Venus Williams Wins Wimbledon, And Hardly Anyone Applauds Her…
Sunday, July 8, 2007Posted in: Venus Williams, Wimbledon Champion
For any of you guys out there who watched the women’s final, did you notice that the crowd hardly clapped when Venus beat Bartoli? What was that about?
It’s all very well supporting the underdog, but what’s wrong with giving props to an unbelievable player, especially one who wasn’t expected to do anything this year?
This is why we Brits are so poor at every sport, our Support The Loser Attitude sucks great big hairy donkey balls.
Then again, there is the British obsession with blonde, lithe, ‘beautiful’ looking women tennis players. I still remember the poor response that Venus got when she played against Anna Kournikova all those years ago, Venus actually cried too.
The British crowd spent years supporting Anna based on her looks alone, even though it was quite obvious, that she was very average, as far as her tennis was concerned.
Come to think of it, neither Serena, or Venus get a good reception at the French Open either. The crowd over there don’t even pretend to be polite.
Hmmm…
Arin Rhys
July 8
9:44 am
Venus is an amazing athlete, but she also looks like 50 cent in a dress which is not a problem because she is playing tennis and not in a beauty contest.
Its sad that even in sports, its all about how you look.
Angela
July 8
9:48 am
I’m generally not the type to cheer for someone solely because they are black, but after hearing about the racism Serena experienced in Australia (or was it France?) last year, I was whooping it up as Venus whooped Maria Sharapova on the 4th of July.
And Arin, it isn’t about sports, it’s about women. Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, and Monica Seles weren’t much to look at but they never received the intense focus on and scrutiny of their physical appearance Venus and Serena have experienced.
Scott
July 8
11:37 am
Well, I for one was cheering for Venus to win. And as for rooting for the underdog, in many respects Venus WAS the underdog yesterday.
My wife noticed that the crowd wasn’t getting as rowdy as it usually does a few points before a player can win the Championship. I was think it was due to it not being a very exciting match. But for whatever reason, it’s a shame that people didn’t recognize a great accomplishment that they just witnessed.
Shelly @ Bewitched
July 8
1:11 pm
I just thought the response was because of her over confident attitude. I watched the pre-stuff and thought, “Well, aren’t we the humble one?” and rooted for Bartoli (what little I ended up watching). There has always been something about the Williams sisters that has turned me off (and no it’s not their skin color). Just like I wasn’t all that excited about rooting for Federer either. You can be good at what you do and still be somewhat humble.
I always thought it was funny the way AK had such a following when she really wasn’t that great….she just looked great in a tennis outfit.
Alex Adams
July 8
1:53 pm
What a bunch of lousy sports they were! Venus trains and works her ASS off, and she looks healthy to boot. It’s a shame that people weren’t more supportive and happier for her. Some people forget: this is her dream and she’s living it. Go Venus!
Eve Vaughn
July 8
3:53 pm
I think the William sisters are the sh*t. Considering their humble beginnings and what they’ve endured on and off the tennis court, I root for them each time. I think they’re the epitome of the America dream. They came from the rough streets of Compton and are now two of the most recognized athletes in the world. Personally I don’t see anything wrong with the way they talk themselves up, considering how no one else will. Look at John McEnroe, he was a jackass on the court but people still liked him. Why the double standard?
Marianne McA
July 8
7:04 pm
That all passed me by – though the finals were about all I watched this year.
So no, I didn’t notice a lack of clapping, nor them talking themselves up when they’re interviewed. I’ve always thought of them as really polite, though they don’t do false modesty. Which I like.
You didn’t see Serena on the Jonathan Ross show?
If there’s reincarnation, I want to come back looking like her.
sallahdog
July 8
7:25 pm
Personally I don’t see anything wrong with the way they talk themselves up, considering how no one else will. Look at John McEnroe, he was a jackass on the court but people still liked him. Why the double standard?
Men can get away with a lot more asshatted behavior than women.. Women are still supposed to be demure and falsely humble… I was a tennis fan back in the McEnroe days, believe me, he used to get booed when he won sometimes, people rooted for him to lose.. I think its sad that Venus and Serena don’t get the props they should (and they did here in the US last time I watched a match). Those girls I am sure, are crying all the way to the bank (ok, couldn’t resist that)
roslynholcomb
July 8
7:44 pm
Venus looks like 50 Cent? Seriously? Venus Williams of the long, gazelle-like limbs and the bone structure I would literally give a kidney for?
This ranks right up there with the folk who say Serena looks like a man. Makes me wonder what drag club y’all have been hanging out in. With all that tits and ass she looks like many things, but certainly no man I’ve ever seen or would ever want to see.
