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Serena Was Totally Justified
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More outrageous than Serena Williams’ outburst at the U.S. Open on Saturday are the harsh reactions to it. Paul Campos on tennis’ sexist double standard.
Serena Williams was kicked out of the U.S. Open this weekend for acting like a man. After all, tennis features a long history of some of its best and most admired players throwing spectacular on-court tantrums. Superstars of the game such as Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi, Ilie Nastase and John McEnroe (who was doing live TV commentary on the match) were famous for verbally abusing officials, destroying rackets, and otherwise putting on exhibitions of righteous outrage even more theatrical and childish than Williams’ unfortunate outburst.
It’s hardly a coincidence that all these players were men. Especially in a sport like tennis, which still retains a faint whiff of the country club, and in which women are still more or less required to prettify themselves when performing (short skirts and makeup remain standard equipment), unhinged rage remains far more acceptable for male performers than for their female counterparts.
No underlying rule of athletics is more basic than that the players, not the officials, should decide the outcome.
Both the Williams incident itself and the media’s reactions to it—there have been numerous calls to suspend Williams from competition for months, and even next year’s tournament—reveal the extent to which gender-based double standards still afflict sports in general, and tennis in particular.
Williams, the world’s best female tennis player, was still very much in the running to collect another U.S. Open title when she was disqualified by a series of terrible officiating decisions—decisions which, while within the formal rules of the game, violated the most basic norms of athletic competition.
• The Tao of Serena Williams
• Full U.S. Open coverage. The decision that triggered Williams’ tirade was a linesperson’s call of a foot fault, that handed Kim Clijsters—Williams’ opponent, who would go on to win the tournament title the next night—a match point. This was a horrendous mistake—the kind of call that understandably infuriates a highly competitive athlete at a moment of extreme tension.
Video replays employing high definition camera technology revealed that it was impossible to tell if Williams’ foot had touched the baseline. Under such circumstances, for an official sitting 75 feet away to call a foot fault was, as a matter of the game’s formal rules, a huge mistake. More important, as a matter of its informal rules, the call was an unforgiveable abuse of official discretion.
Williams’ subsequent outburst—during which she glared at the linesperson and reportedly said, among other things, “If I could, I would take this fucking ball and shove it down your fucking throat”—represented a regrettable loss of composure, but one that, under the circumstances, was somewhat understandable.
Which brings us to the real outrage at the center of the Williams affair. After her relatively brief fit of temper, Williams was preparing to serve again, when the linesperson left her chair and approached the match’s umpire—the official ultimately responsible for all decisions. (For example, it was within the umpire’s discretion to overrule the linesperson’s foot-fault call).
Apparently, the linesperson told the umpire that Williams had threatened to kill her—something Williams denied, and which no witnesses confirmed. Nevertheless the umpire assessed a code violation against Williams, which cost her a point. Since the foot fault had brought the contest to match point, the umpire’s decision awarded the match to Clijsters.
No underlying rule of athletics is more basic than that the players, not the officials, should decide the outcome. This is an unwritten yet very real rule that all competent officials understand. Albert Pujols isn’t going to be ejected from the seventh game of the World Series for arguing balls and strikes, even if he questions the umpire’s ancestry in a way that would normally earn him an early shower. LeBron James isn’t going to get a second technical in a close NBA playoff game unless he hits somebody over the head with a chair.
And no tennis superstar is going to be disqualified from a U.S. Open semifinal for raging at an official, even if the formal rules of the game allow for such a decision.
Unless, apparently, the superstar in question is a black woman from Compton, California. Of course the stock response to this is to claim that pointing to Serena Williams’ race, gender, and class is an example of what is called political correctness.
That response is itself a clichéd reflex, which seeks to obscure that what happened at the National Tennis Center on Saturday night has everything to do with such factors, and most especially the fact that Williams, in the final analysis, acted too much like a man.
