particularly @ event which bears her name, (I know that not ought 2 make a difference).
Chris, once said in an interview that @ their age(the Williams), she lived only for tennis it was her lifeblood, & her spectacular record is testament to the fact she was the consummate professional. She merely said that they were enjoying the celebrity aspect their tennis prowess attracted, & this may affect their form. I interpreted this as her, & again, I’m sure I’m not alone, as her drawing a parallel 2 her time as a pro’ & how she waited ’til she was retired B4 enjoying & partaking in events most of us take 4 granted. I think she meant, ‘God, if they were as focused & determined as she had been’ :’that the tennis world would b graced with another 2 legends, but as they had not given 100% for a few yrs, for whatever reason, she was unsure if they had the drive or determination to become legends & have the degree of continuity & consistency players like her, Martina & Graf demonstrated year after year, with few, if any lapses in form.
I’m not sure if I like your use of the word ‘termagent’ to describe her, as I’m sure u know it has several meanings & your contexts lends itself, I feel 2 the sentiment that she was in some way shrew like. If, however, & I hope this is the case u mean that she was( & still is) looked upon ,almost as a deity. If the latter applies then u r correct as despite retiring in 1989, she is still remembered fondly as the formidable force on court that she was. At risk of boring u (2 late I hear u scream!)she still holds the accolade of having the highest winning ratio in the open era. I wonder if the Williams sister will still be debated on fora such as this 19 yrs after they retire.
We agree to disagree. Chris Evert has attacked the Williams Sisters for years she is no friend of the Williams Sisters. Evert is a part owner of Indian Wells I think Evert has the responsibility to help bridge the gap. Evert could of gathered the world media together and offered the Williams Family a formal public apology but she chooses not to. Evert knows about the Indian Wells incident and Evert has never made a public statement denouncing the pernicious racism Serena and Venus encountered at Indian Wells.
The Indian Wells event is a sore eye for the sport of tennis because it proves there are different standards for whites and blacks. It is perfectly acceptable for the white American tennis establishment to treat the Williams Sisters with disrespect and apathy yet expect them to support events where they are discriminated against. Its total bullshit and I applaud the Williams family for making the decision to boycott Indian Wells. The Indian Wells organizers are feeling the squeeze in their wallets and the tarnished reputation of this so called tacky event.
I think part of the reason the Williams Sisters don’t play Indian Wells is because Chris Evert has lost their respect. Why should Venus and Serena compete in an event that makes Evert money when Chris Evert has no respect for them? Evert also wrote a extremely pernicious public letter in Tennis Magazine criticizing Serena Williams in Spring 2006. Evert wrote in Spring 2006 that Serena has a lack of commitment to the game. Evert didn’t care about the turmoil going on in Serena’s life she just wanted free press. The Williams Sisters are sick of being the punching bag for the racist American tennis establishment.
Now during this time in Spring 2006 Serena wasn’t on court she was at the murder trial for her deceased sister Yetunde Price. Serena was under a lot of stress dealing with the murder trial and also her own injuries. Is Chris Evert human? Does Chris Evert have a heart? Evert’s classless and deleterious public letter speaks volumes about the kind of person she is. I bet Chris Evert didn’t give a damn about that! Serena also was dealing with chronic knee injuries. Why couldn’t Evert call Serena or speak to her agent? Why did Evert feel the need to attempt to humiliate Serena in Tennis Magazine?
Evert wanted some free publicity, to sell more copies of Tennis Magazine at Serena’s expense because Serena is a tennis superstar. Evert knew the world press would pay attention to her pathetic public letter. Also, I wonder would Evert write a public letter about the white American female tennis players Lindsay Davenport and Jennifer Capriati? I doubt it. Yet Evert has no problem writing and publishing a deleterious public letter about Serena Williams. Also nobody in the tennis world denounced Chris Evert for writing the public letter either the silence speaks volumes about the American tennis establishment’s treatment of black tennis players.
