Serena Williams Sixth Wimbledon Title Brings Racist Rhetoric

Serena Williams

When Venus Williams and Serena Williams first hit the tennis circuit, they faced racism in select U.S. states. The worst incident occurred at the Indian Wells tournament in California, where Serena's father Richard Williams and her sister, Venus Williams, were booed, jeered and called "nig*er" and "nig*ers" by members of the crowd as they walked to their seats. One man in the crowd, who was among the individuals calling Richard a "nigger" also stated to him, "I wish it was 75, we'd skin you alive" (Los Angeles race riots occurred in 1975).

Serena was booed and jeered from the moment she walked out on the court, with racial slurs spewing from people in the crowd. The 2001 incident was so bad, the sisters vowed never to play Indian Wells again and did not for over a decade. Make no mistake, it was racism. People referring to you and your family as "ni*gers" is a clear indication of that. They should not have been subjected to such terrible treatment.

Serena Williams at Wimbledon ball

Derogatory, racially charged statements were made about them by opponent, Martina Hingis, who stated, "Many times they get sponsors because they are black. And they have had a lot of advantages because they can always say, 'it's racism.' They can always come back and say, 'Because we are this color, things happen'" and "I think they've been treated with kid gloves...People have been afraid to criticize them because they don't want to be called racist." In another interview Hingis stated people (in tennis) only let the Williams sisters get away with things because they are black. Coincidentally, Hingis was banned from tennis for two-years over using cocaine.

Wimbledon men's champion Novak Djokovic and women's champion Serena Williams

Fast-forward to this past weekend where Serena Williams won Wimbledon for the 6th time. Some were proud of her, but there were also negative, racially based statements made online. Race has no place in sports. There are gifted athletes of all races from many countries, who have done exceptionally well.

Serena Williams and Michael Jordan are black American athletes who have done very well in their chosen sport. Michael Phelps is a white American athlete who has done very well in his sport of swimming. Pele (Brazilian), Lionel Messi (Argentinean) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Portuguese) are Latin men who have done very well in football (soccer). Stanley Matthews and  Bobby Charlton are white British football (soccer) players who are legends for having done well in their field. Usain Bolt is a black Jamaican sprinter, who has set many world records and won gold medals, doing very well in his sport.

The aforementioned individuals are a broad cross-section of people of different races and nations, who have excelled in sports. At the end of the day they are humans first and foremost. Sports is not about racial, national or global domination. It is supposed to be about athletes doing what they love and spectators enjoying the respective games. 

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Usain Bolt Takes Issue With Carl Lewis Steroids Comments He Brands An Insult

Usain Bolt

Former sprint star and gold medalist, Carl Lewis, issued controversial statements about Jamaica, criticizing the island nation's steroid screening program, due to the massive success of sprinters such as Usain Bolt. According to U.K. Sport, Lewis, who was cited three times for doping, but had each citation overturned in U.S. court, made inaccurate and incorrect statements about the nation of Jamaica by stating, "I think there are some issues. Countries like Jamaica do not have a random (drugs testing) program, so they can go months without being tested. I'm not saying anyone is on anything, but everyone needs to be on a level playing field. I'm not saying they've done anything for certain. I don't know. But how dare anybody feel that there shouldn't be scrutiny, especially in our sport?"

Lewis kept making disparaging comments from the time of the Beijing Olympics, escalating it, upset that Bolt had broken his record and began implying Jamaica had somehow found a magic steroid that had not been detected, which is untrue. Furthermore, Bolt was the most tested athlete at the Beijing and London Olympics.

Yesterday, Bolt finally responded to Lewis' comments during an interview. Bolt expressed admiration for U.S. Sprinting legend, Michel Johnson, but spoke of his disdain for Lewis' statements. Bolt stated, "I'm going to say something controversial right now. Carl Lewis, I have no respect for him. The things he says about the track athletes is really downgrading for another athlete to say something like that. I think he's just looking for attention, really, because nobody really talks much about him. That was really sad for me when I heard the other day what he was saying. It was upsetting. I've lost all respect for him. All respect." 

Carl Lewis

When further questioned about his response, this prompted the fastest man alive, Bolt, to reveal the nature of Lewis' statements that had offended him, in the aforementioned interview yesterday. Bolt replied, "It was all about drugs. Talking about drugs. For me, an athlete out of the sport to be saying that. That was really upsetting for me. Really upsetting. To jump up and say something like that. As far as I'm concerned he's looking for attention. That's all."

I was disappointed that Lewis had made those statements. It would have been nice if he had just been happy for his fellow global sprinters that have done well. Bolt's rise and that of his teammates has advanced the sport, making it even more popular with a new generation. That should be one of the goals of every sport.

