Serena on Fed Cup and her Country

tennisaddict · May 28, 2010

After her second round at the French Open , here is an excerpt of the press interview :

Q. And your thinking on Fed Cup? Is that a matter of scheduling? Do you feel that you have any responsibility to the country in terms of getting into the championships? What are your thoughts on that?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, my only responsibility is my two dogs. So I have to make sure they're okay and that I can afford to take care of them. That's the only real responsibility I have.

Unqoute:
Serena is building schools in Africa and shows her love for that area every time, but she does not seem to have the same feelings for her own country.

Even though she gets booed at US Open / Indian Wells, it is still going overboard to be saying something like the above.

Your thoughts..

jrod · May 28, 2010

I do not believe Serena's charitable interests in Africa are strictly altruistic. In fact, I think I've heard far more about her in this regard than I've heard about the charitable efforts of Bill Gates and Andre Agassi combined. Don't get me wrong as I think its great she is willing to do something to help others, but the self-serving nature in which she goes about it is rather distasteful, to say the least.

Scientist · May 28, 2010

That quote is one of the dumbest, most inane things I have ever heard. And she plays it off as if she's being witty and smart, which she's not.

volleynets · May 28, 2010

^ Very true. I feel like she thinks shes smarter than everybody but she's really one of the most pathetic attitudes on tour.

norbac · May 28, 2010

She's so witty and funny.....

boredone3456 · May 28, 2010

If they offered points for Fed Cup maybe she would play a little more often.

Chadwixx · May 28, 2010

Stuff like this is probably why her boyfriend dumped her.

Chadwixx · May 28, 2010

boredone3456 said:
If they offered doughnuts for Fed Cup maybe she would play a little more often.

Fixed it for you

tennisaddict · May 28, 2010

Inspite of such behavior, the american commentators / fed cup coach like Mary Joe would continue to heap praises on Serena or like Pam Shriver keep complaining about WTA on the HUGE 80 K fine on Serena for threatening lineswoman.

Shame on them for not standing up.

jamesblakefan#1 · May 28, 2010

These comments are not good and make Serena look extremely petulant.

But to the point of the OP: didn't Connors have a similar attitude about Davis Cup for the majority of his career? People are acting as if Serena's the first athlete to put individual goals first.

tennisaddict · May 28, 2010

jamesblakefan#1 said:
These comments are not good and make Serena look extremely petulant.

But to the point of the OP: didn't Connors have a similar attitude about Davis Cup for the majority of his career? People are acting as if Serena's the first athlete to put individual goals first.

Not playing for country is at one level, which several athletes do; But stating that taking care of dogs as more important than playing for country is at an other level and i hope the press comes after her.

jamesblakefan#1 · May 28, 2010

tennisaddict said:
Not playing for country is at one level, which several athletes do; But stating that taking care of dogs as more important than playing for country is at an other level and i hope the press comes after her.

I think that was more of a thing aimed at the people who think that athletes, particularly in individual sports like tennis in golf, are obliged to play for their country, that it's their 'duty' or 'responsibility'. That's where the responsibility thing comes from. Obviously she didn't convey that well at all.

BTW here's the FULL quote without the usual snipping people on here tend to do.

Q. And your thinking on Fed Cup? Is that a matter of scheduling? Do you feel that you have any responsibility to the country in terms of getting into the championships? What are your thoughts on that?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, my only responsibility is my two dogs. So I have to make sure they're okay and that I can afford to take care of them. That's the only real responsibility I have.
Obviously I want to do well and want Fed Cup to win. Schedule didn't work out for me. I took like, I don't know, eight, ten weeks off. It was impossible for me to play in February, or the other one, so hopefully I'll be healthy.
It's all about health and me being healthy.

http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/news/interviews/2010-05-28/201005281275051082190.html

fedfan08 · May 28, 2010

Never did like Serena. But I'm sure the next important Fed Cup tie Mary Jo will come gravelling to Venus and Serena to play.

sureshs · May 28, 2010

Serena has done more for her country through the McDonald's charity tours and her stimulation of the economy than the so-called patriots on this board, who dislike her for obvious reasons. These guys need to lift themselves up from their 2.5 tennis level and take a look at people who actually achieve something.

sureshs · May 28, 2010

jrod said:
I do not believe Serena's charitable interests in Africa are strictly altruistic. In fact, I think I've heard far more about her in this regard than I've heard about the charitable efforts of Bill Gates and Andre Agassi combined. Don't get me wrong as I think its great she is willing to do something to help others, but the self-serving nature in which she goes about it is rather distasteful, to say the least.

