Richard Williams plays race card

signonsandiego.com ^ | 8/05/03

[Jakarta ex-pat]

In an interview with the French magazine L'Equipe on Saturday, Richard Williams blasted the tennis world for racism and claimed no one will ever defeat his daughters, Serena and Venus.

Williams addressed critics who say that his daughters appearing in every final is making tennis boring.

"So women's tennis is getting boring. And you know why? Because two lovely black women dominate it. They're better than the white girls, and that's intolerable. It's downgrading, lamentable," Williams said.

Williams said his daughters were the victims of racist prejudice from within the tennis world.

"They're disturbed by our being there. They've tried everything they could to tame us, to recuperate (sic) us and, when they couldn't, they said I was a madman."

Williams also said he will never salute the flag because of racism in America.

"It has no meaning for me," he said.

Williams added that his daughters were dominating the game because they had stolen the best shots from their rivals.

"The whites have always said that black people were robbers. My daughters are robbers. They're going to rob you of your best shot and make it our best shot. My daughters are the best two robbers in the world."

[Sam Cree]

Well, that sounds encouraging, it would be nice to know that the sisters were nice folks, as I had always supposed.

I don't know much about the tennis world, but have never heard it accused of being racist. Another great black tennis player, Arthur Ashe, comes to mind.

I wonder if this fellow considers basketball to be racist too, since it is dominated by one race?

[wardaddy]

Another incredibly successful and wealthy black victim of racism....

[conservativeinbflo.]

Yeah, America means nothing to him, but he has no problem taking advantage our society while laughing all the way to the bank.

ignorant moron.

[Phantom Lord]

Earl has calmed down and behaved himself the past 4 years. I am sure that Tiger told him to put a sock in it.

[Sam Cree]

Ha! I should have said the Professional Golf Tour. Local courses always have folks losing their tempers, throwing clubs, etc.

I have spent time at ranges, yes, folks are polite there.

[chemicalman]

I don't watch tennis, no matter who's playing.

But this guy is a friggin idiot for saying this.

[ricpic]

Lotsa room for clay courts in Africa. Come to think of it, all Africa is is one big clay court.

[artsie24]

For me the problem is that they are sisters and it leads to less of a feeling of competition. I think they are awesome tennis players but the finals where it is the two of them bore me.

[wideawake]

Heh!

I still remember that interview ol' Earl gave to SI where he said something to the effect that his son is a world historical figure comparable to Christ or the Buddha.

It was possibly the most deranged spewing I have ever read in print - and I've read Michael Moore interviews.

[ewing]

Wasn't Earl suffering from a heart condition?

[cyborg]

There's no way Tiger's dad and Williams came be compared. Williams is a BIG POMPOUS A$$. He's not humble at all. Sometimes I think his daughters are embarassed a bit by him. He dominates every aspect of his daughters lives including who they go out with, no white boys need apply (big surprise there /sarcasm). Everytime he opens his mouth, it's always about RACE and blaming white people. He wouldn't salute the flag? The American flag has meaning for him? How dare he! Give me a break. What is he still DOING HERE? Let him move to Zimbabwe. See if he can be a phony Jehovas' Witness over there.

[gakrak]

What an total ignorant A--HO.

[cwb]

I agree. In fact, it was Serena a few weeks back who actually donned a French accent and poked fun at France's absence from the Iraq War. She drew the ire from several French reporters who were taken aback at her "childish" behavior as she made fun of their concern for fashion wear rather than word security.

[junta]

Well they are adults and if they wanted they could tell him to shut up and they could inform us they he is in fact insane and does not speak for them.

[cwb]

word=world

[Catspaw]

So you're willing to smear Serena and Venus Williams with the same broad brush you have done with their father.

[cinFLA]

OJ was known for his "temper tantrums" on the links.

[Cacophonous]

Well they are adults and if they wanted they could tell him to shut up and they could inform us they he is in fact insane and does not speak for them.

Oh come on. They are also his daughters...they have an obligation to honor their father and mother. Let him say his thing, and don't give him more attention than he deserves.

[Sam Cree]

Yeah, I should have excluded those who are not on the pro tour. Golf seem to have the ability to cause a complete abandonment of dignity in lots of folks. Yet most of the guys on the tour are some of the best behaved in pro sports.

[junta]

What smear? Are they puppets? Do they have PR people with any sense whatsoever to nip this idiot's influence before he ruins these kid's careers? Next he will pose for pics with Calypso Louie and claim AIDS is a giant conspiracy against the black race and even the "nice" people who populate the tennis community will find it hard to be humiliated as Mr. Doofus sees fit.