Make You Wanna HOLLA: Why Isn’t The Story – Serena Williams Is Going For Grand Slam #19?

Watching ESPN just now, coverage of the Australian Open, and the verbiage is all about age – “Serena is the oldest player to reach an Aussie final.” Falderal! Serena Williams is on a history-making journey to surpass her compatriots, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova , in the elite 18 Grand Slam club. And she is only one win away from doing just that.

Why then has this part of her competing in the 2015 grand slam down under been on mute? Simply unbelievable to me. Seems the greater Serena’s achievements the harder the media, specifically the US tennis media, attempts to devalue her greatness. They remain stuck on the power narrative when it comes to her. Will they ever acknowledge what they see when watching Serena play? She is a most intelligent player, which enables her to strategize and win? Overlooking Serena’s continuing dominance in her sport is plain out perplexing.

While in America the chat is all about “the changing of the guard”. It only took the World #1 two straight sets[7-6 (5), 6-2] in her match against fellow American Madison Keys to restore order and shut down that talking point.(Avenging her sister’s loss to Keys at the same time!) ShoutOut to Serena for her encouraging words to Madison after the match. [WATCH VIDEO]

Now I am thrilled for the rising young and obviously talented Keys who reached her first Grand Slam semifinal. That she is projected to make her top 20 debut is fantastic. Under new coach Lindsay Davenport I only expect continuing progress in her development.

Here me well now, I don’t begrudge her media attention, but it should not overshadow what winning this final means for Serena and history!  And at same time it should not make Serena’s elder sister Venus an after thought as she will move up the rankings after this Grand Slam to maybe as high as top 10.

Truth is the Williams sisters, top two American women in the game, are not products of the USTA. Father Richard Williams chose, wisely as time has proven, not to put his child prodigies Venus and Serena under their tutelage. Could that fact possibly be at work here in what appears to be an eagerness to see a “Changing of the Guard?”

ESPN and the USTA are contractually bound at the hip and therefore responsible parties in what I see as disrespectful treatment of the Williams sisters. Maybe it’s because the USTA is so desperate for legitimacy; with its failure in producing top tennis players that it experienced under the many years of Patrick McEnroe’s leadership? (Must have been one hellova contract that still keeps him in the booth at ESPN Tennis as a talking head!)

Venus and Serena remain perfect examples of positivity; no matter what swirls in the media. Most endearing to me is their close bond, it’s as if they understood that it would always indeed be them against the world!

And in the case of Serena it is astonishing to watch her transform her steadfast belief that she is the greatest – in match after match –where she mentally constructs a strategy, then physically delivers play, resulting in the defeat of whomever is on the other side of the net!

Serena Williams talks to Chris Evert Source: espn.go.com

In her December interview with Chris Evert, Serena said she was hard at work fine tuning movement and improving her serve; and when asked about Graf’s record of #22 grand slams, she said she  was going to go for the gusto this year.

                                                              Click Here for Interview→http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12190332]

And aren’t we the lucky ones, Serena does the hard work of fending off those attempting to dethrone her…and all we have to do is watch!

Now the Australian Open gets the sexy championship final match it was probably hoping for with Maria Sharapova versus Serena. Now Sharapova has lost every encounter with Serena since the 2004 Wimbledon. And again I fear the lead story will be all about the fighter coming for Serena and not Serena going for her 19th Grand Slam!

Let’s talk a bit more about history-making and grand slams; Serena has only lost four times in finals.  This has her currently tied with Martina Navratilova (18-14) and Chris Evert (18-16) at fourth all-time. Beating Sharapova would place her alongside Helen Wills Moody (19-3), and behind only Margaret Smith Court (24-5) and Steffi Graf (22-9). That Williams continues her climb up the record accomplishments in women’s tennis at the age of 33 is beyond amazing, and  frankly, my dear, I’m out of superlatives…OK.

Meanwhile as the tennis season continues I’ll be watching another game that’s being played – the Dodge-Ball game the tennis media is playing as Serena Williams continues her pursuit of Grand Slam #19 and beyond.  Go get #19 Serena and let all the other damn games continue, then…LOL! ‘-)

submitted by guest blogger @BlackPearlMoi

ESPN Should Hire Katrina Adams

Join my campaign to convince ESPN to Hire Katrina Adams                 

Thank you Tennis Channel for including Katrina Adams on your Talent Team!

Message to ESPN – HIRE KATRINA ADAMS – Diversify Tennis Commentators

Hopeful ESPN will add Katrina Adams. She is a fantastic broadcaster on the Tennis Channel. I just sent my recommendation to ESPN. Asking you to do the same.

