Richard Williams Is Correct Tennis Is Racist. Why Is Billie Jean King Still Reticent And A Pernicious Hypocrite?
It appears the WTA and the Williams family may have a major legal battle in 2009. Larry Scott the CEO of the WTA is not only stubborn his attitude towards the Williams family also demonstrates his complete lack of respect for the biggest stars in the women’s game. Scott has a lack of class and sensitivity to race issues. I shouldn’t be surprised though after all Scott is a white heterosexual upper class male he doesn’t have to think about race relations since he is the mythical norm. Larry Scott and the Indian Wells organizers want to force Venus and Serena to play Indian Wells in 2009.
The WTA have basically stabbed the Williams family in the back with this new rule making the Indian Wells event mandatory. The WTA never forced Monica Seles to play the WTA championships in 2001 in Germany because she boycotted Germany after being stabbed in the back in Hamburg in 1993. It is about a matter of principle. Monica Seles statement was an important one a reminder of the apathetic attitude of the WTA tour in relation to the tragedy.
The racist German government had the audacity to allow Gunther Parche a man that attempted to murder Monica Seles on live television to walk free in Germany. I shouldn’t be surprised. Germany is a xenophobic nation African immigrants are set on fire and thrown off of bridges. Turkish families homes are torched by racist Neo Nazis and the German government is apathetic to immigrant concerns. How can Parche be free to roam Germany after there is video evidence of this monster trying to kill Monica Seles? The disgraceful German government message is racism and xenophobia is palatable as long as a German tennis player benefits from attempted murder. The German player Steffi Graf returned to the number one ranking and ruined women’s tennis until she retired in 1999.
The Williams family also believe in principles and the WTA should respect their decision to boycott the Indian Wells event. It is all about principles and values. The WTA and the white American tennis establishment have no respect for black people. The racist incident in Indian Wells must not be forgotten or ignored it was a disgusting, abhorrent, and disgraceful incident. The WTA and the white American tennis establishment have an apathetic attitude to the Williams family concerns they don’t care. It is just that simple I can’t be more blunt then that.
The Williams family boycott of Indian Wells is very important it is a political and social statement. The Williams family absence is forcing the white American tennis establishment to remember the racist incident. The articles by various white American sports journalists demonstrates whites don’t want to remember the racist incident.
The question the public should be asking is why is the WTA and the white American tennis establishment attempting to force the Williams Sisters to play Indian Wells? The reason is drum roll please……. the Williams Sisters are money makers. The Williams Sisters are the only superstars on the WTA right now. The Williams Sisters sell tickets faster then any other players on the WTA. The Williams Sisters are international superstars and the Indian Wells organizers want the prestige to return to their lackluster event. The tactics of Larry Scott and the Indian Wells organizers is not only pathetic it reeks of desperation.
The WTA and the white American media are attempting to develop the Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova and market her as a new star. Why is the WTA marketing a foreigner? Sharapova fits into the Eurocentric standards of beauty since she is tall, very thin, has blonde hair, and blue eyes. Maria Sharapova may have won a couple of grand slam singles titles but she comes across as very unpolished in interviews with zero class. There is also a problem with the fact there is a disconnect between Sharapova and the tennis audience. Sharapova has won a couple of grand slams she is obviously talented but there is nothing extraordinary about her game or personality. Sharapova is not a legend yet she doesn’t have the star quality, personality, or the ability to transcend sport like the Williams Sisters. On numerous internet boards tennis fans have commented about Sharapova’s ice queen persona. Sharapova comes across as very aloof, arrogant, haughty, and has a sense of entitlement. People across the globe recognize the Williams Sisters they do not know Sharapova.
The Indian Wells WTA event has become a complete farce and a joke for the past seven years due to the absence of the Williams Sisters. Last year Daniela Hantuchova beat Svetlana Kuznetsova in the women’s final last year. Does anyone care about Kuznetsova and Hantuchova? Nope. Most people most likely never heard of either player. The Indian Wells event has been lacking serious star power for years it is now a D list event.