When you look at what newer stars such as Lebron James has done for basketball, Michael Phelps has done for swimming and Bolt has done for sprinting, among others, deceiving us all into thinking we can go out there and do the same and not fall flat on our faces (or end up with a busted lip because you falsely think you're Michael Jordan), as they've made it look so easy and fun, it's a good thing. Somewhere in that global group of admirers, future athletes are inspired to work hard and make it to the top as well. That doesn't deserve pessimism.     

STORY SOURCE

I have no respect for Carl Lewis, says Bolt

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Gold Medalist Swimmers Ryan Lochte And Michael Phelps Say They Pee In The Pool

 

Ryan Lochte (center)

 In a comical twist to the swimming segment of the London 2012 Olympics, gold medalist, Ryan Lochte stated he pees in the pool when he swims. His teammate, Michael Phelps, backed him up stating they all do, but the chlorine kills the urine. Talk about peeing your way to success.

Leave it to American Idol host Ryan Seacrest to ask such a low brow question. Lochte stated, "Of course. We always do. Not during the races, but I sure did before in warm-up. There's something about getting into chlorine water that you just automatically go."

 

Michael Phelps and Megan Rossee

In other related news, Michael Phelps stepped out with his pretty new girlfriend, Megan Rossee. Will it be Megan Phelps? Who knows. They do make a very nice looking couple. They seem to be quite smitten with each other. You go girl!

Speaking of Lochte, he was photographed leaving a nightclub with two women. Many online have stated he looks drunk in the pictures and I agree. It doesn't matter where you are in the world, that is a very risky practice. Having sex while inebriated and with strangers can result in pregnancies or worse. 

An inebriated Ryan Lochte leaving the club with a group of women he took back to his hotel. Sweetie, that is a dangerous way to live (Photo Credit: Pacific Coast News)

Lochte stated before the Olympics, "My last Olympics, I had a girlfriend — big mistake. Now I'm single, so London should be really good. I'm excited." His mother also told the press that her son is into "one night stands." She stated, "He goes out on one-night stands. He's not able to give fully to a relationship because he's always on the go." Lochte needs to find himself a nice woman and settle down, because being promiscuous is dangerous.

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New Sprinter On The Block

Ryan Bailey and his adorable son

There are so many attractive athletes in the Olympics. Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, Asafa Powell, Michael Phelps, James Ellington and Jason Kenny to name but a few. There's also a new guy named Ryan Bailey, who is an American sprinter. 

Al B. Sure

A lot of women and Kanye West did a double take when Bailey appeared on the screen two days ago during the 100m sprinting finals at the London 2012 Olympics. Even my 16-year-old cousin was asking about him. I thought he looked like handsome R&B singer, Al B. Sure. Bailey did go on to lose the race, but losing never looked so good. 

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Swimmer Michael Phelps Takes A Record 22 Medals At The Olympics

Michael Phelps

American swimmer, Michael Phelps, has become the most decorated athlete in Olympic history. Fantastic Phelps now has a record 22 medals - 18 gold and 7 silver, after picking up another 7 medals in the London 2012 Olympics. This created a fitting and spectacular end to his remarkable career. Congrats to Phelps. And dude, remember, I called it, you're Team Black (wink).

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Gold Medalist Michael Johnson Says Blacks Are Better Athletes Due To Slavery

 

Michael Johnson

 African-American Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson, who set world records in track and field, stated blacks are better athletes due to slavery. Johnson stated during an interview in Britain, "All my life ... I believed I became an athlete through my own effort and determination, but it's impossible to think that being descended from slaves hasn't left an imprint through the generations. Difficult as it was to hear, slavery has benefited descendants like me ... I believe there is a superior athletic gene in us. Over the last few years, athletes of Afro-Caribbean and Afro-American descent have dominated athletics finals. It's a fact that hasn't been discussed openly before. It's a taboo subject in the States but it is what it is. Why shouldn't we discuss it?"

I've wondered about that myself. Many black-Americans and Afro-Caribbeans have excelled at athletics. One blog challenged Johnson's point by citing white American gold medalist swimmer, Michael Phelps, who dominated during the 2008 Olympics. I beg to differ. May I point to the evidence. Michael Phelps was caught smoking weed. So technically, that makes him a black man (LOL just teasing). That's right. We're claiming Phelps. He was hitting the weed like a rasta. You're Team Black now Phelps (wink).

One thing I know, regardless of what country you come from, if you see an African register for the long distance marathons, may as well withdraw (LOL). Africans dominate in this field, much like white people shut things down in gymnastics. So, who's to say who is best. One thing we all can agree on, the Olympics are a great time to come together as a world and put our differences aside.

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Usain Bolt	Michael Phelps

Sprinter Usain Bolt and swimmer Michael Phelps, who both won gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, met in car accidents in separate incidents this year.

Bolt met in an accident a few months ago and Phelps got into a fender bender, three car smash, last night. Thankfully, both men escaped the accidents without serious injury. Here's hoping you will both continue to be safe.