CONTACT ESPN: It’s easy! Go to http://proxy.espn.go.com/espn/contact. Once there complete form like so: CATEGORY-TV Sports Event Coverage. ITEM-Tennis (other). TOPIC-Commentator/Announcer.

Why Katrina Adams? She is a terrific broadcaster, poised, articulate, sound tennis knowledge and she looks great on camera. In addition Katrina compiled a respectable record while on tour. And most importantly, she will bring a significant difference to the ‘look’ of the broadcast/analyst team!  

What Venus said about Missing Asian Tour

Without Venus and Serena on the scene for the remainder of the season is really tough on this tennis fan. The Williams Sisters Rock!  Now on the women’s side it’s back to that ping-pong mess – I’ll hit the ball to you, then you hit it back to me, and then I’ll hit it again back to you! Pleggonit!  Anyway good news, reports are that Venus has announced her intention to play the Australian Open.

Venus withdrew from the US Open prior to her second round match; after announcing she’s been diagnosed with the auto-immune disorder, Sjorgen’s Syndrome.  Prayerful the treatment available for this disorder (there is no cure) enables Venus a healthy return to the game.  How soon?  Hopefully in January when she travels down under!

Below Venus expresses regret about missing play in the Far East!

It’s a pity that I have to skip Pan Pacific Open in Japan and the China Open. I’ve always enjoy those tournaments in Asia. 

SOURCE: China Daily

 

Tennis Commentators I’d Like to Throw Rocks at

I’ve been watching the fall tour and thinking how great it is NOT having to hear the same ole tired and opinionated voices droning on and on ad nauseum…especially the two in photos above!

Shriver is the nightmare that ESPN keeps forcing folk to relive; and thanks to the Tennis
Channel and CBS so is Carillo!

Oops I forgot to include these ole hags

Donald Young Rocks Too: Beats Monfils

Williams Sisters Rock and so did Donald Young against Gael Monfils in Thailand.  Rock on Donald!

Young wins thriller to reach first final in Bangkok

AP – Saturday, October 1, 2011

BANGKOK (AP)—American Donald Young advanced to his first ATP Tour title, rallying to beat second-seeded Gael Monfils 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) on Saturday in the Thailand Open. The 55th-ranked Young trailed 4-1 in the final set before rallying to draw even at 4-4. He won the match on the Frenchman’s eighth double fault. “Lately in the big matches that I’ve won, I’ve been down,” the 22-year-old Young said. “I just tried to fight and not give up. It paid dividends at the end of match.” Young will face top-seeded Andy Murray or Gilles Simon in the final. “It’s going to be tough either person I play,” Young said. “Hope I go out there and have a good match.”

The Frenchman Gael Monfils is a superb athlete, with mad tennis skills – explosive and expressive.  His parents come from the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. I have long been a big fan of his!  He also has great dance moves and did a smooth ‘Dougie’ after winning a match in Canada during the run-up to the US Open!  Of course the television tennis commentators had no idea what the dance move was, it was quite funny listening to them try and describe it!  Betcha Monfils remains stunned that the Donald Young he just faced has put his game and confidence in his game together.  That last time they met the Frenchman took Donald Down!  Trust me Monfils will win another day – not the day of October 1st!

Serena: What To Give A Beauty and A Birthday Girl Who Has It All

Thinking? Thinking? Thinking?  How to best send out “Birthday Wishes” to a beautiful, ambitious, multi-talented person, internationally renown tennis champion; and, someone who loves her family dearly? So I say to myself – Self – Just Say It!

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! “

And thank you for being an inspiration to women around the world – showing us and helping us to believe that all things are possible!  You have achieved great heights; and shown strength and faith as you endured your recent life threatening experience! You remain humble, fun-loving, a tennis fashion icon and one who gives back to the world community through your service endeavors.  And congratulations Birthday Girl on being selected the new International Ambassador for UNICEF.  phenomenal!

Celebrate your 30th Birthday in grand ‘DIVA’ style.  After all, you and Venus brought the Style to tennis that made me a fan of the game – the power game, the vibrant colorful and fabulously designed tennis outfits – rocking earrings, braids and beads on the court – and bringing some much needed diversity to the WTA!  Heeeeeey!

