Serena Williams fined at least record $82,500 for tirade

Associated Press ^ | 11-30-09 | HOWARD FENDRICH

[Justaham]

Grand Slam administrator Bill Babcock tells The Associated Press that Serena Williams has been fined a record $82,500 for her tirade at this year's U.S. Open and could be suspended from that tournament if she has another "major offense" in the next two years.

Williams faces a "probationary period" at Grand Slam tournaments in 2010 and 2011, Babcock said Monday. If she has another incident at a major championship in that time, the fine would increase to $175,000 and she would be barred from the following U.S. Open.

Babcock said the previous highest fine for a Grand Slam offense was about $48,000 to Jeff Tarango in the 1990s.

[al baby]

What does that work out for each bad word ?

[domenad]

I want to know what she said, I don’t want any generic term like “lashed out”.

[CaptainK]

I thought her tirade was small potatoes compared to anyone of McEnroe’s.

Never understood why that guy wasn’t thrown out of the game.

[A knight without armor]

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2169467/what_serena_williams_actually_said.html

Click on “screaming tirade” in the second paragraph for it in a nutshell.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

I had to look up what Tarango did to draw the fine in the 90’s.

Apparently he shouted ‘Shut up’ to the fans at Wimbledon and was hit with a code violation of “an audible obscenity” (since when is “shut up” an obscenity). He then called the umpire the most corrupt official in the game and was given another code violation for “unsportsmanlike conduct”. As he packed up his gear and refused to play on, his wife walked over to the umpire and slapped him twice.

I wished I had seen that Wimbledom match.

[DonaldC]

I thought her problem was the f bomb, but I may be wrong.

[kbennkc]

Wow , that about like fining me $5.00 for disorderly conduct . Why do these jocks and jockettes act like this ? Because it is tolerated . If they would have banned Conners or Mac from the game they would have seen an out break of good manners for decades . No one is indispensable .

[Alberta's Child]

Serena Williams wasn't disciplined for a verbal tirade in this case -- she actually threatening to assault the official.

Maybe it's just me, but this seemed like a classic case of "'Roid Rage" if I ever saw one.

[ArrogantBustard]

Used the "F" word three times, and took the Lord's Name in vain twice.

Yep ... the fine is warranted. If she wants to have a gutter mouth, she can take it elsewhere.

[Responsibility2nd]

Oh great.

Any second now..... Someone is gonna post a pictue.

(Well - there goes my appetite)

[ArrogantBustard]

Right ... twice threatened the official with physical harm. That’s technically a misdemeanor assault.

[don-o]

Used the "F" word three times, and took the Lord's Name in vain twice. Yep ... the fine is warranted. If she wants to have a gutter mouth, she can take it elsewhere.

That's an idea for FR fundraising right there. Fines for F words, which seem to be increasing on this board.

[domenad]

Ahh now that’s news.

[Tallguy]

Maybe it's just me, but this seemed like a classic case of "'Roid Rage" if I ever saw one.

Heaven forbid that anyone should suggest Serena Williams should be tested for steroid-abuse. I've heard every explaination under the sun for her physique -- the only one that holds water for me is steroids.

[napscoordinator]

Chump change for her. I can’t stand her but this does seem a bit ridiculous.

[CaptainK]

The ref claimed she physically threatened her. Serena said she never did. I didn’t hear it on the tape or see a transcript. Maybe I missed it.

[CodeToad]

They should raise the standards and toss her savage mouth out of the game for good.

[A knight without armor]

Rahm Emanuel in a tennis skirt.

[ArrogantBustard]

That is something I NEVER want to see.