The organizers of the Indian Wells event refuse to make a formal public apology to the Williams family about the racist incident at the Indian Wells event in 2001. The arrogance of Larry Scott and the organizers of Indian Wells has no boundaries. The Williams family have boycotted the Indian Wells event and ESPN.COM has the nerve to publish an article by Greg Garber once again attacking the Williams family. Why should the Williams family help Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, and Pete Sampras part owners of the Indian Wells event make money?
Why have Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, and Pete Sampras never taken the first step in the healing process and made a formal public apology the Williams family? Are King, Evert, and Sampras too stupid to connect the dots? It is obvious the Williams family are very hurt and and rightfully so about the Indian Wells incident. I am not surprised that Sampras and Evert have been silent. After all, Pete Sampras has also made disparaging comments about the Williams Sisters in the media commenting about their tennis abilities and their hair. Chris Evert has been one of the most vocal opponents of the Williams Sisters for the past decade. Evert is a classic covert racist.
Chris Evert wrote a deleterious public letter in Tennis Magazine in the Spring of 2006 lashing out at Serena Williams claiming Serena has a lack of commitment to the game. Evert didn’t care that Serena was at the murder trial for her deceased sister Yetunde Price or that she had chronic knee injuries. Evert published the public letter to gain free press, publicity, and sell more copies of her tacky magazine. Visit the local public library and look for the Sping 2006 issue of Tennis Magazine read in the bold black print Evert’s disgusting letter. Would Evert ever publish a public letter slamming the white American female tennis players Jennifer Capriati or Lindsay Davenport? I doubt it. Why should the Williams Sisters help Chris Evert make money?
Why should the Williams Sisters support the Indian Wells event it doesn’t make sense? In this world you have to give respect to get respect. If Chris Evert had any ounce of dignity or class she would hold a press conference with the world media and make a real public apology to Venus, Serena, and Richard Williams. Seven long years have passed since the Indian Wells incident. The question the media should be asking why hasn’t Evert done anything? Why is Evert silent? Pete Sampras attitude towards the Williams Sisters is also abhorrent. Yet Evert claims she is an ambassador to Women’s Tennis so why hasn’t Evert made the first move for healing to occur?
It is also disconcerting that American tennis writers such as Greg Garber an employee of ESPN and Jon Wertheim an employee of Sports Illustrated refuse to acknowledge their roles in promoting racism against the Williams sisters. The racism and prejudice is so obvious and so is their hypocrisy. Why is there silence to this offensive bigotry?
The Williams Sisters are the most successful female tennis players of their generation they have a combined 14 grand slam singles titles. The Williams Sisters both have been ranked number one, and they have both won Olympic gold medals, and all the grand slam women’s doubles titles.
Some people are ignorant they act as though a racist bigot has to make a racial slur to be a racist. Racism is both covert and overt. When the Williams Sisters were dominating the game the American tennis experts said the Williams Sisters were “bad” for the game. When the Williams Sisters had to deal with the tragedy of their sister Yetunde Price being shot to death in 2003 obviously their priorities changed. The American tennis experts again slammed the Williams Sisters for their so called “lack of commitment to the game”.
Now of course, the white American tennis experts are very careful not to use any racial slurs on live television. However, the pernicious and deleterious racism of the American tennis experts is obvious to the discerning eye. Martina Navratilova on BBC television last year had the audacity to call Serena Williams a “drama queen” after she had her leg injury during her fourth round match at Wimbledon. Although Navratilova is a lesbian she also has bashed the Williams Sisters ever minute she gets. John McEnroe is a consistent hater of the Williams Sisters on BBC, NBC, and CBS television.