I NEED YOUR HELP BLOG READERS

It’s time for some Serena-Birthday-Fun….besides the BOMB body, I did some searching around for some facts you may not know about Serena!  Inviting all readers to share other tidbits about the Life of Serena to this Blog in the Comment Section at the bottom of this Blog. Help me make necessary changes, edits and revisions.  Hopeful we can collectively celebrate and continue to send the love on this special day – Happy Birthday Serena!

Birth Name: Serena Jameka Williams

Birthdate: September 26, 1981

Place Of Birth: Saginaw, Michigan

Star Sign: Libra

Designer Clothing Label:  Aneres, her first name spelled backward

Birth Order:  Youngest of five girls

Awesome Accomplishment:  25 January 2003, won the Australian Open completing the ‘grand slam’ of women’s tennis

Career Grand Slam: Beat her older sister, ‘Venus Williams’, to win the 2002 French Open, 2002 Wimbledon, 2002 US Open & the 2003 Australian Open. By doing so, she joined ‘Martina Navratilova’ , ‘Steffi Graf’ , Margaret Court and ‘Maureen Connolly’ as the only women to have won four Grand Slam titles in a row.

 Favorite Tennis Player: Pete Sampras

Favorite Color: Pink

Favorite Author: Maya Angelou

Most Memorable Experience: Winning Wimbledon in 2002

Self-described as: Very humorous with a great personality

Favorite place to visit: Italy

Won 1st Grand Slam: In 1999 at Australian Open, beating sixth seed Irina Spirlea

Gold Medal:  At the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney

Likes to listen: Mariah Carey and Brandy.

Residence: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA

Hobbies: Surfing, watching movies, football, skateboarding, playing guitar, reading, acting, talking on the phone, and spending time with family and friends.

Graduated 1999:  Williams graduated from high school in 1999, private school Driftwood Academy

Age Turned Pro:  In 1995, at age fourteen.

1st Year as WTA Competitor:  1997

Outside of Tennis: Acting roles on television

Olympic Gold: a gold medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia

Inviting all readers to submit other interesting tidbits about the life of Serena in the
Comment Section at the bottom of this Blog Page.

US OPEN SCHEDULING – PUT SERENA’S BACK AGAINST THE WALL

I didn’t get to sleep until like 4:30-ish,” Serena Williams said. “I definitely think that’s not the best way to plan for the final, so yeah, it was [hard]. It’s definitely tough when you go to bed at 4.”

After Serena Williams’ stunning loss in the U.S. Open women’s final yesterday, with Samantha Stosur pulling off a 6-2, 6-3 upset, Williams’ father, Richard, didn’t blame the chair umpire’s decision to penalize his daughter for yelling during a game point. Instead, he told The Post it was a late night, poor USTA scheduling and her own stubborn streak that cost her a title.

Williams appeared lethargic and weary-legged in getting run ragged by an unheralded Australian who hadn’t won a single tournament this year. The way the USTA chose to reschedule after last week’s rainouts, Williams played three straight days while the men were spared that fate, with their final slated for today.

Stosur had to deal with the same hardship, but her Saturday semifinal was much earlier. Williams’ match didn’t start until 10:11 p.m, and finished almost at midnight, as she was extended to 6-4 in the second set by world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki. And while Venus Williams politely declined comment, Richard said fatigue contributed.

“I just think Serena was tired,” Richards Williams said, which his daughter acknowledged. “She played a long match [Saturday] night, 6-4 second set. She didn’t start, didn’t get out there until after 10 o’clock. She didn’t get back until after 2 o’clock in the morning, get to sleep until after 4 in the morning.”

She still insisted on hitting the practice court hard yesterday — too hard, according to her father.

“She was already tired and wore herself out at practice,” said her father, who has been very philosophical about just being happy to have his daughter alive following her pulmonary embolism earlier this year. “I was telling her to come off the court and she wouldn’t. Stosur played [Saturday], too, but her match was so much earlier. She played well, but Serena was just dead tired.”

“The scheduling was bad. They talked about the men playing three days in a row, but what about the women? So the scheduling — and not listening — is why she lost.”

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/tennis/richard_daughter_was_tired_Q4BVM7a9xBcDQoyBCV17BO#ixzz1YyZM0Eus

Venus Announces Syndrome – Patrick McEnroe Shows Stupidity

PATRICK McENROE INSENSITIVE IDIOT
I am watching ESPN2 the morning when Venus announces she is dropping out of the US Open and that she suffers from an auto-immune disorder.  Venus Williams pulled out of the U.S. Open shortly before her second-round match on Wednesday, saying she was diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease that causes fatigue and joint pain.

