CNN Salutes 'X On My Back' Serena Williams, Who 'Outlasted Tom Brady'

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

As Serena Williams' her playing career ended Friday night, there's a good case to be made that she is the greatest female player of all time.

Even so, facts still matter. And in extolling Serena, CNN got one fact glaringly wrong. Co-host John Berman brought on CNN sports correspondent Carolyn Manno, who claimed:

"What Brianna [Keilar] said at the top, the longevity piece, is so important. Because she is in the pantheon of all-time greats. But she has outlasted Michael Jordan and Tom Brady."

Serena has outlasted Tom Brady??

Serena is retiring at age 40. Tom Brady is 45, and is about to begin his 22nd season in the NFL, playing as the starting QB of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Very strong 300-pounders will be looking to pound him into the turf—something that rarely occurs on a tennis court.

CNN also focused on Serena saying in her post-match interview that throughout her career, she has been playing with "an X on my back."

Get the rest of the story and view the video here.

[dfwgator]

All I know is Bobby Riggs threw that match against Billie Jean King, and apparently made a mint betting against himself.

[skeeter]

Holyfield’s jaw isn’t as strong as Serena’s.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

As far as I'm concerned she's not worth a pimple on a bull's ass. Hope this is the end of her.

[TalBlack]

It seems that when a woman gets up there in the props dept certain types gotta go overboard and spoil whatever was her accomplishment.

[dforest]

Yeah, but Brady doesn’t have near the big fat ugly mouth and despicable demeanor of this gal.

[apostoli]

...yea, watched in college bar where i lost $20 on that bet to a, you guessed it, a gurl! NEVER bet again on ANY such ‘setup’! Ha!

[apostoli]

Such a Sportsman!

d:^)

[USS Alaska]

Court is one of only three players in history (all women) to have won the "Grand Slam Boxed Set", consisting of every Grand Slam title (the singles, doubles and mixed doubles). Court, however, is the only one in tennis history to complete a Multiple Grand Slam set, twice, in all three disciplines. Uniquely, she won all 12 as an amateur and then after a period of retirement, returned as a professional to win all 12 again. Court is also one of only six tennis players ever to win a Multiple Grand Slam set in two disciplines, matching Roy Emerson, Martina Navratilova, Frank Sedgman, Doris Hart, and Serena Williams.

Court is by far the best woman tennis player ever, but... she is a Christian Minister, so there is that.

[mosaicwolf]

How about Monica Seles with an actual knife in her back. Much worse than an X wouldn’t you say? Oh wait! that doesn’t matter, Seles was white. I lost my head for a minute.

[ifinnegan]

“She’s black trash and ugly too. Her ass doesn’t fit her body. Whatever happened to ladies?”

You’re a peach.

[dfwgator]

I don’t recall Tom Brady ever threatening to shove a football up a sideline ref’s ass

Well at least he would shrink the ball first.

[riverdawg]

“Didn’t Billy Riggs beat Chris Evert with a bunch of chairs on his side of the court?”

I do remember that Bobby Riggs beat Margaret Court in 1973, before losing later to Billie Jean King.

[dfwgator]

I do remember that Bobby Riggs beat Margaret Court in 1973, before losing later throwing the match to Billie Jean King.

Fixed it.

[UnwashedPeasant]

That's Mike Tyson in a wig.

[rod5591]

Please, please, will the day EVER come when I do not have to see her hideous face plastered everywhere in the media????

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Good one!

#DeflateGate

[MrRelevant]

When you’re supposedly the best you always have an x on your back.

[Steven Tyler]

Yup, true ray’s sis virtue signal their love of folks they do not associate with

[scrabblehack]

I’ve heard it’s the goal of every tennis player to defeat the opponent. It’s probably a lot of hooey and they’re just supposed to let Serena win.

[Roman_War_Criminal]

Didn’t Serena kill somebody in a car crash or was that her sister?