“I swear to God, I’ll f -— take this ball and shove it down your f — - throat. “
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http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-dwyre-us-open13-2009sep13,0,5348697.column
As bad as this incident was, leaving a three-quarters-filled Arthur Ashe Stadium in near stunned silence, worse was Williams’ handling of the aftermath in a news conference. There, she had a chance to apologize, or maybe even fake some remorse. She did neither.
Instead, we got the usual, phony, sing-songy deflections and silly answers — all done with a big smile, as if she had just won, 6-0, 6-0.
Examples:
Question: What did you say?
Answer: What did I say? You didn’t hear? Oh.
Q. Do you think the lineswoman had any reason to feel threatened. Apparently she says she felt threatened?
A. She says she felt threatened. She said this to you?
Q. I’m just repeating what has been said that she told the chair umpire.
A. Well, I’ve never been in a fight in my whole life, so I don’t know why she would be threatened.
Q. Do you regret losing your temper both after the first set and after the foot fault?
A. I haven’t really thought about it to have any regrets. I try to — I’ve done — you know, I try to not live my life saying, I wish, I wish. But, you know, I was out there and fought and I tried and I did my best.
Q. You’ve always prided yourself on being an extremely forthright player, and with us here in the press room. Could you tell us what you said on the court, please?
A. I don’t think that’s necessary for me to speak about that. I’ve let it go, and I’m trying to better — to, you know, to get — to move on.
Q. Do you think the lineswoman deserves an apology?
A. An apology for?
Q. From you.
A. From me?
Q. Would you be interested to see if you actually foot faulted?
A. I’m pretty sure I did. If she called a foot fault, she must have seen a foot fault. I mean, she was doing her job. I’m not going to knock her for not doing her job.