Just like the Rutgers women, the Williams sisters have fallen prey to same racist misogyny that permeates this culture. If they were white and looked like members of the Fingers Down the Throat club it would be all good. But since they look and act like what they are, smart, powerful women they are scoffed and maligned. What’s worse, much of the denigration comes from other women. Hardly surprising. As usual, we’re our own worst enemy.
wendy
July 8
10:00 pm
Angela–racism is alive and well in Australia, so I could readily believe Venus was treated badly here.
Karen–Australian crowds are different from your crowds in that ours start out behind the underdog (look! up in the sky; is it a bird? is it a frog?) and when it becomes apparent that the other person is going to win, they change sides.
bettie
July 8
10:33 pm
I second Roslyn. The Williams sisters have both got curves to spare. Black women have been refuting western culture’s charges of masculinity since Sojourner Truth said, “Ain’t I a woman?”. She was almost six feet tall. Venus is 6′ 0.5″. I’ve noticed that “manly” is the word people tend to throw out whenever they want to insult a tall woman. Usually these are shorter men and women who seem to want to punish us for being so visibly “uppity”.
Another thought: I have often wondered if much of Europe’s reaction to the Williams sisters is due to cultural differences or anti-Americanism. Serena and Venus had a very American rise to fame in that they are outsiders who rose from humble beginnings to the very top of a stereotypically “upper-class” sport. Their self-hype is also classically American. Perhaps this attitude strikes a nerve with more reserved cultures?
But here’s the thing: Muhammed Ali said, “I am the greatest!” and the world loved him for it. There’s never as much love for female athletes who say the same thing, even when they prove it on the court.
Lynne Simpson
July 9
1:27 am
The Williams sisters are GODDESSES. Period. I hate it that people treat them badly.
Scott
July 9
1:30 am
Well, I don’t know about Serena, but I certainly feel that Venus could be considered a goddess, and not just because of her name. ; )
She is a beautiful woman, no matter how tall she is or how much she ways. (And she has a killer smile, too!)
Scott
July 9
1:32 am
And forgive my misspelled word. (Ways instead of weighs.) But when thinking about an attractive woman, what do you expect for a guy?
Jenn
July 9
2:00 am
I have always thought the Williams sisters have a lot of class in the midst of loads of criticism. I always thought they were booed in France because they are Americans but there is definitely racism in the works even here in the States when they play. I think they are both beautiful women.
Jenn
July 9
2:36 am
Venus a sugar momma!? Are they kidding?
http://larrybrownsports.com/2007/07/02/venus-williams-is-hank-kuehnes-sugar-momma/
Anonymous
July 9
1:05 pm
Shelly @ bewitched…
Roger Federer is quite a humble person according to many many Swiss. He’s KNOWN here to be Forthcoming towards his fans, generous etc. I honestly believe what we’re seeing is ENVY at work at Wimbledon. The British are KNOWN to have a terrible case of this disease and don’t let it be an “overly confident person of colour!”. Well, suck it up and get over yourselves. Venus Rocks and Wins!!!! YAY!!!
Anonymous
July 9
1:06 pm
…oops, Karen, that was me above, Chandra.
Dalia
July 9
1:47 pm
I never understand the ‘Roger Federer is humble’ line.
The man wears a suit on court. Whenever he loses it’s because he was ‘tired’ or it wasn’t his ‘day’.
He doesn’t trust players – Nadal make three good line calls on Sunday and Roger challenged two of them. Does he think Nadal would lie in front of mankind and HawkEye?
As for Venus: I think players and fans alike don’t like how the Williams sisters don’t put tennis as their ‘all’; as their ‘number one’ and still go out and win slams. They lose too…but it’s always the winning that’s important.
I find their comments a bit too much to handle as well but I don’t have to listen to more comments about my ‘man-face’ than my skill with a racquet.
I also don’t have to constantly defend my desire to win against my desire to have a life outside of tennis. So whatever.
I’m glad Venus won. As a big sister, I know how it is when the little ones surpass you in anything – Venus and Serena are close but I’ll never forget her face when Serena won that first Slam.
Emma
July 9
3:43 pm
I’ve always thought of them as really polite, though they don’t do false modesty. Which I like.
Me, too! They’re kickass athletes and simply because they’re also women doesn’t mean that they have to talk themselves down in a manner that is patently false. After all, a big part of competition is psyching yourself up. Why would we expect them to forego this important strategy in order to meet some archaic standard for femininity?
Grr. Venus rocks. Y’know, though, I’ve got little patience for the Wimbledon crowd anyway. I was there in 2001 when local boy Henman was taken down by Ivanisevic, and the booing was just appalling. Cheer for your fave, but why BOO the opponent? I thought Brits were all into sportsmanship and the like?
