Popularity of Williams sisters on TW...

Do you like the Williams sisters enough to watch them on TV?

  • Yes, and I am male

    Votes: 47 25.8%

  • No, and I am a male

    Votes: 97 53.3%

  • Yes, and I am female

    Votes: 2 1.1%

  • No, and I am female

    Votes: 6 3.3%

  • Don't really care either way (and I am male)

    Votes: 28 15.4%

  • Don't really care either way (and I am female)

    Votes: 2 1.1%
  • Total voters
    182
jamesblakefan#1

jamesblakefan#1

G.O.A.T.
TMF said:
If it weren't for their sexual infidelity, I'm sure they would have much more votes(and not lose some of their fans' respect). If you think they will continue to be more popular, then they should go out and have more affairs. Or Serena come up with another outburst at the slam.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

The point, which you seem to ignore, is that stuff like this doesn't matter in the long run. Ultimately it is winning which matters most, which is why Kobe and Serena's incidents have been long forgotten by most people, as the numbers show.
 
Joe Pike

Joe Pike

Banned
THUNDERVOLLEY said:
True.

For being a "top" professional in such an international sport, one can argue that Henin is one the most low-key, forgettable players in a generation. Being the business that tennis happens to be, her presence in the ancillary market would be missed if you blinked--unlike the Williams sisters or a Sharapova. Even some female skating and golf pros appear to have a stronger international media/ancillary market presence than Henin, ...
Click to expand...


There are female golf pros???:shock:
 
THUNDERVOLLEY

THUNDERVOLLEY

G.O.A.T.
Joe Pike said:
Clijsters is not American.
AP is.
Click to expand...

..which has no bearing on the overall popularity of a player. Just as you made a wild claim about Henin, Clijsters--while certainly more appealing than Henin ever could be--will never rank as the most popular female athlete, or anything else.
 
A

Annika

Semi-Pro
I'm especially not enjoying Serena's little games about playing in the Fed Cup. This was a US team that needed her and she walked away. In fact, as someone else once said, she probably didn't even plan to play Fed Cup. Wanted to make herself look good after the tirade she had against the lines lady.

And Venus attire. Does she really need that much attention. Thought she had a boyfriend.
 
T

TMF

Talk Tennis Guru
Joe Pike said:
People with no college education.



Winning is the ultimate goal.
But to be "great" needs more than just winning.
Click to expand...

Right!
Look at Terrel Owen, Randy Moss...great players but too much trouble off court. They will never be as popular as Jerry Rice, a beloved superstar with ZERO trouble off court.
 
THUNDERVOLLEY

THUNDERVOLLEY

G.O.A.T.
Joe Pike said:
You are suprised that an American wins a popularity poll conducted by Associated Press (and that in English)?
Are you dense or what?:shock:
Click to expand...

No, you must be dense, since non-Americans, e.g., Borg--was a sensation in the United States, a genuine poster-boy and fixture in the popular culture. Similarly, Agassi had superstar status in countries in addition to his own, thus your "popularity-must-walk-hand-in-hand-with-national-identity" routine does not hold much water. If Clijsters was not as popular as Serena, it has much to do with SW being a player many are interested in for several reasons, while Clijsters? ...not so much.

Beyond her "nice girl" personality, there's not much in the way of magnetism, so for her, its a victory that she reached 3rd place at all.
 
Last edited:
THUNDERVOLLEY

THUNDERVOLLEY

G.O.A.T.
Joe Pike said:
People with no college education.
Click to expand...

A baseless comment to be certain. The winning mentality from pro or fan is not limited to any irrelevant factors such as college education. Try again.

Winning is the ultimate goal.
But to be "great" needs more than just winning.
Click to expand...

Funny, because only a few tennis pros in history have enjoyed more than the near universal praise (read: considered great) recieved by Connors and McEnroe, yet both were not church boys during their heyday to any degree, yet they were and remain highly celebrated sports legends. Even Mike Tyson--bad boy to end them all--has been considered one of boxing history's greatest. Once again, your theories are weak at best.
 
ivan_the_terrible

ivan_the_terrible

Hall of Fame
what's not to like about them?