Almost dropped my coffee cup when Patrick McEnroe keeps announcing in giddy-like-fashion, we will be talking momentarily with Lisicki the player who would have faced Venus in the second round.  Finally the interview begins and McEnroe while interviewing her is raving on and on about how this situation will benefit Lisicki’s chances going forward in the US Open.  What an a$$-hole!   He should be thankful I did not drop my coffee, because I love my java in the morning.  Besides…all I needed was one more reason to dislike this poor excuse of a tennis commentator!

The only human decency came from Lisicki and kudos to the young woman for being a caring and graceful human being.  It took Lisiski to wish Venus a healthy recovery and a quick return to the game of tennis. “She’s a tough girl, and I think she’ll come back. You know, it would be unfortunate if she couldn’t,” Lisicki said. “I hope she comes back.”  Patrick McEnroe has long been a pompous twerp.  He acts so entitled; being big time Mr. Tennis Commentator and Mr. USTA highly paid employee with his only qualification being John McEnroe’s little brother. Guess we know why PMac loves living in America.

As far as his behavior and communications in that interview…all I have to say is “Some people simply have not been raised right!”

In closing here are comments from someone who has been raised properly…“So this, right now, I think will help me to feel grateful for everything that I have,” Venus said. “And at the same time it makes me want to get up and fight harder every single day.”

SERENA FINES USTA $92,000

Well she should be able too for the FOUL PLAY she was forced to endure during the 2004 US Open.  Serena hit a backhand well inside the sideline at deuce in the opening game of the third set that was called good by the lineswoman but overruled by umpire Mariana Alves.  Serena’s shot was clearly in!  How bad was that call – that umpire did not officiate any further matches at that year’s tournament.  And get this  – “I called Serena,” said Arlen Kantarian, the Chief Executive of Professional Tennis. “I apologized for the call, the overrule — which was a clear mistake — and told her how important she was to the U.S. Open, how she was a class act and how well she handled the situation last night.”

Tennis commentators continue to harp on the 2009 incident ad nauseum this year!  Perhaps Serena’s outburst had a little something to do with the injustice she suffered in 2004.  She questioned the umpire but received no recompensation and the point was given to her opponent.  At the end of the day Serena is suppose to be satisfied with that lame APOLOGY from the powers that be.

So hell fire five years later,  in 2009 she probably had a flashback!  Because in 2004 it wasn’t just the Umpire’s overrule of that one shot, but several other unfair calls by linesmen that the umpire most definitely did not overrule.  For sure that umpire deserved to have a ball stuffed down her throat!  Hell I would have, but then that’s why Serena is a champion and I am not.  The furor over the overrule and other linecalls that went against Williams in the match renewed calls for technology to be used  enabling players to question close decisions.  Those in the know in the tennis world even agree that this was the straw that broke the camel’s back – so the Challenge Rule was implemented with the Hawk Eye System to the Rescue.

Can a Sister get some Love for maintaining her composure after being the recipient of one of the worst calls in the history of the game?  Yes she can from this tennis fan!  As for the blind little asian lady who called those foot faults in 2009 – why did you go there –  with the “she threaten to kill me” comment to the USTA Officials?  Could it be you watch too much of The Wire or news reports about the Big Bad Boogey-Black Woman?  Video and audio of Serena clearly tells the story and that threat is no where in the audio.  ” I will F>>> you up” is a long way from the threat of murder!  Anyway I digress.

For more about that UNBELIEVABLE 2004 US Open incident, read on…

This was an intense quarterfinal matchbetween Jennifer Capriati and Serena.   Tough crowd for Serena under the lights at Flushing Meadows as Capriati, a New Yorker, had long been the darling of the New York crowd!  What should have been a match filled with great competitive tennis instead became a night ripe with drama, all to the detriment of Serena.

Let me describe the four crucial calls that went against Serena in the final set that should have been in her favor.  The first bad call came at deuce on Serena’s serve in the first game of the third set was clearly a ball that landed inside the line. Quite literally, it’s the worst call I’ve ever seen. Serena’s ball was good, the linesperson even called it in, so I have no idea why the umpire, Mariana Alves of Portugal, changed that call.

It was such a well contested match, there was so much drama, there was so many changes of momentum, it deserved better. Yes, it was an uneven match. Part of it was high quality, and parts of it lacked some luster. Most of all, it was just an unfortunate way to end a match. Asked about it afterwards, Capriati mistakenly said that it didn’t matter because Serena won the game anyway, but that isn’t the case since she did lose her serve in that first game and that put her behind at the outset of the final set.