I will never forget watching the ESPN telecast of the 2007 Australian Open. I cringed. I was so disgusted and angry when Mary Carillo had the audacity to compare James Blake’s father dying from cancer to Yetunde Price’s murder. Carillo claimed Serena wasn’t committed to the game. We all know Serena stormed to the 2007 Australian Open women’s title last year. The only reason Carillo compared Blake and Serena is because they are both black tennis players. Serena Williams is an eight time grand slam tennis champion and James Blake is not a winner. The American tennis establishment doesn’t mind Blake he’s never won anything of importance on the ATP Tour he folds and loses all the time in big matches.
Pam Shriver also made offensive comments about Serena’s physique and her dedication to the game. Pam Shriver is best known as Martina Navratilova’s sidekick she never was a champion. Mary Carillo have never won grand slam singles titles either. Carillo and Shriver are not champions they have also never been ranked number one in the world. What right do they have to bash Serena and Venus consistently on live television without any retribution? Does ESPN condone prejudice?
Tracy Austin has also lashed out for years against the Williams Sisters Austin only won two slams that’s it. Austin is not even in the same league as Venus and Serena. After Venus won Wimbledon for the fourth time last year on MSNBC.COM Austin wrote that Venus’s victory was “magic”. The word “magic” is a backhanded complement by Austin. Venus winning Wimbledon for the fourth time proves she’s a legend it wasn’t “magic” yet Austin has never respected Venus or Serena Williams.
I am especially disappointed in Billie Jean King she claims to be a woman that has class she claims she is against oppression against all people. King is a fraud, phony, and a hypocrite. King lectures society about sexism against women and preaches about tolerance for white homosexuals yet she ignores racism. Is Billie Jean King only against discrimination that affects white women and white homosexuals? It sure seems like it. Or is Billie Jean King a woman that believes discrimination is wrong against all people regardless of their race, class, or sexual orientation?
King will make statements in print interviews or on television saying the great Althea Gibson meant so much to her. Was King’s words about Gibson just a pack of lies? Perhaps Billie Jean King isn’t really a heroine after all? Maybe King is just as racist just like Chris Evert, John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, Pam Shriver, Tracy Austin, and Mary Carillo? Althea Gibson was against racism and sexism.If King claims Althea Gibson is one of her heroes then why doesn’t King take action? Why is Billie Jean King a pernicious hypocrite and remain silent for all these years?
So why hasn’t Billie Jean King ever spoken about Indian Wells incident? Does King just care about making money? Billie Jean King could be a source of dialogue there is clearly a lot of hurt feelings here between the Williams family and the WTA. Billie Jean King could make difference yet she chooses not to. I have lost respect for King.
I used to have respect for Billie Jean King but now I realize King is just a silent supporter of covert racists such as Tracy Austin, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Pam Shriver, Mary Carillo, and John McEnroe. If King claims she’s against discrimination against all people why doesn’t Billie Jean King take a stand? The Indian Wells incident should of been dealt with years ago the covert racism by the American tennis establishment demonstrates the racial divide still exists.
Gayblackcanada 
I agree with your points but I wish you’d condense your thoughts, I had trouble following this.
Look, you can sit here and whine about racism all day. The real fact is that the only verified racist is Richard Williams. He said straight out in the press that he hates white people etc…. The truth is that the williams sisters were booed for coping out on their game against each other that is all. nobody is racist about that. Blaming white people for everything is counter productive, and takes away from the great accomplishments that the williams sisters have made.
Williams is the bigot. He’s a whining racist pig, who is the epitome of the stupidity that grips this country. His attitude is “I don’t want to follow the rules, and if you make me I’ll bitch about it publicly so that you are forced to change the rules for me!” This is the stupidest article written yet, regarding this @$$#0l3$ complete lack of integrity, tact, respect, and sportsmanship. He attacked Chris Evert, Tracy Austin, and Billie Jean King – by spouting off at the mouth without even checking his facts regarding their records. Why? Because he wanted to make a point about “How dare a governing body of a group I want to be a part of is going to make me follow THEIR rules!” Get the F*ck out of the WTA and join the WWF you stupid, ignorant, reversed discriminatory monkey! This is the dumbest claim of racism that I have ever heard of, considering the “victim” is actually the guilty bigot. Hey Rich, have you listened to the crap that pours out of your mouth? It’s not your skin color that saves your seat at the “back of the bus” – it’s the lack of brain power that is obviously shared between you and Serena – both ya’lls is jus’ a bunch’a nappy headed hos!