Yeah Bill Gates charitable efforts has nothing to do with ensuring governments don't promote free Linux but pay for Windows machines.

Scientist · May 28, 2010

^You're not brilliant, sorry.

jrod · May 28, 2010

sureshs said:
Yeah Bill Gates charitable efforts has nothing to do with ensuring governments don't promote free Linux but pay for Windows machines.

Huh? You really don't have a clue do you?

cucio · May 28, 2010

Serena shouldn't think of starting up a career in stand-up comedy, that's for sure. On her discharge, I guess she must be tired sick of questions like this. No biggie, I guess. :shrugs:

jamesblakefan#1 · May 28, 2010

Take away the dog comments, and it's no different from what Fed has often said about Davis Cup.

West Coast Ace · May 28, 2010

tennisaddict said:
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, my only responsibility is my two dogs. So I have to make sure they're okay and that I can afford to take care of them.

Just proves that it's never been about the sport, it's about the $$$$. Richard Williams even said so - he was watching TV when the girls were very young and saw a girl get a check for $14k for winning a tournament - Richard was out getting tennis gear the next day.

jrod said:
...but the self-serving nature in which she goes about it is rather distasteful, to say the least.

She has plenty of other celebrity company in this regard. I'm sure some just donate a nice chunk of money anonymously - but most want the pub.

Scientist said:
And she plays it off as if she's being witty and smart, which she's not.

Typical youngest child.

tennisaddict said:
Inspite of such behavior, the american commentators / fed cup coach like Mary Joe would continue to heap praises on Serena or like Pam Shriver keep complaining about WTA on the HUGE 80 K fine on Serena for threatening lineswoman.

Someone very smart said something about a new sucker being born all the time...

sureshs · May 28, 2010

There are so many US players in the top 10 other than the Williams sisters that I don't understand why any Fed Cup captain would ask them to play. I would pick high-ranked players like Jill Craybas and Vania King any day.

jrod · May 28, 2010

West Coast Ace said:
....
She has plenty of other celebrity company in this regard. I'm sure some just donate a nice chunk of money anonymously - but most want the pub.

...

Right. In all fairness to her and the others, the more publicity they get the better the charity does. It's a win-win and that's the way it's designed. I just find the spin Serena's handlers put on her efforts nauseating.

sureshs · May 28, 2010

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/11/13/gates_gives_100m_to_fight/

Gates gives $100m to fight HIV, $421m to fight Linux
Alert Print News from India and some letters

By Thomas C Greene in Washington DC • Get more from this author

Posted in Software, 13th November 2002 04:23 GMT

We do hate to rain on a high-profile corporate love-fest, but we have to point out that in addition to the much trumpeted $100 million Billg has donated to India's fight against HIV, he's funding the Microsoft jihad against Linux to the far more impressive tune of $421 million. That means that Linux is more than four times worse than AIDS to Billg and his happy Redmond family. God forbid any of them should learn the bitter truth the hard way and start talking sense.

Billg's personal $100 million goes to health initiatives over ten years, while $421 million of Microsoft's money goes, over a mere three years, to support MS-friendly development and 'educational' initiatives. And being a monster MS shareholder himself, a 'Big Win' in India will enrich him personally, perhaps well in excess of the $100 million he's donating to the AIDS problem. Makes you wonder who the real beneficiary of charity is here.

tennisaddict · May 28, 2010

Philanthropy and Altruism depends on each individual and even if Serena does not spend a penny for her country it is understandable.

But being a top sports athlete and her country's ambassador for the whole decade, making such statements is ludicrous and is not in thr true spirit of a sportsman even in the case of an individual sport.

She thinks she is classy, but her acts over the last couple of years is taking her down in terms of public image. She is getting publicity , but i doubt whether it is of the good kind.

jamesblakefan#1 · May 28, 2010

tennisaddict said:
Philanthropy and Altruism depends on each individual and even if Serena does not spend a penny for her country it is understandable.

But being a top sports athlete and her country's ambassador for the whole decade, making such statements is ludicrous and is not in thr true spirit of a sportsman even in the case of an individual sport.

She thinks she is classy, but her acts over the last couple of years is taking her down in terms of public image. She is getting publicity , but i doubt whether it is of the good kind.

She's already won Fed Cup 3 times and has played it since 1999.

Like I said, compare her comments to those of Federer on Davis Cup and you'll see very little difference.

