Listen Live

Serena is 44-3 at the U.S. Open since 2008, a mark which includes four dominant title wins, but yet, this week, I read a column in USA Today that claims that Serena is a sore loser.

When does the hating end?

Richard Williams, the brilliant Southern-born father/coach of the Williams sisters, told CNN that he moved his young family from Michigan to the city of Compton in the early 1980s, and the problem of racism in society has been a constant issue as his daughters have risen to prominence as tennis champions.

“I think it hasn’t changed that much at all (since I was a kid) — matter of fact it may have gotten worse, I don’t know … but I don’t think it’s changed that much,” he told CNN.

“Venus changed tennis altogether, period,” Richard said. “Venus was not accepted when she first came onto the scene. Not at all. She changed this sport. Venus and Serena made things so different, they raised the bar.”

CNN reminded readers that the entire Williams family took a now-infamous stand against racism when Serena was verbally abused during the final at Indian Wells in 2001. Neither Serena nor Venus played at the California tournament again until this year, when Serena returned for a match.

“The whole crowd turned against her,” Richard recalled to CNN about the ugly incident.

But, he added, “In order to be successful, you must prepare for the unexpected.”

In my view,  Richard Williams doesn’t get enough credit for  turning his daughters into global tennis sensations.

So as that one hateful utterance at the U.S. Open last week still rings in my head, I’m hopeful that the hatred toward Serena subsides for the sake of society.

But, ultimately, my ever-astute Aunt Jean is probably right: I just need to let it go.

 

Like BlackAmericaWeb.com on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.

 

Why I Will Always Root For Serena Williams  was originally published on blackamericaweb.com

« Previous page 1 2