When I think of the two of them the word 'Bombastic' comes to mind, and I ain't talking about the Shaggy song either.

They pout, they glare, they scream, they dress like they're in a Mardi Gras parade. They have no class when they lose either.

No wonder they're so popular.
 
hugobosstachini

hugobosstachini

Professional
To me there are no excuses for Serena's on-court attitude... the only thing I'll say is that indeed Venus pays for what Serena does off and on-court unfortunately and they're both always put in the same bag... sad.

It's a shame Dementieva retired before Serena, the american wouldn't be missed for sure and that would be a positive thing for the tour having Serena off to finally let everyone take a breath...

She brings nothing to the game than just her baseless remarks, arrogant attitude and overall great stupidity when talking about herself...

Her technique bar serve and game are a shame to the beautiful sport of tennis too and it's quite desperate to think that there are some girls taking example on these aspects of her game...

Her attitude towards the WTA where she plays only 6 tournaments and claims how great of a champion she is is a pure disrespect to the game...

Fed even with 14 majors still plays the game and assuredly respects the game as much as he can I guess which isn't Serena's case who often shows up in the events to play crap disrespects the fans and the game for just her egoïst self...

That girl is a shame to tennis in all possible ways, Maria Sharapova for instance would be a better representative of American tennis for instance than Serena, sad fact Maria hasn't taken the US nationality, she'd be such a great champion for the sport up there, really, tennis wise, attitude wise, popularity wise a great champion she is and glory to her 4ever !
 
jamesblakefan#1

jamesblakefan#1

G.O.A.T.
Funny how people act as if Serena is the first great champion in tennis to have an ego/on court attitude problem. Connors and McEnroe have already been mentioned. Do I need to bring up Andy Roddick's constant on court fits?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KfvDeQb-Nk

I think there's something about seeing a woman doing these things that puts people off. It's more sexism than anything else. Serena expresses herself in a way that people don't expect women to do so. And that rubs some the wrong way.
 
jamesblakefan#1

jamesblakefan#1

G.O.A.T.
hugobosstachini said:
It's a shame Dementieva retired before Serena, the american wouldn't be missed for sure and that would be a positive thing for the tour having Serena off to finally let everyone take a breath...
Click to expand...

The ratings disagree with you. No one person(s) are bigger than the sport, but the WS have moved the needle on the WTA tour for over 10 years now. Love them or hate them, people watch them, which brings money to the WTA tour. In their abscence the tour suffers, as we've seen the past few months.

She brings nothing to the game than just her baseless remarks, arrogant attitude and overall great stupidity when talking about herself...
Click to expand...

Refer to my previous post about great champions who were arrogant and far from on court angels.

That girl is a shame to tennis in all possible ways, Maria Sharapova for instance would be a better representative of American tennis for instance than Serena, sad fact Maria hasn't taken the US nationality, she'd be such a great champion for the sport up there, really, tennis wise, attitude wise, popularity wise a great champion she is and glory to her 4ever !
Click to expand...

Funny how you bash Serena for being arrogant, egotist, bad technique, etc, then bring up SHARAPOVA as an alternative. 'Nuff said.
 
dlk

dlk

Hall of Fame
jamesblakefan#1 said:
Funny how people act as if Serena is the first great champion in tennis to have an ego/on court attitude problem. Connors and McEnroe have already been mentioned. Do I need to bring up Andy Roddick's constant on court fits?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KfvDeQb-Nk

I think there's something about seeing a woman doing these things that puts people off. It's more sexism than anything else. Serena expresses herself in a way that people don't expect women to do so. And that rubs some the wrong way.
Click to expand...

I'm afraid it's more complex than sexism. Her laissez-faire demeanor, which includes the ability to play limited matches & still be the best. You're right she's a female. She is American. And finally, & perhaps the underlying deepest seated maxim...she's black.
 
THUNDERVOLLEY

THUNDERVOLLEY

G.O.A.T.
jamesblakefan#1 said:
Funny how you bash Serena for being arrogant, egotist, bad technique, etc, then bring up SHARAPOVA as an alternative. 'Nuff said.
Click to expand...

