----
I remember well when my love for individual sports like Golf and Tennis formed. I'd grown up playing all the team sports like baseball, football and basketball that had little league teams in my neighborhood. I was good at them and could compete sufficiently to make the team and play often. But one summer between elementary school and Jr. High school, the boys began turning into young men and the girls into young women while I remained a boy. I could not longer compete or make the team. So I began to excel at ping pong, golf and tennis came along later. In these sports size didn't matter as much. I could compete and I was good at them and there was no one to blame but myself if I didn't win.
So, as the NFL and the NCAA kick off their seasons and my friends are engrossed and having parties to watch the games, I'm glued to the FedEx playoffs in Golf and the U.S. Open in Tennis.
The level of competition is riveting to me. The top professionals in these arenas are at a higher plateau than those I grew up watching / idolizing. Which brings me to the primary reason for this post. The Williams sisters, Venus and Serena of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA).
I remember well their entrance into the pro ranks. I viewed them much like I (unfairly) viewed Martina Navratilova. Martina came along and started beating our little darling Chris Evert. Chrissy was a national treasure and Martina was faster and stronger and not as good looking it didn't sit well with me. Lova, wasn't that some kind of Soviet name? (She's from Czechoslovakia) Of course through the cold war I'd been conditioned to despise the Ruskies. I remember actually thinking that they'd figured out a way to make a man into a woman and infiltrated the ranks of one of my favorite sports and was beating up on our "Chrissy!"
Well, I just watched a Tennis Channel Signature Series special on Martina and I cried. I cried because of the guilt and shame I felt. She was mistreated on many levels by the media, her peers in the sport, the public, even her parents. But she fought through all that and went on to become one of the best ever in the game's history. In fact did you know she won 59 major events, concluding with mixed doubles at the U.S. Open in 2006 at the age of 49? She began very young, in an oppressive environment, having to pull the weeds, paint the line and put up the nets on the tennis courts and she enjoyed every minute of it. And though she no longer competes on tour, she is a live commentator and if all she could do was pull weeds, paint lines and put up the nets, she'd still enjoy every minute of it.
Martina, I'm ashamed of myself for over the years, judging you and not giving you the respect, admiration and honor that you so very much deserve. You are an inspiration and pioneer that has made a profound mark on your chosen profession. You shall not be forgotten and Thank You for all that you are.
Similarly, I judged the tall, strong women of color for beating the heck out of blonde cuties like the perpetually smiling Martina Hingis and Monica Seles in the late 90's early 2000's. Later they owned Kim Clijsters, Maria Sharapova and anyone else in their way. Together these sisters who grew up in Compton, California have dominated like few before them. Serena is about to tie Steffi Graf's long standing record of 22 major singles titles and be the first since Graf in 1988 to have won all four majors in a calendar year. The highest achievement in my opinion, the Grand Slam. Serena is the current champion in all four majors dating from last year, referred to as the Serena Slam. Tiger Woods achieved a Tiger Slam, but never the Grand Slam of all four in one year. It is a monumental achievement few have accomplished. Like the triple crown in horse racing or back to back to back to back world series or super bowl or NBA championships. We're referring to an exclusive group of folks, like Michael Jordan & Scottie Pippen, Tiger Woods, Kobe & Shaq and now possibly, hopefully, Serena Williams.
Combined, since 1998 the sisters have won 113 tour event singles titles. 28 major singles titles and two gold medals in women's singles tennis, not to mention both have been rated worlds number one in singles and doubles for multiple years.
( stats from wiki - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williams_sisters )
Two days ago, at 35 and 33 years of age Serena and Venus convinced me of their greatness while playing each other (for the 27th time professionally) in a quarter final match at the 2015 U.S. Open. One commentator had said that never in a million years could he see Venus standing in the way of Serena's accomplishment, which could easily lead one to think that the match would be fixed or thrown, so to speak.
I watched intently and it was simply the best women's tennis match I have ever seen. They played at a level and with such power that I can't imagine any other player in history being able to hang in that arena. Venus gave Serena the best test anyone could. Serena was feeling the pressure. It was palpable even where I sat on my couch. But she kept her composure, she reached inside and performed brilliantly to secure the victory!
I'm impressed, in awe and feeling a wealth of admiration for these women we've been privileged to watch grow up and achieve and over come and entertain. These National Treasures. They're American and they're great tennis players and they have conducted themselves admirably and have dedicated themselves to their sport and excelled above all others in the face of much adversity.
I'm not jumping on the bandwagon, well maybe I am. But mostly I'm admitting that I was wrong and they deserve better.
We all just want to be acknowledged, appreciated and given a fair opportunity to make good. To put forth our best effort and have an equal opportunity to succeed or fail.
[“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” ― Theodore Roosevelt]
Serena, I hope you win the women's singles title at the 2015 U.S. Open Tennis Championships and secure the Grand Slam. I hope you win more major singles titles, eclipsing that of Steffi Graf and all others before you and I hope it inspires some other young players to seek to be the next Serena Williams. Your dedication, your ability, your indelible mark on history will linger beyond all of us. Thank you!
Venus, thank you for demonstrating a most admirable love for your younger sibling. Serena is truly blessed to have you. Thank you for your fierce competition regardless of family and thank you for helping pave the way for equal pay for women in the sport.
Serena posted this via Instagram the day after the match, which will have you feeling feelings.
http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2015/9/9/9297903/serenas-instagram-post-about-venus-will-have-you-feeling-feelings
You both deserve all the accolades, respect and honor you have fairly achieved in the face of much adversity.
Thank you both.
You're beautiful people, inside and out.
