Is Serena Bringing Down Venus' Legacy?

Fantastic read and so very true. I was one of those many who chimed in on your last article about Serena. And I would hope I didn’t make it sound as if I put both of these women in the same category. Venus Williams is consummate professional who carries herself with grace and deportment always respectful of her opponents and to the public. These sisters are almost like a comic book. There is Venus Williams and then there is BIZARO Williams. One a beautiful athlete who you would be proud to have your children emulate and then the other a spoiled petulant brat. You quoted Venus It's great to be a part of history. I already am. If I can step it up a notch, it will be even more of an honor." That’s how Venus thinks. Serena thinks its we who should feel honored to watch her play and her opponents who should be honored to be on the court with her.

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I agree with Thomas 1000%. Venus is far the woman that Serena is. And these people that put them together are completely wrong as far as their graciousness to other players. Serena could take lessons from Venus.

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I'll share this with you. I was a host for the Federation cup in Delray Beach in 2007. USA vs Belgium women Women's Tournament. Along with making the women feel comfortable and take them where they needed to go in 15 passenger van, I was their armed bodyguard. You are right on the money about Serena; she had a chip on her shoulder the entire week towards everyone. She would not drive in the bus with the other Americans, but rather drove with her sister and her little dog in her black Caddilac Escalade. The Belgium team asked why Serena seemed so angry. Here's what will surprise you. Venus has a million dollar smile agreed, but a few times, after she was introduced with the Belgium player and they shook hands, Venus would mumble under her breath as she walked away, gonna beat your a$$, bitch! I too was surprised, but she did it more than once. As an American I was embarrassed. At the end of the day, when I walked Venus to where she had to go, there was no thank you, no smile. It pains me to say that she is a fraud.....excellent tennis player buy a big phony who has learned how to charm with her outward smile, but it seems that her inner person has much hatred.

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I agree with your assessment about Venus though I like both Venus has more graciousness about her than Serena. Let's remember, athleticism can take you so far but coupled with character, graciousness, charm and beauty as well as humility you have a true winner.

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Amazing, Karl, someone who is willing to talk about that side of venus. Too bad so many people on here will brand you a hater or worse, a racist, because you made a negative comment about their heroine. Many people over the last few years have commented about how much of a spoiled brat serena is. Interesting to hear from someone who witnessed venus acting in such a negative manner.

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Just the fact that when Venus does lose she actually mentions the skill of her opponent makes her several steps above Serena in class. You say sometimes Serena mentions her opponent, I have never seen it, I have only seen the o I am just bad today, they suck, I am totally better BS she spews. Sometimes maybe she is just having an off day, but others she is just beat by someone better prepared and wanting to win. Do I just need to mention the whole Safina is not number one deal? After saying that she lost, lost, lost, and if I recall Safina at least made the final of the last two majors.

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No class father .... apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I think they have had to learn grace on their own without a role model... it is a hard thing to learn without a mentor that values it.

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Sieben, whether or not you believe me does not matter at all to me or have any bearing on the truth. You are making poor excuses for bad behavior which will only prolong the same behavior. If you mentioned how poorly and unfairly the GREAT Hank Aaron was treated in the late 50's and 60's and had to ride an all black bus, you'd have some merit with your arguement,and credibility with me, but black or brown skin people have been treated with respect for several decades now but because of their hateful parents that were not slaves either and people like you and so many others that rationalize that behavior, they walk around with a "chip" (see Serina). Sieben, look in the crowd the next time you watch tennis or basketball or sporting event (Charles Barkley) and tell me who is giving all players white and black/brown the opportunity to live like kings & queens and enjoy the status and power that comes with it. Would you say they are mostly non black/brown skinned people spending BIG money? My father is from Yugoslavia and his parents and ancestors were also slaves (slave comes from the word slavic) with concentration numbers tatooed on their body FOREVER!!!. They came to the "Land of Opportunity", learned to speak, read and write the English language, worked their butt off, took care of their offspring and acclimated to the culture. No expectations of handouts from the government or anyone else! Stop making false accusations against me or anyone else when their behavior is not appropriate. You are doing more harm to them than anyone. Both girls are tremendous tennis players, but have ZERO reason to hate anyone. They are living better than 99% of the world's population.

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Sieben,

All I know is that your dignity cannot be taken away from you.... you must give it.

While they had a harder life coming up than I did, they cannot give away their dignity.

Tiger woods has class and dignity, and he grew up black in what could be argued an even more classically white sport... so I refute your arguement outright. They need to learn class, dignity and respect for the game and their opponents.

