Posted on 09/13/2009 3:38:59 PM PDT by traumer
This was the dramatic moment when Serena Williams screamed her way out of the U.S. Open.
TV viewers around the world saw the irate Wimbledon champion launch a threatening, profanity-laced tirade at a female line judge after being called for a foot fault.
'If I could, I would take this f****** ball and shove it down your f****** throat,' she reportedly said.
The diminutive lineswoman reported her words to the umpire, who called in the tournament referee at Flushing Meadows in New York.
With the crowd booing, Miss Williams could be heard on the court microphone pleading with the lineswoman, saying: 'I didn't say I would kill you. Are you serious? I didn't say that.'
But her extraordinary outburst meant she was docked a point on match point, handing a semi-final victory to bemused Belgian opponent Kim Clijsters in one of the ugliest-ever endings to a major sports match.
Miss Williams had already received a warning for smashing a racquet, so the next sanction was a penalty point for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Not since John McEnroe was defaulted in the Australian Open in 1990 for swearing at the umpire has a top player made such an ignominious exit from such a high-profile match.
It happened when, with the 27-year-old American serving at 5-6 and 15-30 in the second set, she faulted on her first serve.
On her second serve, the line judge declared a foot fault, a call rarely, if ever, seen at that stage of a match.
That made the score 15-40, putting Miss Clijsters one point from a place in the final.
Miss Williams stormed over to the line judge, cursing and shaking her racquet, pointing at her and thrusting a ball in her face.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Sounds like one of those African American thugs....It is great she got booted...she can act like that else where but not in tennis...too big for her britches...
No apology necessary??? Now we know what Joe Wilson should have said to President Obama.
http://straightsets.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/look-for-williams-sisters-in-doubles-final/
September 13, 2009, 6:13 pm
Serena Fined for Semifinal Outburst
By David Waldstein
Venus Williams practiced Sunday with her father, Richard, but there was no sign of Serena, who lost her singles semifinal to Kim Clijsters on Saturday night when she was called for a code violation for verbally abusing a the line judge on match point.
Serena Williams was fined $10,500 for her profanity-laced tirade, but she is expected to play in her doubles final Monday with Venus.
After 9-11, Serena stood up for this country in a big way. She made courageous comments dressing down the French for the air space issues right before the French Open. She is a competitor that let things get out of hand, and apologized. I think she is an incredible athlete, and a terrific American who made a big mistake. I despise that this incredible conservative website is often hi-jacked by those “separated at birth”, Mike Tyson, Michelle Obama, and other racially charged comments.
Them William’s brothers need to be tested like that SemenYAA from Africa. Me thinks they may be packin’ more that what a female should....
too much testosterone, honey.....
I just can’t see what the big deal is. She’s a competitor, and she’s upset a call didn’t go her way. It’s only one incident, and she has no history of such behavior (remember John McEnroe?).
Yes, it may have been wrong, but at the end of the day - WHO CARES?
Years ago they did. It was called the "Mac Cam". Now it's ball calls not foot faults.
If you’re going to get dinged for bad conduct you might as well make a 4-star one.
of course the asian judge was racists. I’m surprised Obama hasn’t called the line judge “Stupid”, like he did with the cop that arrested Skip Gates.Maybe the US Open will make the line judge go to “Senseitivity” school.
Somehow, I have a feeling it will all work out. Obama will invite the racist line judge and the perfect Serena to share a cold beer at the white house.
One only has to go back a few games where she lost the first set and trashed her racket.
Actually Serena has a history of arrogant behavior. Besides, you can't possibly be thinking that threatening to shove a ball down some smaller woman's throat is NOT a big deal?
I saw this and still wonder why this has not been called out for what it obviously was- a racist attack against a line judge who was not black ;)
Fixed.
Pass the bong.
“...I dont know whether she actually said the words or not, but this is the first time I have ever seen her and she is a beautiful woman,...”
Make an appointment with your eye doctor.
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