-----
When we know better, we do better - Maya Angelou
I remember well when my love for individual sports like Golf and Tennis formed. I'd grown up playing all the team sports like baseball, football and basketball that had little league teams in my neighborhood. I was good at them and could compete sufficiently to make the team and play often. But one summer between elementary school and Jr. High school, the boys began turning into young men and the girls into young women while I remained a boy. I could not longer compete or make the team. So I began to excel at ping pong, golf and tennis came along later. In these sports size didn't matter as much. I could compete and I was good at them and there was no one to blame but myself if I didn't win.
So, as the NFL and the NCAA kick off their seasons and my friends are engrossed and having parties to watch the games, I'm glued to the FedEx playoffs in Golf and the U.S. Open in Tennis.
The level of competition is riveting to me. The top professionals in these arenas are at a higher plateau than those I grew up watching / idolizing. Which brings me to the primary reason for this post. The Williams sisters, Venus and Serena of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA).
I remember well their entrance into the pro ranks. I viewed them much like I (unfairly) viewed Martina Navratilova. Martina came along and started beating our little darling Chris Evert. Chrissy was a national treasure and Martina was faster and stronger and not as good looking it didn't sit well with me. Lova, wasn't that some kind of Soviet name? (She's from Czechoslovakia) Of course through the cold war I'd been conditioned to despise the Ruskies. I remember actually thinking that they'd figured out a way to make a man into a woman and infiltrated the ranks of one of my favorite sports and was beating up on our "Chrissy!"
Well, I just watched a Tennis Channel Signature Series special on Martina and I cried. I cried because of the guilt and shame I felt. She was mistreated on many levels by the media, her peers in the sport, the public, even her parents. But she fought through all that and went on to become one of the best ever in the game's history. In fact did you know she won 59 major events, concluding with mixed doubles at the U.S. Open in 2006 at the age of 49? She began very young, in an oppressive environment, having to pull the weeds, paint the line and put up the nets on the tennis courts and she enjoyed every minute of it. And though she no longer competes on tour, she is a live commentator and if all she could do was pull weeds, paint lines and put up the nets, she'd still enjoy every minute of it.
Martina, I'm ashamed of myself for over the years, judging you and not giving you the respect, admiration and honor that you so very much deserve. You are an inspiration and pioneer that has made a profound mark on your chosen profession. You shall not be forgotten and Thank You for all that you are.
Similarly, I judged the tall, strong women of color for beating the heck out of blonde cuties like the perpetually smiling Martina Hingis and Monica Seles in the late 90's early 2000's. Later they owned Kim Clijsters, Maria Sharapova and anyone else in their way. Together these sisters who grew up in Compton, California have dominated like few before them. Serena is about to tie Steffi Graf's long standing record of 22 major singles titles and be the first since Graf in 1988 to have won all four majors in a calendar year. The highest achievement in my opinion, the Grand Slam. Serena is the current champion in all four majors dating from last year, referred to as the Serena Slam. Tiger Woods achieved a Tiger Slam, but never the Grand Slam of all four in one year. It is a monumental achievement few have accomplished. Like the triple crown in horse racing or back to back to back to back world series or super bowl or NBA championships. We're referring to an exclusive group of folks, like Michael Jordan & Scottie Pippen, Tiger Woods, Kobe & Shaq and now possibly, hopefully, Serena Williams.
Combined, since 1998 the sisters have won 113 tour event singles titles. 28 major singles titles and two gold medals in women's singles tennis, not to mention both have been rated worlds number one in singles and doubles for multiple years.
( stats from wiki - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williams_sisters )
Two days ago, at 35 and 33 years of age Serena and Venus convinced me of their greatness while playing each other (for the 27th time professionally) in a quarter final match at the 2015 U.S. Open. One commentator had said that never in a million years could he see Venus standing in the way of Serena's accomplishment, which could easily lead one to think that the match would be fixed or thrown, so to speak.
I watched intently and it was simply the best women's tennis match I have ever seen. They played at a level and with such power that I can't imagine any other player in history being able to hang in that arena. Venus gave Serena the best test anyone could. Serena was feeling the pressure. It was palpable even where I sat on my couch. But she kept her composure, she reached inside and performed brilliantly to secure the victory!
I'm impressed, in awe and feeling a wealth of admiration for these women we've been privileged to watch grow up and achieve and over come and entertain. These National Treasures. They're American and they're great tennis players and they have conducted themselves admirably and have dedicated themselves to their sport and excelled above all others in the face of much adversity.
I'm not jumping on the bandwagon, well maybe I am. But mostly I'm admitting that I was wrong and they deserve better.
We all just want to be acknowledged, appreciated and given a fair opportunity to make good. To put forth our best effort and have an equal opportunity to succeed or fail.
[“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” ― Theodore Roosevelt]
Serena, I hope you win the women's singles title at the 2015 U.S. Open Tennis Championships and secure the Grand Slam. I hope you win more major singles titles, eclipsing that of Steffi Graf and all others before you and I hope it inspires some other young players to seek to be the next Serena Williams. Your dedication, your ability, your indelible mark on history will linger beyond all of us. Thank you!
Venus, thank you for demonstrating a most admirable love for your younger sibling. Serena is truly blessed to have you. Thank you for your fierce competition regardless of family and thank you for helping pave the way for equal pay for women in the sport.
Serena posted this via Instagram the day after the match, which will have you feeling feelings.
http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2015/9/9/9297903/serenas-instagram-post-about-venus-will-have-you-feeling-feelings
You both deserve all the accolades, respect and honor you have fairly achieved in the face of much adversity.
Thank you both.
You're beautiful people, inside and out.
-----
When we know better, we do better - Maya Angelou
