Sports roundup
I rarely write about sports in this column because the newspaper has a whole section for that but once in a while events from the sports world spill out into the real world and demand attention. None are worth a whole 850 word column but we can chop them up like four quarters of a football game. Let’s start with the new champion of women’s equality Serena Williams.
I’ll state two things at the outset. First, I think Serena Williams is the best female tennis player I’ve ever seen. She’s amazing. Second, I’ve never cared for her personality because it always felt like there was a ungratefulness hiding just under the surface.
By now you heard how she lost the finals of the U.S. Open to young lady who was far better than Serena on that particular day. I won’t waste time going into details over what happened only to say she was cited for three violations. Her coach admitted he was coaching her from the stands and got caught. Then she broke a tennis racket in anger which gets you a second violation. And third she repeatedly berated the chair umpire, even threateing his job at one point by saying, “You’ll never sit in that chair again for one of my matches.” Since Serena is the best in the world that would mean the man would be barred from the big women’s matches. And calling him a thief and telling him he was not allowed to look at her anymore probabaly didn’t help.
In the middle of her meltdown, and let’s be honest that’s what it was, she said, “This always happens to me here.” I found that to be an interesting statement so I took the time to look at her past matches at the U.S. Open. Serena is right. In 2009 she lost a point and game after she didn’t like a call by the lines judge and told the woman she wishes she could jam the “f’ing ball” down the woman’s throat. Two years later in 2011 after losing a point in what she felt was another bad call she told the chair umpire, a woman I might add, that she was ugly on the inside and if she ever saw Serena walking down a hallway that woman was to turn and go the other way. Nice.
What’s interesting is how after her recent loss she preached how she needs to stand up for women and equality but in her two previous encounters at the same tournament she called one woman ugly and threatened the other physically. Before people go to AC Moore to buy cardboard to make up signs and march with Serena for women’s rights they should consider how she’s treated women when things weren’t going her way. Just a thought.
••• My second sports thought is my reversal on the quarterback who caused so much controversy by kneeling during the national anthem. I wrote here a year ago I don’t mind that he wants to protest, hey this is America, my only issue was he was doing it on company time. I used the example that if you wanted to “save the whales” your boss might think it’s a noble cause but he or she wouldn’t want you posting things all over the office or sending out emails to the staff about your fundraisers and marches. You go to work to work.
Since that column ran a year ago I have watched the NFL owners show they have zero spine in the face of falling ratings. They refuse to discipline the behavior that is clearly upsetting people and driving fans away so here’s my new position. I don’t care. Kneel, don’t kneel. It doesn’t matter to me. I stopped watching the NFL years ago when I had kids and needed to mow the lawn. When I get free time I’ll watch The Godfather for the 50th time instead.
••• My third sports mention is related to the last one and the player who parlayed his protest into a lucrative advertising deal with a major shoe. I see people screaming about it and burning their sneakers with the brand name’s label on it. Understand this. Every time you mention that company’s name they win and you validate their choice in a spokesman. That’s why I just told you my thoughts on this topic without mention either of their names.
••• Let’s end this was something very positive and that’s the TriCity ValleyCats winning their New York-Penn League Championship. I have said for years that the Cats are the best bargain in town. You can get a seat, a hot dog and a drink and still have change left from a $20. The players are also on the way up so that “kid” you get an autograph from in the H.V.C.C. parking lot today may be pitching in the World Series five years from now.
On top of all that their media relations guy, Chris Chenes, is one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet. Don’t be surprised if the “big leagues” call him up some day too. I’m out of time. That’s game, set, match.