I also like the Venus once refused to cursty to the royalty box. 🙂
Anonymous
July 9
3:59 pm
To the person who said Venus looks like 50 Cent… In your dreams..
http://images.zap2it.com/20050630/venuswilliams_serenawilliams_forreal_240.jpg
These are beautiful, fit black women who are filthy rich.. A nightmare to a suburbanite, I’m sure.
Barbara B.
July 9
5:33 pm
Arin maybe you should do a side by side comparison of 50 Cent and Venus. Venus is dark skinned, tall, and in peak physical condition. That’s the only things those two have in common in my eyes. In MY eyes she’s beautiful. Yet I know some people have trouble seeing beauty in black women. Particularly a dark skinned one like Venus. Maybe you’re one of them. At any rate you’ve strayed into the realms of the ridiculous.
B
July 9
7:33 pm
I actually got introduced to the joys of tennis at a friend’s while she was watching Serena’s last match. She was very enthusiastic about it and I got caught up with her enthusiasm. She loves Serena and Venus…
I’m so sad I didn’t catch the women’s final. I love the way Venus plays and I love that two sisters are world class players!
I’m really depressed at the idea that racism exists in sports. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was in football or some such, but… tennis?
Teddy Pig
July 9
9:22 pm
Well, we have not stopped talking about her around here. She is AMAZING!
Jenn
July 9
9:37 pm
Barbara I have been an avid tennis watcher for years and yes it can be very cutthroat especially for the Williams sister. I admire them even more for all the attitude they got from the other female tennis players through the years and they have been booed at many places but still held themselves with grace. It used to be mainly an uppercrust sport. I have seen where they were compated to gorillas so being compared to 50 cents is nothing new and I cannot imagine how anyone else could have been more gracious than they have.
Barbara B.
July 9
11:35 pm
Jenn, I’ve seen those comparisons to gorillas, too. Usually the men who make the comments are shocked when racism is suggested. This morning I read a comment by a guy who said that a 6’0 tall, 200 pound woman should be playing against the male tennis players. I wonder if he also thought Gabrielle Reece at 6’3, 160 pounds should have played against the male volley ball players. I somehow doubt it.
Emily Veinglory
July 10
2:49 am
I think they are stunning. But after seeing a lot off me, me, me interviews pushing their clothing line etc I did stop having warm fuzzy feelings about them. I’d clap politely, but that’s about it.
shiloh walker
July 10
3:02 am
I don’t watch sports much, but I’m familiar enough with the Williams’ sisters.
i’d give my right arm to look how they do. But I don’t want to work for it, lol… which is probably why I’m decidely chubby.
I’m not sure why somebody would say either of them look masculine. They got muscle definition, sure, but that’s not a mark of looking like a man.
Angelle Trieste
July 10
5:17 am
I liked the way Venus played. I was happy she won.
As for the looks-factor, I say Venus looked so much better than the Bartoli chick, who is just too chubby to conform to the typical western standards. Besides, Venus looks lean, strong and feminine. I don’t know why some people hate that.
Julia
July 10
6:27 pm
Is it Racism or anti-Americanism? Hmmm….
Emily Veinglory
July 11
1:56 am
I don’t think it is anti-American when the more in-your-face US approach goes down badly with a Wimbledon crowd. At Wimbledon one is meant to go ‘aw shucks’ and attribute any success to luck whether you mean it or not.
Sarah McCarty
July 11
12:44 pm
I wouldn’t say that accusing a successful woman athlete of looking like a man was racism. That old sexist chestnut of a put down has been around so long, it has to rank up there with the most tiresome of cliches.
The bottom line is a woman does not have to be frail or fragile, or soft and plump to be beautiful or sexy. They can be well proportioned, physically fit women who excel at their sport without sacrificing one ounce of their femininity.
Nathalie
July 12
5:10 pm
Damn, the gremlins ate my first post. Sorry if an exact copy pops up later on.
About the French and Ms. Williams (can’t remember which sister). A couple of years ago, during a post-match interview, she parodied the French accent and made some comment about France being too busy making clothes than going to war in Iraq. Since they were pretty much in ruins barely 60 years ago from WWII, I doubt they took it well. I think French audiences’ lukewarm attitude to Ms. Williams has much more to do with that comment than her nationality or skin tone (which is gorgeous, by the way…who says she looks like a guy?!?!). The Williams sisters make tennis look good!
Rowena
July 13
9:23 pm
My friend lives down the street from the park in Compton where Venus and Serena learned how to play tennis, I know her win was a big deal in Compton, I was there and the fireworks were going off like crazy and people were chanting her name up and down the block!
<a href="http://phentermine1.eamped.com">Phentermine</a>
August 18
10:01 am
Thanks for interesting article.