@MichaelP we agree to disagree. We have to talk about racism because it is a reality in this world to deny racism exists is to deny reality. Racism is both overt and covert. I’m not going to give you a lecture on racism 101 that’s not my job. I am going to present to you my perspective. We obviously saw two different tennis matches. I watched ESPN and I saw a very hostile and racist white upper class crowd a crowd with white skin privilege boo the only black American on the court. The Williams family have never been respected by the American tennis establishment because they are proud African Americans. Serena is also American but she’s not white she doesn’t have blonde hair, white skin, and blue eyes. The white crowd was pernicious they booed every single shot Serena hit it was like a lynch mob. It was so disgusting and a sad day for tennis.
@Motoko you were making a good argument until you started to use racial slurs at the end of your post. You defeated your own statement and demonstrated a complete lack of class and maturity. Richard Williams is from a different generation. It is obvious you don’t care about that he grew up during the racial apartheid era in the United States. Maybe Mr. Williams is bitter.
you are absolutely nuts. how can anyone justify the comments made by Richard about the likes of Tracy Austin and Chris Evert? what did they ever due to deserve the racist trash talk from FlapJaw Williams? there never was a “racist” incident at Indian Wells unless, of course, booing the Williams sister is a per se racist act. though extremely talented, both of the Williams sisters are exceptionally arrogant in their press conferences, never once admitting that they were beaten fair and square. there is always some other excuse. frankly, I have no time for the Williams sisters and their dad.
Your comment that there was no racist incident at Indian Wells is complete rubbish; so much so that I wonder if your true intent is to deceive those less informed. In the most egregious part of this despicable episode, spectators at the tournament were heard to yell that Richard Williams should be lynched. Stop lying.
I’d be what is termed black and I think that your entire article is way beyond myopic. Monica Seles as an example of racism?? (Seles was considered white.)
Maria Sharapova a new star? (Sharapova has been a star since she won Wimbledon at 17!!)
Evert slamming Serena? As in “Your other accomplishments just can’t measure up to what you can do with a racquet in your hand. Just remember you have an opportunity of the rarest kind – to be the greatest ever”
Same with Navratilova – She had the opportunity to be the greatest in history”?
And here’s the kicker – if the WTA is so “racist” why would they want the Williams to play IW?
Whatever someone “white” does you twist and find a way to make it fit the world-view you choose to hold.
Basically what you are saying is … everyone is racist. Do I have that right? Just checking.
Evert’s “disgusting” letter in Tennis Magazine, as you put it, was actually a positive one designed to light a fire under Serena, because Chrissie knew she had the potential to be one of the all-time greats. They spin you attempt to put on it is laughable, and is only to serve your own assertion that the entire tennis establishment is out to get the Williams family. Come up with something better, please!
I agree with this article, the Williams sisters have every right to run their tennis careers to suit themselves! I can’t tell you how hard it is to watch tennis when McEnroe, Carillo, Shriver, and Tracey Austin. I tune in to watch, not listen to jealous women blow off about their feelings concerning the players.
you have the biggest fuckin chip on your shoulder…some of what you say is true..the williams’ have always been discriminated, esp. in USA….BUT over in europe, they are respected more, which makes sense due to the fact that tennis originated over there….thats all I agree on…but Maria sharapova is famous because she is fucking good….she doesnt have blue eyes either…..the tennis commentators can be harsh and ignorant, but they do praise the sisters to do well and have all agreed that at the top of their game, they are the best……its just their lack of consistency that pisses people off, esp. the fans…. ….you need to work on stating your opinions without it comming off so biased to the fact that within the first paragraph, readers are already put off and can predict what your whole thing is about..GET THE FUCK OVER IT…racism will NEVER go away…I know, I am bi-racial which to some is even worse, but it is something we’ll have to accept and move on.. and until the people born in the 40s-70s are still up and running…things wont be changing for a while…not to mention, you are black in canada???? big whoop….