Exactly--the woman even her own WTA countrywomen could not stand..the same woman who has zero game beyond baseline bashing, fears the net as though it is a giant no-pest strip, and is about as flat-footed as any top player has been in decades, and appears to have invested more time in Powershot commercials than improving her game, yet hugobosstachini actually champions this quickly fading hype machine.

Then, there's his love-shower of one for Dementieva...here's a clue, hugobosstachini: women who repeatedly failed to rise to the occasion to win majors are not exactly what the sport wants or needs, and before anyone mentions age, considering a veteran like Schiavone actually won a major in what many consider the twilight of her career, it places the overblown Dementieva in a very bad position of career evaluation.
 
fedhingis515

fedhingis515

Semi-Pro
hugobosstachini said:
To me there are no excuses for Serena's on-court attitude... the only thing I'll say is that indeed Venus pays for what Serena does off and on-court unfortunately and they're both always put in the same bag... sad.

It's a shame Dementieva retired before Serena, the american wouldn't be missed for sure and that would be a positive thing for the tour having Serena off to finally let everyone take a breath...

She brings nothing to the game than just her baseless remarks, arrogant attitude and overall great stupidity when talking about herself...

Her technique bar serve and game are a shame to the beautiful sport of tennis too and it's quite desperate to think that there are some girls taking example on these aspects of her game...

Her attitude towards the WTA where she plays only 6 tournaments and claims how great of a champion she is is a pure disrespect to the game...

Fed even with 14 majors still plays the game and assuredly respects the game as much as he can I guess which isn't Serena's case who often shows up in the events to play crap disrespects the fans and the game for just her egoïst self...

That girl is a shame to tennis in all possible ways, Maria Sharapova for instance would be a better representative of American tennis for instance than Serena, sad fact Maria hasn't taken the US nationality, she'd be such a great champion for the sport up there, really, tennis wise, attitude wise, popularity wise a great champion she is and glory to her 4ever !
Click to expand...

So much fail in one post, it's actually hilarious.
 
T

TMF

Talk Tennis Guru
THUNDERVOLLEY said:
Exactly--the woman even her own WTA countrywomen could not stand..the same woman who has zero game beyond baseline bashing, fears the net as though it is a giant no-pest strip, and is about as flat-footed as any top player has been in decades, and appears to have invested more time in Powershot commercials than improving her game, yet hugobosstachini actually champions this quickly fading hype machine.

Then, there's his love-shower of one for Dementieva...here's a clue, hugobosstachini: women who repeatedly failed to rise to the occasion to win majors are not exactly what the sport wants or needs, and before anyone mentions age, considering a veteran like Schiavone actually won a major in what many consider the twilight of her career, it places the overblown Dementieva in a very bad position of career evaluation.
Click to expand...

Funny when anything about defending Serena, you stick together with JBF#1 through thick and thin. But when discuss over Wozniacki's deserving #1 and the the WTA ranking system, you two fight like cat and dog. You guys are strange.
 
Polaris

Polaris

Hall of Fame
This is off-topic. I'm more or less indifferent to the Williams sisters, though I have to acknowledge that Serena is good enough to win a slam in her sleep.

THUNDERVOLLEY said:
Then, there's his love-shower of one for Dementieva...here's a clue, hugobosstachini: women who repeatedly failed to rise to the occasion to win majors are not exactly what the sport wants or needs, ..
Click to expand...

We weren't aware that you speak for the sport of tennis. Here's the thing: Dementieva came across a good person who tried her best. Unfortunately, her best wasn't enough. Still, she gets an A for effort and an A for behavior. Same goes for Alicia Molik, for example, or Helena Sukova, or Fabrice Santoro. Wonderful players, and enjoyable to watch in a tennis match.

So, if you are going to tell us that the sport only "wants or needs" Slam winners, you can buzz off.
 
Last edited:
JeMar

JeMar

Legend
I don't care for their game, but I do appreciate their talent. Especially Serena. Anyone that can show up at a slam overweight and out of practice and walk away with the title demands respect.
 