Athletic competition is all about competitive and emotional intensity, extreme physical effort, and a kind of metaphorical warfare that is still thought of as essentially male. In short, it’s all about blood, sweat, and no tears.
The Williams incident and the reactions to it indicate the extent to which we as a culture are still uncomfortable with the idea of girls playing what are still thought of as boys’ games.
Paul Campos is a professor of law at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
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nmsmiami
you lost me at the moment you try to justify the boorish
behavior of someone-whether a black woman tennis star,
a southern white congressman or a black rapper-not having
any of their words or actions deemed acceptable whatever
the reason-there is no justification for such a complete meltdown of civility and dignity -no matter the reason-
go sell that argument to someone who will listen-these three
should be locked in a room together to insult each other
and spin their reasoning process
of civility and lack of respect for those who observe you
kaleb85
Wow, how's the view from your high horse?
Mr. Campos pointed out that we allow these kind of outbursts with some players and that we villainize them with others. These lines seem to be drawn based gender, race, and socioeconomic status. We are more comfortable with a white man like McEnroe pulling the same stunts.
Her outburst was uncalled for and inappropriate, but the reaction to her outburst is much more so. Paul, I agree with you!
mredder4
Did McEnroe physically threaten the targets of his outbursts? If not, the two players aren't comparable. McEnroe, sure, he blew his stack and yelled and the whole nine yards. Didn't mean he's go waving a racket at a judge, especially not while holding a tennis ball in his other hand. Have you ever paid attention to the speeds at which some of modern tennis' greats can serve? It may only be a tennis ball, but are you willing to line up and have one shot at you (anywhere on your body) at 80 MPH?
Serena Williams did not exhibit the stature of a professional, and it cost her. She needs to learn from this, not everyone else.
sophia5
Unless, apparently, the superstar in question is a black woman from Compton, California. Of course the stock response to this is to claim that pointing to Serena Williams' race, gender, and class is an example of what is called political correctness.
( "called political correctness." )
No, it's " called " sounds like more Race Baiting bullshit ?
For all his boorish obnoxious outbursts, is there an example of McEnroe
threatening to, as Serena said, "shove this fucking ball down your throat."
If Serena's opponent Kim Clijsters said the same exact words,
she would have been penalized just as much as Serena.
You mentioned Pujols.
If Albert Pujols said the same thing to an Umpire, yes he'd be tossed out
of a World Series game in a St. Louie minute.
And the suggestion would be what ?
"Well, if Albert weren't Latino he'd still be in the game?"
sophia5
Also, it was match point for Clijsters.
Serena was charged the ONE point penalty, which meant Game, Set, Match.
It wasn't as if Serena was ejected in the middle of the match.
SHE LOST ONE POINT.
carouzer
A boor is a boor is a boor...black or white, male or female, politician, "entertainer," or sports figure. Passion is not an excuse for boorish behavior. And a boor should not be made out to be some kind of hero.
McEnroe's boorishness landed him a fat commentator's job. Wilson's boorishness has probably assured him of reelection--or at least a fat campaign chest. And Kanye West's drunken outburst at the VMA's probably earned him sympathy and a few album sales (and without doubt one of the most idiotic defenses on The Beast of bad behavior I've ever read). Serena Williams will continue to make untold millions from her off-court endorsements, books, etc.
The ignoramouses (ignorami?) in our society clearly rule. This kind of behavior is NEVER justified and, if we had some sense of civilization remaining, would NEVER be tolerated, nevermind defend it. But we do tolerate it and defend it.
I'm disappointed in Serena, but at least she had the good grace (or business sense) to apologize and to say directly to the young kids who worship her that she was wrong...repeatedly.
mredder4 is right in some of what he/she wrote. "Serena Williams did not exhibit the stature of a professional, and it cost her. She needs to learn from this, not everyone else." Would be nice if everyone else did learn from her mistake and figure out how to disagree without being a boor. Unfortunately, that's not happenin'
kaleb85
I hear you guys, and I understand that not everyone that has a problem with Serena's actions are being racist or sexist. I'm disappointed in Serena too.