I thought it was absolutely incredible how Serena kept her composure in that final set. Most especially on that first bad call, and I really don’t know how she did that. While you could tell she was upset, she behaved admirably l considering the significance of the moment. You could tell that Serena and Capriati thought that Serena’s shot was in since they moved to the other side of the court to play the next point.

Capriati being the fine upstanding sportsman that she is (Not) acknowledged to the umpire that the ball was in – NO she did not.  Other players have done so in such situations, Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors and even John McEnroe.  But Capriati whose claim to fame outside of tennis was a shoplifting charge and another of marijuana possession, just didn’t have honor in her resume of fame.  Anyway Capriati secured a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 win.  But Karma is a Bitch and she rightfully lost her next match!

After the match, Serena said she thought the umpire was temporarily insane.  Personally,  I think the umpire was temporarily blind if she couldn’t see the mistakes she was making on those calls.  Obviously five years later this Portugese umpire would reincarnate herself as a temporarily blind Asian lineswoman working the 2009 US Open.  Damn Serena some girls have all the luck! 😦

But that is not the end of the story.  Serena also commented in her post-match interview in 20 “I’d prefer she not umpire at my court anymore,” Williams said. “She’s obviously anti-Serena.”  And I’ll be damned if the woman was hired to officiate as umpire in 2010 in a match Serena played at Wimbledon.  Say what?  Well what Serena did was the classy thing her parents raised her to do – she played the match without comment to the past, and of course she won!  Yeah Serena Ms. Arlen Kantarian, the Chief Executive of Professional Tennis got it right the first time…“I called Serena and told her how important she was to the U.S. Open, how she was a class act and how well she handled the situation last night.”

Hey tennis commentators and sports writers how ’bout telling the whole story when you talk about Serena Williams owing the USTA/US OPEN more apologies.  Hell they imposed upon her the heftiest fine in the history of tennis.  You took the damn money now shut the hell up!   Give Serena that trophy for the 4th Time!

Venus Appearance on Good Morning America Thursday

Venus Says She Will:  ‘Absolutely will return from illness’

NEW YORK (AP & staff) — Venus Williams says she “absolutely” plans to return to tennis after she withdrew from the U.S. Open because of a recently diagnosed autoimmune disease.

Williams revealed Wednesday after pulling out of her second-round match that she had Sjogren’s syndrome, which can cause fatigue and joint pain.

“I think the best thing that could have happened for me this summer was to feel worse so I could feel better,” Williams said in an interview Thursday with ABC’s “Good Morning America.”  See interview here http://youtu.be/fsIfOLuCNRM

The seven-time Grand Slam champion said she’d had problems with stamina for several years, which she now believes were caused by Sjogren’s. It wasn’t until she developed more concrete symptoms in the last few months that she was diagnosed.

“Sjogren’s is something you live with your whole life,” Williams said. “The good news for me is now I know what’s happening after spending years not knowing. … I feel like I can get better and move on.”

She said she suffered from swelling, numbness and “debilitating” fatigue.

“It’s not that you don’t have energy; you just feel beat up,” the 31-year-old American said.

Williams said she initially thought of playing at the Open.

“OK, I could walk out on the court. I’m a tough woman. I’m a tough athlete. I’ve played through a lot of things,” she said. “But what kind of match it would be? It was a tough decision, but at the same time I’ve had to come to accept what I’m going through.”

Williams had cited a virus in withdrawing from hard-court tuneup tournaments after losing in the fourth round at Wimbledon in late June. She played for the first time in two months Monday, beating Vesna Dolonts 6-4, 6-3 in the first round in New York.

According to the Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation website, the disease is a chronic autoimmune illness in which white blood cells attack moisture-producing glands. Common symptoms include dry eyes and dry mouth. As many as 4 million Americans have the disease.

Despite all of her past success, including a brief stint at No. 1, Williams was unseeded at the U.S. Open. She’s fallen to 36th in the rankings after a year of little action. Since reaching the semifinals at the 2010 U.S. Open, Williams has played only 11 matches. The WTA projects her ranking now will slide out of the top 100.

It’s been a year of health scares for the Williams sisters. Younger sister Serena suffered from a blot clot in her lungs over the winter. Serena Williams plays in the second round of the U.S. Open on Thursday.

Venus said Serena’s travails had already given her a new perspective.

“So this, right now, I think will help me to feel grateful for everything that I have,” she said. “And at the same time it makes me want to get up and fight harder every single day.”

Venus was coming off an impressive first-round victory before she pulled out of the tournament.