Posted on 09/13/2009 4:48:59 AM PDT by Federalist Patriot
Here is video of a total meltdown last night by Women's Tennis star Serena Williams at the U.S. Open after she was called for a "foot fall" during Match Point against Kim Clijsters.
Clijsters had match point against Williams and Williams was serving. The official called her for a "foot fall," giving Clijsters two match points. Williams walked over to the official and said something several times. The official then went to the other officials and you can then hear Williams disputing with them saying, "I didn't say I will kill you!" She was assessed a one point penalty, giving Clijsters the match. . . . (VIDEO)
(Excerpt) Read more at freedomslighthouse.com ...
Players on the pro circuit have been in many a heated situation with extreme consequences based upon even very errant calls. They talk about it, how to handle it, and have gone through those plays in their minds.
Some allow their emotions to take over and then have attempted to coverup their behavior by various counterfeit arguments.
IMHO, the counterargument employed by Serena is a racist ploy used by many criminals who use the minority card as a self-defense card. She knew by claiming the judge said something false, which the judge hadn’t said, she could divert attention from herself. I suspect there is probably a history of her having employed the same tactic in the past, in lower tier play, and she probably intimidated the judges and umps and got away with it. It’s similar to her destruction of the racket.
She blows off steam by throwing and destroying her racket. Even though it’s against the rules, her continued behavior, allowing herself to tear things up when she is upset, manifests volumes about her thinking processes. If unchecked it could simply lead itself to mental sickness.
There isn’t anything new in Serena’s game that she hasn’t used before and she’s gotten to where she is by those same tactics. If the sport doesn’t keep her in check, then the sport simply legitimizes poor sportsmanship.
Who would want to play tennis with such trash?
BTW, the tennis racket may be considered a weapon in many states and her threatening use of it opens herself up to both criminal and civil liability.
Jimmy Connors called the chair ump an SOB and a bum years ago...at least Jimmy admits he was a jerk in those days and isn’t proud of it.
Nobody has mentioned that she thought about it before she did it for almost a minute. She did not just fly off the handle. She thought about what she was going to do, then she did it.
Yep. But what I find most disturbing is her utter denial and calm demeanor in the press conference. Most people simply do not swing from one extreme to the other like that. I bet her dad pulled her aside after the match and gave her instructions. That kind of outburst has all the characteristics of performance enhancing drugs.
There have been a few pros who have been notorious for foot faults. Can’t recall names at the moment.
I noticed that. She was very nonchalant, not angry, not upset.
Classless and busted.
A ball down the throat, if not fatal, would constitute grievous harm.
Threatening an official is so off the scale of acceptability, I don't know why we make excuses for it. It's one thing to dispute a call. Quite another to threaten someone (an official in this case). That is a 1st class misdemeanor in this state (Arizona)
BTW, Regarding Serena William’s foot fault ( a seldom called violation ). Here are the rules for those interested :
The server must stand behind the baseline, between the centre mark and the sideline.
A ‘foot fault’ is called if any of the following happens before the ball is struck:
# The feet touch the ground inside the baseline
# The feet touch the wrong side of the centre mark OR
# The feet touch the wrong side of the imaginary extension of the sideline.
A foot fault is the same as a fault on a serve so the player is given the chance of a second serve.
According to the BBC, IT WAS A FOOT FAULT.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A57048735
I´ve seen some posters questioning the line judges call on Serena’s footfault. But is was very clear that it was in the replay. She stepped firmly on the line and part of the foot was inside the baseline before hitting the ball
This was her second of the match.
It was really unfortunate, she still had a chance to turn the match (though her outburst showed that she had lost it emotionally anyway).
Kim was the better player until that point though and was growing in confidence with every point. And it was a great match to watch ... except for the sorry ending.
So in Serena’s world telling a line judge that you are going to shove the tennis ball down her throat, resulting in loss of breathing, isn’t threatening? Go sew some clothes, will ya, and shaddap.
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