I just think that the reason why some reactions were so intense is because she is a powerful black woman, and that intimidates some people.
She was waving her racket a little -- that's because she was holding it. She's a tennis player. Never for a second did I think that she was going to use it as a weapon.
She had already calmed down and gone back to serve when they ruled that she loses the match point; a match point in a slam semi. The ruling robbed the fans of a true conclusion and robbed Clijsters of the opportunity to score the match point in a match that meant so much to her.
I understand the ruling; don't get me wrong. Serena shouldn't have gone off the deep end. She has to take personal responsibility for sure.
But the penalty was more than harsh enough. I've been watching tennis coverage where people are saying she should be suspended for months... that it's an outrage that she still got to play doubles. I just think that the reaction is unproportional, and that it would be much different if she was from a less intimidating demographic.
case1234
Whats funny is I have heard people who defended Wilson yelling at the President in a formal speech turn around and trash Serena and not even get the shear hypocrisy of it all. Coming down harder on a tennis player than a Member of the US Congress?
Guess it depends on who and if you agree or not whether it was right or wrong for many people.
YpsiDipsy
"Albert Pujols isn't going to be ejected from the seventh game of the World Series for arguing balls and strikes." No, but Joaquín Andújar is.
soapstone
Silly commentary. Serena wasn't kicked out, she lost a losing match due to her own tantrums and Clijster's superior playing. The fact that, in another century, Connors and McEnroe weren't adequately disciplined doesn't give Williams any excuse to threaten anyone on the court.
aackc1
She is a bully and way out of line. Who cares, male/female, black/white? Its just stupid behavior. The interesting part will be, when complains about loss of sponsorship or loss of love from americans and/or tennis fans... she will blame it on media, race, sex etc... Not her own actions.
WiseHorn
Yea!! Finally, someone I can agree with! Tennis at it's sexist best. what a bunch of BS that Serena isn't entitled to loose her sh** over BAD calls in semi-final play. She isn't here to entertain people, she's here to WIN. This isn't tea and crumpets match IT'S a sport and andrenline can run amok. How disgusting that people want to throw her under the bus after all she has brought to tennis without the assistance of the WTA.
lennon2666
Yes, there's a double standard. Female players should be entitled to the same treatment as Male players.
For example, they earn the same jackpot as the men, so they should play best out of five sets. Just like the men. Why only the best out of three sets? That's gender bias. And why not allow mixed singles matches? Why would women not want to challenge men to complete domination of the stats?
Gender bias is built into the system. It's throughout.
The author should carry his theory to its FULL logical conclusion, not to the conclusion he prefers.
Disenchanted
First off, Mr. Campos, get your facts right. She WAS NOT kicked out of the U.S. Open. Were that the case she would not be playing in the Women's Doubles Finals today.
She LOST the match due to score. At 15-30 (Clijsters favor) she allegedly foot faulted, making the score 15-40. Then she went off on the line judge and was given a penalty point for unsportsmanlike behavior... that point happened to be match point in Clijsters favor.
In years of watching I haven't seen anyone attack a judge with the very audible profane and threatening gestures Serena let loose with. Yes, I think it was a bad call in the first place, but I don't care what sex or what race the player is - that exhibit was way over the line, unprofessional and quite frankly an embarrassment to the sport.
While the jury is still out as to further penalties she may enjoy, the current $10.5K fine is a joke.