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We can only hope.

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Sieben, It is my belief that you are the person in denial if you don't think this is the Land of Opportunity for all. (see Oprah Winfrey, Barack Obama, to name a few) The fact that the William sisters have the money & power to influence a US election if they chose to is prima facia evidence that our fight against racism has made great progress. I am first generation caucasian Yugoslavic American, have a 4 year degree and risked my life as a police officer for 24 years and I do not have that kind of influence and I still have to work to feed my family. Slavery is wrong THAT IS OBVIOUS; to reitterate, my relatives came to visit from the former Yugoslavia and I saw their concentration camp numbers still tatooed into their flesh from the Hitler regeme! I have not seen any ink on ANY of the aforementioned Williams family. The point here is to learn from history and forgive, no? I received more venim from brown and black colored people as an officer,than any other ethnic group so does that mean all colored people are bad and that I should have a chip around that race/ Or should I hate every German because they killed my great granfather by shooting him in the head while he was handcuffed?. Heavens no! We as civilized Americans, if not humans have to learn to forgive or we will never truly be UNITED STATES. Additionally, if truth be told institutionilized slavery began in the 7th century with BLACK Muslims selling other BLACK people/slaves and sending them to the Middle East. North America, out of the continents, abused the horrific practice of slavery less than anyone (not a justification by any means), but why then do Americans with white skin get blamed for slavery when in fact it was much more of a BLACK AFRICAN way of life and STILL practiced in many parts of the world! Tell me what other country treats "people of color" better than the capatalist society of the USA? Immigrants that came from Africa do not need sympathy, welfare or pity. They need solid mentors in their communities that preach the importance of strong family, fathers that stay the course, education, and Godly values. It's exactly how the Jewish people remained strong despite the deadly atrocities that have fallen on them. If you look at some of the people of color that have found success you will find that recipe for success. Lastly, why do athletes like Tiger Woods, Michael Jordon, Donovan McNabb, to name a few, seem to not have the same anger towards there country that the Williams family does? How have they reconciled their distant ancestory's misfortunes......the answer is the same way my father and I and millions of other immigrants that were brutalized, tortured or treated less than human..... Forgivenss; Amen

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This just goes to show that people in the same family can be different. Study birth order and you will learn why people do what they do. I am surprised Serena can play Tennis at all. As thick as she is. She wins and that's great. The sisters have won and they have been true to their sport. It's about time they move on to doing something else. I don't want to see them losing to younger players because it's going to happen. Leave on top or close to the top. Both sisters have earned their respect.

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I read your two articles about the William sisters and here is my take on it from a female black American point of view. They have and always will be compared but I find your impression of Serena to be a tad culturally insensitive. Serena did not choose her body type. There have been other female tennis players in the past who have not been in the best shape, e.g., Jennifer Caprioti who has not been singled out for their body type. Venus personally of the two sisters has always been the favorite for me because of her demeanor and less need for the spotlight. I do however after reading your view and the article comments find some of the adjectives that describe Serena culturally offensive. Venus and Tiger Woods have to the broader "white middle class" structure similar traits and characteristics that make them more appealing. Serena is flashier. Her body type and choice of clothing, acquaintances (ex boyfriend rapper Common) may for your demographic make her a bit hard to swallow. Her weight to the majority of African Americans (150 lbs.) is not obese nor out of shape. Culturally African Americans tend to be larger in body mass. She has always had a larger frame but still has continued to dominate this sport. I am not calling you racist or your readers but take a bit more time to reflect on your comments and see where I am coming from with all do respect.

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Sieben, first, the word is ACCEPT, not except, totally different meanings. Second, you prove my point by referring to Karl and the media as haters. If you were to say you did not care for Stefi Graff or Sharapova, would we be right to call you a hater? Third, dick williams is as racist as a person can be, he has admitted more than one time in interviews, "I have always hated the white man, and always will." This is a man who told his wife shortly after they got married, "Let's make our children professional tennis players. "They moved from California to Michigan and back in less than two years, they could have afforded to live somewhere beside Compton, but chose to live there, possibly because it was cheaper than other places they could have lived, or, possibly because their racist father just wanted them surrounded by other negroes.
They don't play at Indian Wells because serena was booed after venus withdrew minutes before their semi-final match, a match the fans dearly wanted to see. They get booed at the French Open, but still play there. serena admitted to tanking her first round match at an FO tune-up. Why? She would have had to pay a fine of $72,000 if she had not played and that was her furniture budget for the remodeling of her house so she could not afford to pay the fine, betted to just quit the match.
The list goes on and on.

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