Billie Jean King: Serena is still treated differently than male athletes

[Gothmog]

I strongly agree with Ms. King https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2018/09/09/serena-is-still-treated-differently-than-male-athletes/?utm_term=.b8c937d555f8

The effect was an abuse of power: Ramos crossed the line. He made himself part of the match. He involved himself in the end result. An umpire’s job is to keep control of the match, and he let it get out of control. The rules are what they are, but the umpire has discretion, and Ramos chose to give Williams very little latitude in a match where the stakes were highest. Granted, Williams could have taken some responsibility and moved on after the first warning (and, speaking from experience, it’s debatable whether she knew this was a warning or not), and before the point and game penalties started flying.

But, for her, and for many other women who have experienced an abuse of power at their workplaces, there was more at stake.

Did Ramos treat Williams differently than male players have been treated? I think he did. Women are treated differently in most arenas of life. This is especially true for women of color. And what played out on the court yesterday happens far too often. It happens in sports, in the office and in public service. Ultimately, a woman was penalized for standing up for herself. A woman faced down sexism, and the match went on.

Women have a right, though, to speak out against injustice — as much right as a man. I found myself in similar situations in my career; once, I even walked off the court in protest. It wasn’t my proudest moment, but it may have been one of my more powerful ones. I understand what motivated Williams to do what she did. And I hope every single girl and woman watching yesterday’s match realizes they should always stand up for themselves and for what they believe is right. Nothing will ever change if they don’t.

[qazplm135]

1. I don't know if I agree with all that

in the sense of dude just made a call, and her own coach admitted he was coaching her.

But I do agree from the sense of, why is this the big news story of the morning? If it were a male tennis match, and this happened, no one would be talking about it.

[brush]

2. He also admitted Serena couldn't see him and that all coaches try to coach during matches...

and the hypocrisy of it needs to be fixed.

[qazplm135]

6. the no coaching thing is pretty dumb

and apparently it's already allowed for non-major tournaments.

Tennis reminds me a lot of golf, just a bunch of silly protocols that have history more than sense behind them.

[brush]

7. Agreed.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

17. "if it were a male tennis match, and this happened,

no one would be talking about it." And in that sentence you have just identified the answer. Because in tennis, men DO NOT receive the level of warnings and punishments that women do.

And the fine that was leveled at Serena is BS.

I, for one, am sick to death of the level of scrutiny and unbalanced requirements visited upon Ms. Williams. In the history of tennis, no one - male or female - has been drug-tested as much or as often as Serena. Officials have shown up at her home in Palm Beach County, FL, at all hours, demanding urine samples from her. And she complies every time. Some one did the research, and no athlete has ever been subjected to this at this level. Yet the claims that she is on steroids never stops. She doesn't take performance enhancing drugs. She just works that hard at her sport to maintain her level of play.

Weeks ago, she was told that her "catsuit" was inappropriate. In France. No one in the French leadership ever bothered to inquire about the design of the suit, which was specially designed to deal with a medical blood clotting problem that nearly took her life during childbirth. And "inappropriate" in France ?? AYFKM ? We've seen more pink flesh visible in some of the skirt designs than anything showing in that Nike catsuit.

I could go on and on, because Serena's entire career has been marked by unfair disproportionate treatment and at times outrageous misogynist and racist commentary from sports reporters and talking heads. The remark that she was just "an angry Black woman" is one of the most racist dog whistles there is. She speaks up because she feels she has been unfairly treated and is immediately dismissed as "hysterical."

Go back and watch tapes of McEnroe, Connors, Nastase, Ivanisevich, etc., get away with FAR worse behavior.

The simple truth is Ms. Williams has worked her ass off to get where she is and continues to do so to maintain her level of play. She wins because she is that good. She has raised the interest of tennis world-wide, and inspired thousands of young girls to be athletes.

[Pachamama]

3. I love Billie Jean King - but she is dead wrong here and is making a mistake by using this as a case

...for women in sports and against Sexism.