L

LDVTennis

Professional
More than 50% of those polled here would not watch the W Sisters on TV.

About 20% are indifferent to the W Sisters.

So much for the idea that the W Sisters are the two most popular female athletes.
 
jamesblakefan#1

jamesblakefan#1

G.O.A.T.
LDVTennis said:
More than 50% of those polled here would not watch the W Sisters on TV.

About 20% are indifferent to the W Sisters.

So much for the idea that the W Sisters are the two most popular female athletes.
Click to expand...

Yes, because TTW polls are a reflection of the view of the nation at large. :shock:
 
abmk

abmk

Bionic Poster
Polaris said:
We weren't aware that you speak for the sport of tennis. Here's the thing: Dementieva came across a good person who tried her best. Unfortunately, her best wasn't enough. Still, she gets an A for effort and an A for behavior. Same goes for Alicia Molik, for example, or Helena Sukova, or Fabrice Santoro. Wonderful players, and enjoyable to watch in a tennis match.

So, if you are going to tell us that the sport only "wants or needs" Slam winners, you can buzz off.
Click to expand...

QFT ! many have said the same thing repeatedly to thundervolley, but from what I've seen it doesn't seem to have sunk in !
 
Joe Pike

Joe Pike

Banned
jamesblakefan#1 said:
Funny how people act as if Serena is the first great champion in tennis to have an ego/on court attitude problem. Connors and McEnroe have already been mentioned. Do I need to bring up Andy Roddick's constant on court fits?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KfvDeQb-Nk

I think there's something about seeing a woman doing these things that puts people off. It's more sexism than anything else. Serena expresses herself in a way that people don't expect women to do so. And that rubs some the wrong way.
Click to expand...

Yes, a woman should be graceful and modest.
Serena isn't.
 
snoopy

snoopy

Professional
For me this question is more about Serena then Venus.

I don't like Serena's personality and I don't find her bashing style of play particularly fun to watch.

But there's no doubt that when she's motivated she's the best women's player on tour. Any big tournament without her feels a bit hollow.

So, yes, I do like watching Serena play.
 
W

woodyAllen

New User
snoopy said:
For me this question is more about Serena then Venus.

I don't like Serena's personality and I don't find her bashing style of play particularly fun to watch.

But there's no doubt that when she's motivated she's the best women's player on tour. Any big tournament without her feels a bit hollow.

So, yes, I do like watching Serena play.
Click to expand...

This is exactly what i feel about this.

I wish there was a player with another style to confront them. Baseliners against Serena on her top form do not stand a change. Give me someone who can slice and chip to see sth different please!!!!
 
Ronaldo

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
LDVTennis said:
More than 50% of those polled here would not watch the W Sisters on TV.

About 20% are indifferent to the W Sisters.

So much for the idea that the W Sisters are the two most popular female athletes.
Click to expand...

Seems most take Safin's attitude toward the WTA overall and Serena in particular.
 
SystemicAnomaly

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
LDVTennis said:
More than 50% of those polled here would not watch the W Sisters on TV.

About 20% are indifferent to the W Sisters.

So much for the idea that the W Sisters are the two most popular female athletes.
Click to expand...

141 voters and only 5 are female. Oh yeah, this is a meaningful result.
 
THUNDERVOLLEY

THUNDERVOLLEY

G.O.A.T.
Polaris said:
This is off-topic. I'm more or less indifferent to the Williams sisters, though I have to acknowledge that Serena is good enough to win a slam in her sleep.
Click to expand...

Not a good way to start a post in this thread.....

We weren't aware that you speak for the sport of tennis.
Click to expand...

We were not aware that you and your ilk speak for the sport, which you and others insist on doing. Yes, I know your history, so it is pointless to deny it. You should have realized you were setting yourself up as you were typing that.

Here's the thing: Dementieva came across a good person who tried her best. Unfortunately, her best wasn't enough. Still, she gets an A for effort and an A for behavior. Same goes for Alicia Molik, for example, or Helena Sukova, or Fabrice Santoro. Wonderful players, and enjoyable to watch in a tennis match.

