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Serena Williams is fined $10,500 for tirade (Further investigation of the incident coming)
Los Angeles Times ^ | 9/13/2009 | Diane Pucin

Posted on 09/13/2009 4:45:56 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

Reporting from New York - Serena Williams will be fined $10,500 for behavior deemed "unsportsmanlike conduct," and also for racket abuse after her obscenity-filled and aggressive reaction to a critical foot fault called during her 6-4, 7-5 U.S. Open semifinal loss to Kim Clijsters on Saturday night.

There will also be further investigation of the incident according to a statement released by the U.S. Open, "The Grand Slam rule book also allows for an investigation to be conducted by the Grand Slam Committee Administrator to determine if the behavior of Ms. Williams warrants consideration as a Major Offence for which additional penalties can be imposed. This investigation has now begun."

Williams earned $350,000 for her singles semifinal finish.

After an unidentified lineswoman called a foot fault on a second serve which gave Williams a double fault and put her a point away from the loss, Williams approached the lineswoman, shook a tennis ball in the direction of the woman's face and threatened to shove the ball down the women's throat.

Because Williams had already received a warning after breaking her racket at the end of the first set, her actions in confronting the lineswoman resulted in another code violation and a penalty point. That point was match point and gave Clijsters the win.

Through a public relations agency, Williams said Sunday, "Last night everyone could truly see the passion I have for my job. Now that I have had time to gain my composure I can see that while I don't agree with the unfair line call in the heat of battle I let my passion and emotion get the better of me and as a result handled the situation poorly."

Serena and her sister Venus will play the women's doubles final today,

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: kimclijsters; serenawilliams; tennis; usopen2009
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To: sofaman; gaijin
She did not say that she would kill her. That’s incorrect.

I think the quote was: "If I could, I would shove this f*ck*ng ball down your f*ck*ng throat." That seems to me to be a threat of physical violence. It's certainly verbal abuse and intimidation.

61 posted on 09/13/2009 5:30:24 PM PDT by stripes1776 ("That if gold rust, what shall iron do?" --Chaucer)
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To: BamaDi
My brother said he’s never heard such a profanity laced tirade as what she did.....wonder if they have the b*&^s to suspend her.....

Nope. Black.

62 posted on 09/13/2009 5:32:02 PM PDT by Logical me (Oh, well!!!)
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To: SeekAndFind
(1) Serena Williams should be fined $200,000 and barred from the next 2 non-major tournaments.

(2) The line judge should be fired. What kind of an idiot calls a foot fault at such a moment in a Grand Slam Semi? Idiot.

63 posted on 09/13/2009 5:32:28 PM PDT by montag813 (qui)
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To: Cheetahcat
Why should we have to put up with it?

Because, for decades, the conservative movement has been saddled with the "racist" label by liberals. I think our words and actions should address the lie, not support it.

Your original post reflected an attitude with words that many on the left could easily point to as, "See, we're right!" I don't think we should give them that opportunity.

But, I wouldn't want to censor you, either. Go for it.

64 posted on 09/13/2009 5:34:04 PM PDT by HoosierHawk (www.firstsundaymusic.com)
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To: TontoKowalski
Does the same logic` apply to a ball served a miniscule amount over the line? Just barely, barely, barely out? Or should those be called "in" because, really, a miniscule amount shouldn't matter?

We should in certain cases relax the rules in order to not offend.

65 posted on 09/13/2009 5:35:34 PM PDT by ColdWater
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To: raybbr
Williams should be suspended for a year for threatening bodily harm.

She went too far to be sure, but the line judge should be shot for that disgraceful call.

66 posted on 09/13/2009 5:36:30 PM PDT by montag813 (qui)
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To: sofaman
Her foot has to be down for it to be a foot fault, I believe

It was down on the line.

67 posted on 09/13/2009 5:37:34 PM PDT by ColdWater
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To: ColdWater

Nicklaus tossed his at the Grand Haven Golf Course.

Palmer tossed his over the Gallery in 1946 at the Western Pennsylvania Junior.

Ripken (you didn’t specify Sr. or Jr., so I chose Sr. ‘cause I remember a radio interview where he was fuming :))

How can you forget his tirade, on air, in 87? He lost it, he was screaming...”people who don’t agree with the move didn’t know the game and don’t care to learn it.” yadda-tadda-yadda.

Dale Murphy, I’ll have to call his family,,,LOL


68 posted on 09/13/2009 5:40:17 PM PDT by papasmurf (RnVjayB5b3UsIDBiYW1hLCB5b3UgcGllY2Ugb2Ygc2hpdCBjb3dhcmQh)
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To: sofaman

I think if she successfully shoved a tennis ball down the small Asian woman’s throat, that just might be fatal.


69 posted on 09/13/2009 5:40:32 PM PDT by whatisthetruth
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To: montag813
What kind of an idiot calls a foot fault at such a moment in a Grand Slam Semi? Idiot.

I guess the kind of idiot who believes the rules apply throughout the entire match.

70 posted on 09/13/2009 5:41:48 PM PDT by TontoKowalski
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To: whatisthetruth

Serena is all wee-weed up


71 posted on 09/13/2009 5:42:52 PM PDT by ak267
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To: montag813
Answer to your question...an honest referee..period! It was a foot fault plain and obvious.

The better question is what kind of lines woman WOULD NOT CALL A FOOT FAULT.

Serena's actions were pitiful and, yes, she was menacing. It might work in the hood, but it doesn't play well ON ANY FRICKEN TENNIS COURT IN THE WORLD! Hope she is given a long suspension.

72 posted on 09/13/2009 5:42:53 PM PDT by BatGuano
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To: montag813

Disgraceful?? See my post #72. You have it wrong Montag.


73 posted on 09/13/2009 5:45:32 PM PDT by BatGuano
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To: ak267

Hell with those arms of hers, if she were to manage to shove a tennis ball down my throat, I probably would cease to exist also.


74 posted on 09/13/2009 5:46:27 PM PDT by whatisthetruth
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To: mlizzy


Serena when she was fit ... and dressing nicely ...
75 posted on 09/13/2009 5:46:38 PM PDT by mlizzy (Get your game together, Serena!)
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To: SeekAndFind

Must be the ‘roids taking over.


76 posted on 09/13/2009 5:47:21 PM PDT by headstamp 2
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To: FlingWingFlyer

“Time for Barry the Kenyan to step in with another one of his “Beer with Barry” specialties at the White House.”

The line judge acted “stupidly”.


77 posted on 09/13/2009 5:48:39 PM PDT by headstamp 2
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To: stripes1776

verbal abuse, yes. Intimidation? I don’t think so. She lost her temper and acted like a boor. No excuse for that, but it seems to me highly unlikely that she would actually make the attempt to shove a ball down the line judge’s throat.


78 posted on 09/13/2009 5:49:04 PM PDT by sofaman (To be or not to be is not a question of compromise. Either you be or you don't be. - Golda Meir)
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To: ColdWater

Nope. Looked at the replay several times. her foot was in the air when she struck the ball.


79 posted on 09/13/2009 5:49:44 PM PDT by sofaman (To be or not to be is not a question of compromise. Either you be or you don't be. - Golda Meir)
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To: whatisthetruth

And your point is that she’d actually try to do that. Really?


80 posted on 09/13/2009 5:51:24 PM PDT by sofaman (To be or not to be is not a question of compromise. Either you be or you don't be. - Golda Meir)
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