Poor people you cant get past your skin color.It’s so pathetic,America will must be better than what I am reading here pathetic.The person that used the racial slurs I will bet you that’s a christian.
Poor people you cant get past your skin color.It’s so pathetic,America must be better than what I am reading here pathetic.The person that used the racial slurs I will bet you that’s a christian.
I don’t know which to comment on first….the fact that this “author” obviously has a hard on for these 2 man-women or the fact that it seems as though it was written by a 9 year old.
People don’t like the Williams sisters BECAUSE of their drama queen of a father. The first time things don’t go the way HE sees fit he cries racism. Need I remind you that he compares what his daughters do to Martin Luther King, JR.?
They are tennis players and ONLY that. They haven’t cured a disease….stopped a war….or helped an old lady across the street. All I ever hear about is how much money they think they deserve and how those who won’t give it to them are racist.
It’s people like Mr. Williams that devalue what a true racist does. When someone who really faces racism gets the same attention as these sisters and their father we’ll talk…..
This article was right on! It’s pathetic that so many white people still want to subscribe to “white suprmacy”. I’m not talking “Seig Heil” or “White Power”, but the attitude that REFUSES to respect the Williams for their accomplishments.
Venus & Serena have never been arrested for DUI’s (Capriati), Never arrested for shoplifting (Capriati), never been cokeheads( Hingis), never had their fathers banned from an event (too many fathers to list), don’t clown or act niggerish, and they still get no respect!!!
Tennis is racist!!!!!! Richard Williams is 100% right. It is not only racist in pro tennis but also in the juniors and college tennis too! I support The Williams family and everything they say and do! Venus and Serena are the “BEST” on the WTA!!!! YOU GO GIRLS!!!!!!!!!!!
First of all Venus and Serena are great players and I enjoy watching they play.
That being said, what happened at Indian Wells was their choice and the backlash was from people that paid good money to see a good match.
There are all sorts of prejudice in the world and you need to look past it.
Real racism would have been to say that the Williams sisters couldn’t play period. I am sure Monfils, Tsonga, Del Potro, et al have their own challenges and rise to meet them.
Venus and Serena, be the bigger person(s) and show us what you can do.
Just hilarious and pathetic is it not?
You write an article describing closet racism, open racism and denial and what do we get? The very type of racists that you describe, comment under this article.
Anyone who denies the Indian Wells incident or tries to make it look minor are racist 110%.
I sincerely hope that the sisters dont participate in that tournament unless there is a public apology.
There should be no other option for Indian Wells if they want Williams back.
good lord…everything is racist..racist.. racist. I want white americans to have the option to form their own society and then you can have the current america to run as you wish…then there would be no racism for you to fall back on every time the world didnt bend just like you want it to…. thing is, when your new society failed miserably and you were clamoring to get into the new society the expat white americans had formed, you would be crying racism again.. I know everything i just said is “pie in the sky” and unfortunetly unrealistic…however it’s exactly what would happen. you need not look past the asian community in america to understand how successful a race can be in “whute racist america” they come to america and they thrive…why…because they get it!!!
THIS IS THE STUPIDEST ARTICLE I HAVE EVER READ. You Americans are so dumb, crying racist at every little thing even when it has NOTHING to do with race. You want to know why the WTA wanted them to play, because it attracts viewers because people want to see big names in matches. Like if Federer and Nadal didnt play Shangai then there would be a lot less viewers because they are big names you stupid, stupid people.
Your logic doesnt even make sense, why would the WTA want them to play if they dont like black people? Surely if they didnt like black people then they wouldn’t want them to play. Ironically the idiotic dumb-ass who created this article also made a racist statement when they said “Why is the WTA marketing a foreigner?”. Why? Because the WTA is a global organization jackass. So we can be racist towards Russians but not black people? That is real fair.
