Richard Williams plays race card

signonsandiego.com ^ | 8/05/03

[Jakarta ex-pat]

In an interview with the French magazine L'Equipe on Saturday, Richard Williams blasted the tennis world for racism and claimed no one will ever defeat his daughters, Serena and Venus.

Williams addressed critics who say that his daughters appearing in every final is making tennis boring.

"So women's tennis is getting boring. And you know why? Because two lovely black women dominate it. They're better than the white girls, and that's intolerable. It's downgrading, lamentable," Williams said.

Williams said his daughters were the victims of racist prejudice from within the tennis world.

"They're disturbed by our being there. They've tried everything they could to tame us, to recuperate (sic) us and, when they couldn't, they said I was a madman."

Williams also said he will never salute the flag because of racism in America.

"It has no meaning for me," he said.

Williams added that his daughters were dominating the game because they had stolen the best shots from their rivals.

"The whites have always said that black people were robbers. My daughters are robbers. They're going to rob you of your best shot and make it our best shot. My daughters are the best two robbers in the world."

[Sam Cree]

Why does tennis produce the most poorly behaved people, while golf, an even more maddening sport to play, produces the best behaved?

I suppose the Williams sisters, whom I thought were universally admired, are as obnoxious as Dad?

[mabelkitty]

Well, Michael Jordan's command of basketball never made that sport boring.

What's the deal here? Not enough Russian teenagers with no skills?

[JohnGalt]

He reminds me of Ivan Drago's manager in Rocky IV.

[Paradox]

This guy is a loon. His daughters often look embarassed by his antics and outbursts.

[mabelkitty]

He wants to move to Africa.

I suggest he do it.

[junta]

Well let him and his daughters move to the New South Africa then.

[nina0113]

When one of them beat the other at Wimbledon, the loser broke down crying, and the winner gave up savoring her victory in order to comfort her sister.

[brewcrew]

Seems like somebody in this story (i.e., Richard Williams) is fixated on race. Some people just can't let go of their anger, and it blinds them to the rest of the beauty in the world.

[Yudan]

Let this toothless idiot move to France.

Memo to Richard Williams - America is the only place in the world where your daughters could have received the type of focused coaching that allows them to take advantage of their tremendous talent and dominate.

Run THAT up the flagpole and salute, you ignorant BASTARD.

[wideawake]

I suspect that his daughters may be a bit embarrassed of their Svengali's antics.

But I could just be recuperating.

[Catspaw]

You seem to be under the impression that Richard Williams speaks for his daughters.

[Cacophonous]

Actually they seem a little more centered than he is. They don't need to play the race card because they are arguable the two best tennis players in the world. Their dad has nothing more going for him, and needs to keep himself in the limelight. It'a an ego thing.

[TravisBickle]

That's probably why ratings for golf tournaments (snooze), are bottoming out. No one can stand to watch Tiger Woods. </sacrasm>

[ewing]

Now he's done it and made his girls pay for his anti U.S. sentiments..

[headsonpikes]

LOL!

[EggsAckley]

I don't recall hearing complaints when Martina Navratilova ruled the courts.

If INDEED these complaints are being registered, then I don't blame Williams. I love watching his daughters.

[Phantom Lord]

Earl Woods pulled some stunts when Tiger joined the PGA Tour almost on par with Mr. Williams.

[Centurion2000]

Why does tennis produce the most poorly behaved people, while golf, an even more maddening sport to play, produces the best behaved?

Best behaved ?? Go to a pistol or rifle range .... no ones EVER been rude to me.

Heavily armed shooters are very polite to each other.

[ewing]

Tiger Woods dad looks like Colin Powell compared to Mr. Williams right now..