So, if you are going to tell us that the sport only "wants or needs" Slam winners, you can buzz off.
Click to expand...

No one cares what you think. On the other hand, the reality of professional sports is all about winning, not being runner-up, or merely trying. This is not Little League, junior. For you to even suggest what you have reveals your woeful lack of understanding about a rather elementary concept in professional sports, which is the reason why you can see fit to defend Dementieva's symphony of disaster. Still, if you continue to have trouble with this, ask McEnroe, Federer or Sampras about being a runner up in the final of a major, and see how fast your "A for effort" nonsense will be dismissed.
 
Last edited:
THUNDERVOLLEY

THUNDERVOLLEY

G.O.A.T.
jamesblakefan#1 said:
Yes, because TTW polls are a reflection of the view of the nation at large. :shock:
Click to expand...


Exactly. Typical of certain TW members, they live in a fantasy world where their antisocial behavior suddenly becomes the dominant opinion of the general public. Thankfully, the real world takes a far different view.
 
jamesblakefan#1

jamesblakefan#1

G.O.A.T.
I'm going to say something that a lot of my TTW comrades are not going to like to hear, but it's the truth. The WS are probably the most recognizable tennis players here in the US. It's been that way for 10 years now. More so than even Federer and Nadal. Most people when they turn on the TV and see a tennis match, they turn away. But when they see the name Williams they stay around and watch. Even more than in the case of Federer and Nadal, though they have made up ground in that area. That's why ESPN shows all of their matches. ESPN is in a business, and the WS bring in ratings, plain and simple. The average sports fan couldn't care less about the Davydenko's and Nalbandian's of the world, who are of course TTW gods. But the WS in the real world are the most recognizable faces in tennis. Love them or hate them, they move the needle.
 
T

TMF

Talk Tennis Guru
jamesblakefan#1 said:
Yes, because TTW polls are a reflection of the view of the nation at large. :shock:
Click to expand...

You don't like the poll result so you are trying to dismiss it. Tennis fans visit this forum are no different from other tennis fans visiting other public websites. You post this poll in any forums, the result will likely be the same. Keep in mind TW is one of the biggest tennis board on the internet. And since you lclaimed Serena is the most popular in the US, this board is visit mostly from US fans.
 
T

TMF

Talk Tennis Guru
woodyAllen said:
This is exactly what i feel about this.

I wish there was a player with another style to confront them. Baseliners against Serena on her top form do not stand a change. Give me someone who can slice and chip to see sth different please!!!!
Click to expand...

Ever heard of Kim Clijsters ?
Or maybe you just forgot. That's ok.
 
T

TMF

Talk Tennis Guru
THUNDERVOLLEY said:
Exactly. Typical of certain TW members, they live in a fantasy world where their antisocial behavior suddenly becomes the dominant opinion of the general public. Thankfully, the real world takes a far different view.
Click to expand...

Care to prove fans from other tennis boards are different from here ??

If you can't, close your mouth.
 
SiriusTennis

SiriusTennis

Rookie
jamesblakefan#1 said:
I'm going to say something that a lot of my TTW comrades are not going to like to hear, but it's the truth. The WS are probably the most recognizable tennis players here in the US. It's been that way for 10 years now. More so than even Federer and Nadal. Most people when they turn on the TV and see a tennis match, they turn away. But when they see the name Williams they stay around and watch. Even more than in the case of Federer and Nadal, though they have made up ground in that area. That's why ESPN shows all of their matches. ESPN is in a business, and the WS bring in ratings, plain and simple. The average sports fan couldn't care less about the Davydenko's and Nalbandian's of the world, who are of course TTW gods. But the WS in the real world are the most recognizable faces in tennis. Love them or hate them, they move the needle.
Click to expand...

I agree. This is definitely the case in the U.S.

Don't think it is elsewhere, though.
 