Also, again ironically, the idiot who posted this article is supporting a open racist in Richard Williams who publicly said that he hates white people and that all white tennis players are trash. This man is a piece of shit and anyone who supports these statements seriously need to die along with all the others racists in the world. Making the excuse that he is from a different generation is the most pathetic garbage I ever heard. Just because he lived through a racist time doesnt mean he carry these disgusting old values to the 21st century. Because someone was racist to you gives you NO right to be racist to another. I look forward to hearing a reply from the author of this god awful article.
I am partially black and to my mind the author of the article is a self-righteous moron crying racism whilst advocating racist behaviour of Richard W.
By the way, I cant stand him and his daughters neither because of their rotten attitude. They do give black tennis a bad reputation. I hope we’re going to get another Althea Gibson who would truly represent instead of these arrogant megalomaniacs.
WTA has two sets of rules. One for the good ol’ boys and girls and then another set of rules for non-whites. Being of Indian ancestry I not surprised by the attitude that was displayed at the Indian Wells Tournament, but it is still not right. As a christian I pray that we move quickly and bring the WTA and its spokepersons to the table along side the Williams Family in prayer and in an apologetic manner to set aside all ill feelings and dialogue that have been stated in a negative manner over the years through the media. Tennis is a great sport for humanity and lets keep it clean. I pray for reconciliation and closure so that the Williams can make themselves available for the Indian Wells Tournament for 2010.
This is one of the most pompous, misinformed articles I have ever read. When a white person says something, anything, about a black person, it’s always racist, racist, racist. You try to infer that TV commentators made the connection between the death of Thomas Blake and the murder of Yetunde Price on the basis of the skin color of the players in question. Well, both of them just happen to be black (James Blake’s mother is white, FWIW, but people see him as black, like Barack Obama). That is wrong. The reason that was brought up and juxtaposed was because both were deaths of an influential family member in each case. Skin color does not matter.
I personally don’t mind the Williamses boycotting IW-it takes one of my least favorite players on tour (Serena) out. I do like Venus, though, I’ll tell you that before you start screaming “RACIST!” That’s their choice. Clearly, the sisters’ pride is worth more than a few hundred ranking points and some money. Let the WTA make it mandatory-the Williamses don’t have to play.
Just get this one point through your head: It IS possible for a white person to judge a black person without being racist. I look at Richard and Serena Williams, and I don’t see black. I see two brash, unpleasant people. It would be the same if they were white.
Even after some members of the Nazi leadership were condemned to death for the Holocaust, they were still defiant that they did not do anything wrong. Even some expressed their pride in their fatherland and Hitler. So, it’s not surprising that racists in the United States of America deny that racism exists. Birds of the same feather have the same mentality about evil; and, racism is evil.
White people are racist by nature they can’t help it; it’s in their DNA so don’t be surprised by it but surprised when their not. You see their only claim to fame is lying, cheating and stealing this is a fact not my opinion not to mention WHITE PRIVILEGE AMERIKKKAN STYLE, LOL. I not a complainer, I actually like being the underdog because your strong and confident by nature so their actually making us better then you thought we were. I’ll conclude with this, they can’t compete with us on a consistent level and everybody knows this that’s why they try so hard to keep us out because when the playing field is even they disappear (come on you know I’m right, just look around) again WHEN THE PLAYING FIELD IS EVEN THE BLACKS WIN and sometimes it doesn’t have to be even and we still win.
P.S Too bad for white men with their little ****s and wet dog odor their women are crossing over in record numbers and sooner or later their be extinct. MIXED BABIES RELATE WITH BLACKS BECAUSE THEY OF THE SMART*LONG TERM BENEFITS
nothing should take away from what the Williams sisters have accomplished – personally, and for tennis. regardless of what we may think of them, they remain champions and legends.
hatred is inevitable in a society as diverse as ours, but the triumph lies not in finding reasons to lash out at each other (there are plenty of those) but in finding reasons to reach out to one another.