As I stated originally I’m an open book on this subject, but I DO NOT believe that Chris Evert is racist, nor do I believe she would deliberately pen a letter intended to harm or upset either of the Williams sisters, as I said I think her inference was that when she was @ the top of her game she may have behaved differently, a point she has made several times, that perhaps she, herself, was too robotic until her career was in its twilight. Chris did speak out about Capriati, if u remember. She also spoke out about Tracey Austin, neither of whom are black I sincerely believe her concerns were of a tennis not a race issue. I, like the Williams sisters, am human, & I know I would never come to terms with the death of a sibling, by any means, although murder seems more unbearable. I know that I would not be receptive to criticism of any form over such a matter either. I don’t think Chris needs to whore her opinions to get publicity, she retired in 1989 & we are still talking about her! I may be wrong but I read that letter & I don’t think it was judgemental of their person, rather, that they were not, perhaps, as driven as many players, & were therefore depriving the tour of potential brilliance. I don’t see that as a criticism. I am totally unable to offer any informed opinion on the tournament in question. All I can say, as I did originally is that racism no matter where, when or why is wrong, & that anyone on the circuit should be subjected to it is 100% wrong. I do remember Chris speaking out against the taunts players from former Eastern block countries received, as she felt politics, and opinions based on country of origin(ie race), had no place on the tennis court. If what u say is true then I’m surprised @ Evert, I can’t speak for her, all I do is form opinions on matters I’ve heard her speak out about. How does Zina Garrison fit into the equation, if, like u say Chris is racist? I’m confused. I can’t stress enough that I agree with u about racism I just think the object of your blame is misplaced. I hope, I’m right anyway, or Chris Evert sure has changed. Also, the Tracey Austin comments, unless I’m very much mistaken she would appear to be of the same racial background as your target, & she certainly spoke out about her. Anyway, as u say I have & am never likely to have any explanation about why nobody(of note) has spoken out about the incidents in previous Indian Wels events, & to surmise is only to add more ignorance to a platform already flooded in it so I shall say no more.
Chris Evert is already a whore she has a reputation for stealing other women’s husbands. She has boasted about her promiscuity for years. Evert owns tennis magazine and she did write the offensive public letter about Serena Williams in the Spring of 2006. Why don’t you go visit the public library and look for old issues of the Spring 2006 Tennis magazine? The evidence is there in the bold black print. Again, would Evert insult the white American female tennis players Davenport and Capriati in print? I doubt it. Evert didn’t care that Serena was at the murder trial for her deceased sister Yetunde Price all Evert cared about was creating publicity, selling more copies of her crappy magazine.
Jeesh, do you go to church with Obama much?
You Americans are racists.Black hate white,white hate black.You deserve that,because you are killing people everywhere.Djokovic played against Tsonga at Australia Open and the crowd supported black player.They didn’t care skin color.But they are not Usa.
For the record, this is, incidentally the last I will be communicating with “orvillelloyddouglas”. You have shown by your last remark that you display every trait you were accusing Chris Evert of. I thought this was a forum about tennis, not a canvas for mindless hatred, & judgemental errenous comments. FYI I’m not American, I can’t say I’m surprised that u jumped to a wrong conclusion. If you choose to judge Evert ie “Chris Evert is already a whore she has a reputation for stealing other women’s husbands. She has boasted about her promiscuity for years.” then decry her for being judgemental is that not some sort of wild hypocrisy? Or are you allowed to make vile comments, that are nothing to do with tennis, in order to vent your racism & hatred. Do you agree with the comments of Mr Williams, who, apparently hates all whites & the game of tennis, & the USA? It all seems a bit too messed up for me to get involved in. I believe there is only 1 law giver & judge & it is not me. I thought your gripe was with tennis, I was wrong. I know I ought not to delve further into this idiotic rant of yours, but just whose husband was John LLoyd, or Andy Mill, & if you did mean plural the ‘ would be after the word women. ie. womans’. I just love tennis & though t that was what the discussion was based on, I was wrong you seen to be unable to segregate your apparent hatred for a white woman who is the most consistent player in the open era won more events then the Williams have, thus far won collectively. She also cared about parity, & equality which is why she fought for better pay for women & higher recognition in corporate deals, the very harvest the Williams sisters, along with all other top female players now reap. I don’t recall her ever insisting that only white players should reap the benefits. I will say it again, & then close, as I am confident my comments will fall on deaf ears, a hatred as unfounded & deep as has been exposed above will not be changed by words of reason or valid questions to back up their “thoughts”, I can but try. Evert has never displayed racist behaviour, she has questioned the Williams devotion to tennis, never saying “It’s because they are black”, she has proven she is not judgemental as she refused to be party to the vile taunts from fans, and the behaviour of fellow players when certain players stated they were gay. I suppose someone like you who is so against racism, would also be against homophobic behaviour, so you should @ least applaud that, or does that merely add to the charge of her being a “whore”? I really hope her lawyers read the comments you “chose” to write about her, although, I fell confident she is too busy being happy getting on with her life to concern herself with someone whose cerebral activity appears to be similar to that of a banana! Over + out.
It is really too bad you can’t see the racism that the Indian Wells crowd displayed but that’s typical in the white community. They would rather find ANY other reason to say this happened. This refusal to acknowledge the racism that exists is the VERY reason why Obama’s pastor and many like him are so angry. But for those of us who have lived in that super white, super wealthy community we know that California may as well be the deep South because the racism there runs deep; they think their s%$t doesn’t stink but it does. I hope the Williams sisters never go back. If that happened to my children, I certainly wouldn’t let them go back and play. Some white people are “CRACKERS” and they give good white people a bad name. SO you really need to get rid of the “CRACKER” part of your race.
Williams is a cheating scum, Serena was booed because the father pulled Venus off last minute, then pulled the race card. Typical negro scums with minority complex.