Raiden · May 28, 2010

tennisaddict said:
Do you feel that you have any responsibility to the country in terms of getting into the championships?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, my only responsibility is my two dogs.

LMAO :mrgreen:

onyxrose81 · May 28, 2010

If I was Mary Jo, I would just leave the WS alone. It's beyond obvious now that they don't care about FC anymore so enough is enough. Maybe the other American women can play and learn how to win **** occasionally.

West Coast Ace · May 28, 2010

jamesblakefan#1 said:
Like I said, compare her comments to those of Federer on Davis Cup and you'll see very little difference.

Those who rag on Fed are way off. The Swiss have no men's depth - the weight of the country is on his back to win every match, every round. The US women can win a round without Venus and Serena.

tennisaddict · May 28, 2010

jamesblakefan#1 said:
She's already won Fed Cup 3 times and has played it since 1999.

Like I said, compare her comments to those of Federer on Davis Cup and you'll see very little difference.

Can you please quote which statement of Federer compares that to Serena in this context ? Federer and Nadal are totally different class. Please do not denigrate them comparing to Serena.

jamesblakefan#1 · May 28, 2010

tennisaddict said:
Can you please quote which statement of Federer compares that to Serena in this context ? Federer and Nadal are totally different class. Please do not denigrate them comparing to Serena.

Take out the dog comment and read the rest of the quote (which you tastefully left out BTW) and it's not too different from what other players, including Nadal and Fed, have said about DC and putting health first. But of course Serena gets no benefit of the doubt on here, so that's to be expected.

sureshs · May 28, 2010

Nadal should win all 4 Slams before he can even be considered to be in Serena's league.

Chadwixx · May 28, 2010

jamesblakefan#1 said:
Take out the dog comment and read the rest of the quote (which you tastefully left out BTW) and it's not too different from what other players, including Nadal and Fed, have said about DC and putting health first. But of course Serena gets no benefit of the doubt on here, so that's to be expected.

Sticking up for your favorite player and comparing her to fed again

tennisaddict · May 28, 2010

sureshs said:
Nadal should win all 4 Slams before he can even be considered to be in Serena's league.

Arent there 5 of them ? So, which slam are you excluding ?

sureshs · May 28, 2010

West Coast Ace said:
Those who rag on Fed are way off. The Swiss have no men's depth - the weight of the country is on his back to win every match, every round. The US women can win a round without Venus and Serena.

Stan plays a decent game. And his backhand is better than Federer's.

tennisaddict · May 28, 2010

jamesblakefan#1 said:
Take out the dog comment and read the rest of the quote (which you tastefully left out BTW) and it's not too different from what other players, including Nadal and Fed, have said about DC and putting health first. But of course Serena gets no benefit of the doubt on here, so that's to be expected.

The whole issue is with the 'dog comment' . So removing that does not make any sense. The rest of the quote is an after thought of Serena (do a google search). If Serena had just talked about her health, there would not be an issue, since we know what her take is on Fed Cup.

Raiden · May 28, 2010

jamesblakefan#1 said:
These comments are not good and make Serena look extremely petulant.

But to the point of the OP: didn't Connors have a similar attitude about Davis Cup for the majority of his career? People are acting as if Serena's the first athlete to put individual goals first.

Connors did it for commercial reasons, not cuz he wanted more time to prepare for grand slam tournaments. Anyway so what if Connors did it? You're acting as if he was complimented for his action. In fact Connors' peculiar individualism led him to being kicked out of tournaments... he even ended up getting banned from a grand slam. And that was while he was at his peak.

In other words, nobody approved of Connors' attitude towards the Davis Cup, so nobody is obliged to approve Serena's.

West Coast Ace · May 28, 2010

sureshs said:
Stan plays a decent game.

He's 2 and 6 in 8 ATP finals matches; he beats lower ranked players and can't be those above him - those he'd be expected to beat in a Davis Cup SF or F:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Wawrinka

So you're attempt to deflect the Williams Sisters' bad behavior toward Fed is lame. Serena said it - it's all about the money.

jamesblakefan#1 · May 28, 2010

Chadwixx said:
Sticking up for your favorite player and comparing her to fed again

Wait so my favorite player is Serena? I guess that's obvious judging from my username and the fact that I was so happy that ESPN chose to show her match today over live tennis.

Just because I don't fall in line with the majority Serena bashers on here doesn't mean I'm some uber-**********, let's get that straight right now.