The Chair Umpire could be the biggest sexist pig in the world. Even if he was, in addition to being a racist and having a personal vendetta against Serena - he had the absolute right as the umpire to make that call. She and her coach broke a rule that anyone who plays and knows professional tennis knows. Yes, they all do it, men and women and they take the chance, no different than those of us who drive over the speed limit and take our chances.

Serena effed up. Regardless of whether she truly didn’t see her coach coaching (he admitted he was coaching) she knows the rules. She should have accepted the penalty and gone on to play and win the game.

But she didn’t. She whined and threw a tantrum and smashed her racket. Another known breaking of a rule and violation. Ramos, didn’t do that. Serena did that. And every player knows when you have 2 penalties you cannot get a 3rd.

Serena should have bit her tongue and focused and done why she should have all along - player good tennis. But she didn’t.

And the truth is she had been playing terrible the whole match. So why she did instead is become a whiner and a bully. And she called the Chair umpire names and when that didn’t work, she became a crybaby and then pulls the mommy and woman card.

I am disgusted by her behavior and I am then even more offended that she tries to say she is fighting for women and against sexism in sports.

I call bullshit. Serena was fighting for Serena and what she did and was experiencing had nothing to do with sexism or racism. She was just a bad sport and behaved horrible and shamefully.

[Gothmog]

4. Heads of the Women's Tennis Association and United States Tennis Association (which puts on the U.S

Link to tweet

[DURHAM D]

5. Yes to this.

Some people are using selective facts.

Also, the umpire has guidelines, not rules. He USED them incorrectly.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

18. Thank you for pointing that out.

[brush]

8. Every show on ESPN today condemned the ref for inserting himself into the match.

Officials should never allow their ego to decide matches/games/tournaments etc.

This official was out of control and is being criticized with good reason all over the sports world.

[Pachamama]

9. All over the sports world?

Or just here in the US?

If Ramos the chair umpire has a history of doing this to women and Serena in particular, have an investigation. I have heard otherwise.

I used to work in the tennis industry for International Management Group and Know many of the people including Serena and the officials I am not going to argue here. I see it very differently and I am not only a feminist but have always been a Serena fan - but not of what she pulled Saturday.

I was an athlete and I have been around both men and women’s professional sports and I know the problems and they exist. But I see this as something very different and Serena was wrong.

[brush]

10. He had a similar dust-up with Venus. Makes one wonder if he has problems with black players

Read Billie Jean Kings take on it. She sides with Serena on the sexism and slights against women of color in tennis.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/billie-jean-king-op-ed-serena-williams_us_5b9595b1e4b0162f472e68ef

[Pachamama]

11. I read Billie Jeans editorial and I disagree

I think there is rampant problems but not in this case.

And Ramos doesn’t have a bad reputation and Serena in fact has had confrontations with other officials (including female officials).

We can agree to disagree. And I have seen a lot in tennis world and I only can say Serena messed up and I think she needs to take personal responsibility here and if she really wants to be a leader and a good sport, she shouldn’t be doing this the way she is.

[brush]

12. My feelings are different. Serena and Venus have caught hell in Tennis way back to the racist...

treatment they received at Indian Wells.

If you aren't familiar with it, google it then maybe you'll be more enlightened.

[Pachamama]

14. I was actually there almost 20 years ago - so no need to "google" it.

As I have said, I know the tennis world and the people well and I am saying I disagree.

[brush]

15. You're in the tennis world? It figures.

[Pachamama]

16. Not now - was....

What the heck is that comment "it figures" supposed to mean?

[Lucky Luciano]

13. I was at the match and felt robbed of a clean victory for Osaka.

Ramos should have said, “one more outburst and a game penalty will be assessed.”

If she continued berating him from there, I would have sided with him against Serena. As it stands, I am with Serena on this...though I think Osaka was going to win either way. I felt terrible for Osaka with her amazing victory being tainted this way. She will be a force in the future though as long as she doesn’t get hurt!!

[Gothmog]

19. Attorney @mayawiley on Serena Williams and an "intersection of stereotypes"

Link to tweet