President

President

Legend
jamesblakefan#1 said:
I'm going to say something that a lot of my TTW comrades are not going to like to hear, but it's the truth. The WS are probably the most recognizable tennis players here in the US. It's been that way for 10 years now. More so than even Federer and Nadal. Most people when they turn on the TV and see a tennis match, they turn away. But when they see the name Williams they stay around and watch. Even more than in the case of Federer and Nadal, though they have made up ground in that area. That's why ESPN shows all of their matches. ESPN is in a business, and the WS bring in ratings, plain and simple. The average sports fan couldn't care less about the Davydenko's and Nalbandian's of the world, who are of course TTW gods. But the WS in the real world are the most recognizable faces in tennis. Love them or hate them, they move the needle.
Click to expand...

This is completely correct, and rather unfortuanate. If the public knew more about players like Davydenko and Nalbandian, I think that the interest in tennis would grow. Many WS fans may not like to hear this, but their matches are usually very dull. This is not their fault but rather that of their opponents; Serena is basically at a completely different level to her opponenents. Compare the average WS match (basically errorfests with Serena bludgeoning the ball past opponents) to a match of Federer or Nadal or even Roddick in terms of entertainment and I think you'll agree that it is something that the US tennis media needs to address.
 
L

LDVTennis

Professional
jamesblakefan#1 said:
Yes, because TTW polls are a reflection of the view of the nation at large. :shock:
Click to expand...

Just as much as the poll you cited was a reflection of the view of the nation at large.

That poll was a nationwide survey of 2,177 US adults conducted online June 8-15 by Harris Interactive.

Here is an explanation of why the results of online polls are questionable:

Unlike most conventional telephone polls, which begin with a random sample of telephone numbers or registered voters, online polls begin with non-random “panels” of Americans who agree to complete surveys online. They are typically recruited using banner advertisements on web sites and usually receive some form of token financial compensation for each survey they complete. Online pollsters then use various methods (usually statistical weighting) to try to transform the completed interviews into a representative sample of a larger population.

How well do the adjustments work? The few independent efforts to assess the accuracy of online polling against known benchmarks tells us that online polls are less accurate, although the degree of accuracy probably depends on the application and can be hard to predict. Some argue that online panels should never be used to estimate “population values,” others consider the observed differences in accuracy small relative to reductions in survey cost. (See link http://www.pollster.com/blogs/internet_polls/)
 
Last edited:
T

TMF

Talk Tennis Guru
LDVTennis said:
Just as much as the poll you cited was a reflection of the view of the nation at large. Wasn't it a telephone-based poll? Who exactly participates in telephone-based polls today? Lots of people who have nothing better to do with their lives than answer their landline phone. Figures the W Sisters would be popular with those people.
Click to expand...

If the sisters got most of the votes, I'm sure JBF#1 and thundervolley wouldn't complain one bit about the poll. The excuse is laughable !
 
L

LDVTennis

Professional
TMF said:
If the sisters got most of the votes, I'm sure JBF#1 and thundervolley wouldn't complain one bit about the poll. The excuse is laughable !
Click to expand...

I edited my post above. As it turns out, the poll JBF cited was no different than the poll here. Both were conducted online.

In fact of the two polls, this one may be the more accurate since it did not fish for respondents with banner ads and monetary compensation.

Our poll may also be more accurate because it more adequately polls what has to be considered a very "rare population" --- namely tennis fans who follow the sport well enough to have discussions about tennis equipment and techniques. That's a specialty of this site and makes it it quite rare among message boards that follow the sport of tennis.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

superstition
For the Williams sisters bashers
Replies
24
Views
2K
Mick
Mick
MotherMarjorie
Williams Sisters Each Fined $4,000 by Wimbledon Officials
2
Replies
69
Views
6K
THUNDERVOLLEY
THUNDERVOLLEY
jamesblakefan#1
ESPN Exec: Americans only care about Federer, Nadal, Williams Sisters
Replies
39
Views
4K
Vanhool
Vanhool
atatu
Impact of the Williams sisters
Replies
1
Views
657
Sagittar
Sagittar
T
Williams sisters in DC
Replies
0
Views
504
tennisfans
T
Top