Serena answers Sharapova et al in a fabulous letter to her mother

[malaise]

https://www.reddit.com/user/serenawilliams/comments/714c1b/letter_to_my_mom/
<snip>
But mom, I'm not sure how you did not go off on every single reporter, person, announcer and quite frankly, hater, who was too ignorant to understand the power of a black woman.

I am proud we were able to show them what some women look like. We don't all look the same. We are curvy, strong, muscular, tall, small, just to name a few, and all the same: we are women and proud!

You are so classy, I only wish I could take your lead. I am trying, though, and God is not done with me yet. I have a LONG way to go, but thank you.

Thank you for being the role model I needed to endure all the hardships that I now regard as a challenges--ones that I enjoy. I hope to teach my baby Alexis Olympia the same, and have the same fortitude you have had.

Promise me, Mom, that you will continue to help. I'm not sure if I am as meek and strong as you are yet. I hope to get there one day. I love you dearly.

Your youngest of five,

Serena

[DK504]

1. So amazing. I love the graciousness they have had during their

professional careers, as usual they were treated differently than all the white players on the circuit. I hope this makes it to ESPN and is read word for word. These words need to be said on air and make people understand how they were treated becasue they "looked" athletic". Shame on ALL commentators that made snide remarks at them for the past 15 years.

[malaise]

3. They're in tears

http://www.espn.com/espnw/culture/the-buzz/article/20757306/serena-williams-writes-heartfelt-letter-mother
<snip>

By Katie Barnes | Sep 19, 2017
espnW.com

I hope you have some tissues nearby because Serena Williams decided to just punch us in the feels today. Seriously, it's barely been a week since the GOAT (greatest of all time) shared a picture of her daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. on social media, and now she has published a heartfelt letter to her mother.

The letter explores Williams' struggle with body image, such as being told she was too "muscular," or that she's "a man" just for "[looking] stronger than many other women do." She also thanks her mother, Oracene Price, for helping her "understand the power of a black woman."

Letter to my mom from u_serenawilliams

It's OK, folks. I'm crying too.

[taught_me_patience]

5. She threatened to kill a line ump

Over a call and was ejected from the US Open over it. She wasn't even apologetic about it. Hardly gracious and not classy at all.

Her post loss interviews are also remarkable in her lack of graciousness to her opponents.

[brush]

8. Haters will hate. It never fails.

[ATL Ebony]

27. Nope, and never will.

[cwydro]

10. Perhaps you should introduce yourself to MacEnroe, Lendl, Conners.

Nastase, Pat Cash.

Yeah, really awful when a woman dares step out of her space, right?

[ProfessorPlum]

13. thank you for including Nasty Nastase in your list

brings me back, lol. And great point.

[cwydro]

14. I think he is someone's coach now.

I watched every one of those players as a child.

I forgot to mention Tiriac! Remember him?

[ProfessorPlum]

20. yeah, it was like Jon Tiriac?

good times, good times

[a kennedy]

26. He's Coco Vandeweghe's coach now. eom

[cwydro]

16. Bullshit.

Serena can be passionate during the game.

But she is ALWAYS gracious to her opponents.

She never threatened to kill anyone.

[ban1941]

17. I'm new at this. Are you what is called a TROLL? n/t

[taught_me_patience]

19. I've been here for 13 years and have over 5000 posts

and you're calling me a troll? I'm providing facts that directly counter a statement.

[ProfessorPlum]

21. you didn't answer the question

[ATL Ebony]

28. You mean like McEnroe after acting like a spoiled brat to umps, opponents, etc?.

[Skittles]

2. she is fabulous

yes INDEED

[Le Gaucher]

4. https://www.democraticunderground.com/1018984254

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1018984254

I love the fact that Serena always beats her like a rented mule. I mean ..My feelings are so strong that I want Serena to beat her 6-0 6-0 inside 20 minutes, and Sharapova is so humiliated that she quits the game.

[malaise]

9. Join the line

Did you see the excerpts from Sharapova's crap book?

[Le Gaucher]

11. No. I am clinging to the hope that I haven't missed much.

[malaise]

12. The book is called Unstoppable

and she claims that she got to Serena.

There's a great response here
https://www.awesomelyluvvie.com/2017/09/maria-sharapova-letter.html

[phylny]

24. I'm dying!

Two of my favorite lines (and there are a lot of them):

"YOU COULDN’T EVEN DRUG YOUR WAY TO VICTORY."

and


"Instead of giving Serena her due and her props, and kissing the ground she walks on, your “can’t even cheat and win” ass wrote a trash piece in your book about the woman who has been constantly reminded you that you have failed."

[malaise]

30. My laughter was

Unstoppable

[phylny]

32. I see what you did there ;) n/t

[cwydro]

15. I haven't clicked your link yet.

But I will.

Venus is my favorite of the two sisters who play tennis, but I absolutely LOVE Serena and who she is.

I will never forget that Indian Wells crap. I felt ashamed to be a white person.

My mom recently died, and that episode caused her so much pain. We were a tennis family.

I've had to watch all the big tourneys without her this year...and forever onward.

[WhiteTara]

22. ...

I miss my mom too and it has been a few years.

[Le Gaucher]

23. I posted that before the book came out

So my hatred for her is more than ever. I would use more colorful language .. but I am will show some self control instead.

[malaise]

31. So hard to lose a mom

[heaven05]

6. +++for Serena and mom

[cwydro]

7. Nothing "meek" about Serena.

And that's a great thing.

Venus is my favorite, but I love me some Serena.

[MLAA]

18. Now why did you have to go and make me cry into my morning coffee? 😬

[oasis]

25. Beautiful!

[spanone]

29. LOVE her....K&R...