[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.

[junta]

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

[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.

[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..

[wardaddy]

Another incredibly successful and wealthy black victim of racism....

[conservativeinbflo.]

Yeah, America means nothing to him, but he has no problem taking advantage our society while laughing all the way to the bank.

ignorant moron.

[chemicalman]

I don't watch tennis, no matter who's playing.

But this guy is a friggin idiot for saying this.

[Paul Atreides]

Everyone tune in to O'Reilly tonight and see if he tries to shame Jesse Jackson into denouncing this guy.

[kcvl]

If dad had his way, Serena, Venus would quit for 2 years


Associated Press
May 6, 2003


PARIS -- The father of Serena and Venus Williams believes his daughters could take a two-year break from competitive tennis and easily top the rankings when they return.

"I would like them to stop playing today, for Serena to study and for Venus to launch herself into business," Richard Williams was quoted as saying in the French sports daily L'Equipe's magazine.

The elder Williams said he is unimpressed with the level of competition on the women's circuit and in the junior ranks.

"If I was in their place, I would take a break for one or two years," Williams said. "I would do some sailing, some ice skating, and I would come back unranked, just so I could become No. 1 within five or six months."

Top-ranked Serena Williams has won the past four Grand Slam tournaments: the French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open last year, and the Australian Open in January. She has lost just two matches -- against Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters -- since November.

Venus Williams, ranked No. 3, won her fourth career Grand Slam at Wimbledon two years ago.

Richard Williams was quoted as saying he believes racism is rife in women's tennis, and within the Women's Tennis Association.

"I asked the WTA, 'Does racism still exist with you?'," he said in the interview. "They told me no. They're taking me for an idiot."

Williams also said he will never salute the flag because of racism in America. "It has no meaning for me," he said.

[mhking]

Y'know, the Williams Sisters are a class act - too bad their old man isn't....

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.

[kcvl]

Doubts grow over Venus' future
May 6, 2003

VENUS Williams' tennis future looks more uncertain than ever after her decision to withdraw from the $US1.262 million ($2 million) German Open with a pulled abdominal muscle.

For the second time within a week the elder Williams sister has pulled out of a big money tournament - only a few days ago she withdrew from next week's Rome Masters.

That means that the former world No.1 has played in only four WTA Tour events all year, and has not won a title in more than eight months.

She may now go into the French Open in Paris in three weeks time less well prepared for a grand slam tournament than ever before - if, that is, she has recovered at all.

"It is not good when it is an abdominal strain," Williams said.

"It needs more time but it's not my job to sit at a desk."

This reference may well be an attempt to answer suggestions that the 22-year-old American is now more interested in her interior design business than in her tennis.

The rumours increased when, after suffering one of the worst defeats of her career, to compatriot Meghann Shaughnessy in Miami in March, Williams immediately announced she was taking a month off.

That increased perceptions that since Serena Williams took over from her as the world's leading player during the second half of last year, there has been a lack of drive by Venus to respond.

"My plan is to take each day at a time, have some rest, and be fit again as soon as possible, " Venus concluded, without creating a great sense of optimism.

Her absence means that Justine Henin-Hardenne, the titleholder from Belgium, moves up to second seed here and has a likely semifinal with Amelie Mauresmo, the former finalist from France who moves up to fourth.

It also caused Ai Sugiyama, the 13th seed, to be moved across the draw into the number nine spot - a change which brought ill-luck because she became one of two seeded players to go out on the opening day.

The Japanese player was beaten 6-1 7-5 by Marie-Gaianeh Mikaelian, a 19-year-old Swiss player who broke into the top 50 for the first time last year and who now looks likely to make the top 30.

The other beaten seed was Elena Dementieva, the No.10, who only last month won the first WTA Tour title of her career, beating Lindsay Davenport in the final at Amelia Island.

Today, however, she ran into trouble against Dinara Safin, the hard-hitting 17-year-old sister of Marat Safin.

She suffered a strain in her left foot, eventually retiring after losing the first game of the final set.

Agence France-Presse

[kcvl]

BERLIN (AP) Kim Clijsters closed in on Venus Williams' No....

By Associated Press, 5/8/2003 11:53

BERLIN (AP) Kim Clijsters closed in on Venus Williams' No. 2 ranking Thursday, beating Fabiola Zuluaga 7-5, 6-3 to advance to the quarterfinals of the German Open.

Clijsters needed four match points to beat the 52nd-ranked Zuluaga in the $1.224 million clay-court event.

The 19-year-old Clijsters, competing for the first time after a five-week break, can claim the No. 2 ranking by winning the tournament. She can also move into the second spot by reaching the final, depending on the rank of the opponents she faces.

''I definitely felt better out there today than my first-round match,'' said Clijsters, who has two victories this season.

Jennifer Capriati also advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over 17th-seeded Nathalie Dechy of France. Justine Henin-Hardenne and Amelie Mauresmo were scheduled to play later Thursday.

Clijsters, who failed to win a match in the tournament in two previous tries, improved to 27-4 this year, with three losses coming against the Williams sisters.

Zuluaga charged to a 4-2 lead in the first set, but Clijsters rallied to tie at 4-all and allowed the Colombian just one point while winning three straight games to clinch the set.

Clijsters described the withdrawal of the Williams sisters from the event a mixed blessing.

''It's a bit of both you always want to play against the best,'' Clijsters said. ''But it's not as though some of us players haven't shown we can beat them.''

Clijsters was beaten in straight sets by each of the Williams sisters, but had Serena on the ropes in the Australian Open semifinals. The world No. 1 had to fight off two match points.

Clijsters has reached four finals and two semifinals in six events this year.

Capriati, who has reached the semifinals of four straight events, fired an ace to end the match against the seventh-seeded Dechy.

''The score didn't tell the true story she's a top opponent,'' said the fourth-seeded Capriati. ''But I can't complain about the way I played.''

Capriati, who has climbed back to No. 7 after a month layoff following eye surgery, is gearing up for the French Open.

''It's not like I've peaked yet. I don't think I'm close to peaking anytime soon,'' Capriati said. ''I've got a lot left in me.''

Capriati ran into trouble against Dechy only once, letting a 3-1 second-set advantage slip away.

Dechy tied the set at 3-3 and served for the win in the next game, but netted a volley. Capriati went on to close out the match easily.

[T Lady]

With all due respect, Mr. Williams is a raving idiot. Although I don't regularly follow Tennis, I haven't heard anything of anyone complaining the sport has now become boring because of his daughters' great talents.

...Richard Williams is just another product of the Cult of Victomology in Black America.

-Regards, T.

[joesnuffy]

There is another "ism" that is also the last refuge of a scoundrel...imo

[joesnuffy]

One of the William's girls sitting on Ole Glory draggin her in the dirt!