Pneuma66
This was just another example of officials inserting themselves into sporting events and ruining them for everyone. So the lines judge was yelled at? Big deal. Get over it, and do your job! Ultimately, the umpire should have told the line judge to go back to his line and do his job. If I were Serena, I would have yelled at the line judge also. Who wouldn't?
mredder4
You don't even know enough about the incident to get the lineperson's gender correct.
bilkodude
Justified? Give me a break. First of all, even if this didn't happen, Clijsters would have won. She was outplaying Serena throughout the entire match. Second of all, I don't think some random lines judge is going to purposely try to sabotage Serena's chances of winning the match. Her and her sister have been foot faulting throughout the entire tournament. Maybe if they stopped thinking of themselves as the Queens of tennis and actually played throughout the entire year instead of focusing on just the slams, they would work on things like service stance. Serena is a nasty girl, trust me, I have encountered her many a times in a work situation and she is extremely rude. And so is Roddick. Maybe it's the hot shot personality but it doesn't fly with me. Act like a good sport. No one deserves to be spoken to like that, regardless if a player is feeling the pressure or angry that they are playing bad. Nadal, Federer, Clijsters, Wozniacki all have something in common. They have class. They are good sports and they blame only themselves when things don't go their way. Serena should be suspended. Maybe it will teach her a lesson to keep her mouth shut next time.
sheltomo
I beg your pardon:"First of all, even if this didn't happen, Clijsters would have won. She was outplaying Serena throughout the entire match. Second of all, I don't think some random lines judge is going to purposely try to sabotage Serena's chances of winning the match." You obviously don't know what the hell you are talking about to make such a stupid comment. Serena is known for her comebacks agst. far tougher opponents than Clijsters; furthermore, Serena has came from behind in the 2nd set down 5-1 agst. Clijsters in AO 03. Serena has beaten Clijsters 7 times vs. Clijsters 2 wins. Here is another fact for you: The US Open 04 match agst. Capriati with 5 bad calls by chair umpire and line officials that cost Serena the match! The US Open has a history of screwing Serena and Venus over. You don't have to take my word for it, look it up on YouTube you idiot!!
jadedone
Unbelievable, Mr. Campos starts out building a case for sexism and finally ends up where he really wanted to be all along, claiming racism. I can only imagine his reasons for wanting to do so. The real issue is the decline of civility in entertainment, sports, media and personal interactions in this country. Ms. Williams' behavior is just another example of that decline. It is about time boorish behavior resulted in negative consequences.
piktor
The line judge was a lady and she went running to the chair umpire twice. TWICE.
Sports judges make mistakes all the time. Ms. Williams was playing with fire and got burnt.
lablahlablah
She wasn't kicked out of the US Open. In fact, Venus and Serena went on to win the women's doubles finals.
And if you look at the Tennis Network replay, the foot fault is clear (it's unclear in CBS's broadcast). The fact that the linesman was 75 feet away is also irrelevant. She was positioned in the proper place to see foot faults (along the line). The TV cameras are there to provide entertainment viewing, and not Monday morning quarterbacking and their placement is most decidedly NOT good for line analysis (which is why Hawkeye was invented).
Tapper42nd
Did you write this just so you can get publicity? She was out-of-line. Nobody is allowed to act like that on the job, it was completely inappropriate. You're using what was allowed by men in the past to validate what Serena did. However - if Nadal had acted like that, he would have been similarly criticized.
sheltomo
Nadal would have never been in that same predicament nor would he have ostracized like Serena. Whether people like you want to admit it or not, it wasn't just sexism but also racism because Serena is a black female. The call was bad and unjust; furthermore, Serena was indirectly kicked out of the game. Ignore the truth all you want, but it does not take a rocket scientist to figure out what happened. Question: How many other players have you seen called for foot faults? DON'T YOU DARE SAY THAT NOBODY ELSE FOOT FAULTS!! Every player on the tournament has commited foot faults but they are not called for it- only the william sisters. The truth can be a hard pill to swallow.
DrewK79
I say this should be the first sports call decided by lawyers.
It is blatantly obvious some referees do not make the right call. At some point they need to be held accountable.
I really dont think it should go to lawyers to argue wins and losses but, when you have championship games being decided by umpires and not players the sport loses.
jadedone
Decided by lawyers? Are you serious? This is the most poorly thought-out statement I've heard in a long time.
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