West Coast Ace · May 28, 2010

jamesblakefan#1 said:
...doesn't mean I'm some uber-**********,

But you still like her and respect her, right? No lying, James wouldn't approve.

jamesblakefan#1 · May 28, 2010

West Coast Ace said:
But you still like her and respect her, right? No lying, James wouldn't approve.

Blake and Serena are good friends. But that's irrelevant.

It's as if Serena's some evil person to some of you people. Anyone that doesn't despise her must be insane. It's pretty funny.

LDVTennis · May 28, 2010

jamesblakefan#1 said:
Take out the dog comment and read the rest of the quote (which you tastefully left out BTW) and it's not too different from what other players, including Nadal and Fed, have said about DC and putting health first. But of course Serena gets no benefit of the doubt on here, so that's to be expected.

Yeah, but the "dog" part of the answer makes a big difference. You just can't take it out.

She was put on the defensive and because she did not have a good explanation for her actions she became flippant. That's just so wrong.

This is not the first time Serena has acted this way. She acted the same way when reporters asked her to explain her outburst at the US Open. She was flippant. So, why should anyone give her the benefit of the doubt.

West Coast Ace · May 28, 2010

LDVTennis said:
Yeah, but the "dog" part of the answer makes a big difference. You just can't take it out.

She was put on the defensive and because she did not have a good explanation for her actions she became flippant. That's just so wrong.

This is not the first time Serena has acted this way. She acted the same way when reporters asked her to explain her outburst at the US Open. She was flippant. So, why should anyone give her the benefit of the doubt.

Very well said. She has a reputation. These most recent comments just cement it in the minds of everyone who isn't on her bandwagon - or payroll (I'm sure her dogs approve - LOL!)

jrod · May 28, 2010

sureshs said:
....
Gates gives $100m to fight HIV, $421m to fight Linux
....

Not that I am a fan of Microsoft (in fact, I despise them), but it's just a tad disingenuous to focus on only a fraction his foundations charitable contributions. Clearly, the more successful he is with Microsoft, the more funds that will be made available to charitable efforts. In fact, it's probably the single most efficient way of directing funds to those in need. The fact of the matter is that the success of Linux will do next to nothing to help anyone truly in need.

decades · May 28, 2010

Serena plays for the Money. Not her Country. Put that in your pipe and smoke it J P McEnroe.

Tanya · May 28, 2010

Who cares? If she feels more responsibility toward her dogs than toward Fed Cup then what does it matter? Some of you are saying you'd rather see people like Craybas playing anyway so you should be happy about it.

The Serena-hate stopped being trendy in '09, lets get with the times people.

Also stop acting like Serena is the only athlete in the world that plays for the money. Take a nice dose of reality please.

cucio · May 29, 2010

jrod said:
The fact of the matter is that the success of Linux will do next to nothing to help anyone truly in need.

That's immensely arguable, isn't it? At many levels:

1) Economical: money spent in software licenses can be redirected to other areas.

2) Educational: source code is a valuable tool for education in computer science.

3) Philosophical: the free software movement promotes a spirit of knowledge sharing and cooperation.

This thread sucks and is now about humanitarianism.

MotherMarjorie · May 29, 2010

Mother Marjorie thinks Serena Williams has the right to play Fed Cup as her schedule deems. Other top US players have played Fed Cup at-will and she deserves the same consideration. Her knee has been problematic most of the year and she's just getting back into tournament form. When the time is right, she will play. The '12 Olympics isn't that far away and she'll have ample motivation to play before then.

jamesblakefan#1 · Aug 12, 2010

Venus and Serena commit to U.S. team for 2010 Fed Cup Final

http://www.usta.com/venus_and_serena_commit_to_us_team_for_2010_fed_cup_final/

Mulligan · Aug 12, 2010

Tanya said:
Who cares? ........Also stop acting like Serena is the only athlete in the world that plays for the money. Take a nice dose of reality please.

Pretty much sums it up. These threads are as lame as it gets...

fantom · Aug 13, 2010

jamesblakefan#1 said:
Venus and Serena commit to U.S. team for 2010 Fed Cup Final

http://www.usta.com/venus_and_serena_commit_to_us_team_for_2010_fed_cup_final/

Why the hell are they playing the Fed Cup Finals when they didn't play all year? Sure, they give the US the best chance at winning, but what about the players who actually committed themselves and worked to get there? Should they just take a back seat and watch the Williams sisters seal the deal for them? It just doesn't seem right to me.

On the other hand, I'm sure one or both of them will find a reason to pull out anyways....

Serena on Fed Cup and her Country

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