Richard Williams: he's part of the reason the sisters...

[BjornBorg]

Orecene Williams seems like a nice lady. She's pretty low-profile, doesn't make waves and seems to have class.

Richard Williams is an idiot. With his type of personality, you knew much of that would rub off on the Williams sisters. In one way, it helped them achieve what they have. He constantly pushed them to have that inner belief.

Unfortunately, he didn't teach them the best sportsmanship and each, particulary Serena, seem to lack some character at the core. You see people's character come out when things aren't going well. At age 25 and 27, Serena and Venus really should have a bit more class in their post-match comments. But they STILL don't--especially Serena. There's an arrogance there, a lack of humility and a self-absorbtion.

Rather than give their time and energies to more noble causes outside of tennis, the girls (again, more Serena) espouse materialism and shallowness.

I think Venus is a decent person, but she showed again that she lacks some class as well. Blame some of that on their a-hole father's influence. Maybe that's why Orecene divorced him. But, as we know, the girls will keep a certain allegiance to their father and have a blindness about his negative effects on their character. I'm very happy they lost, especially Serena. I know she has worked hard, but she still is 10-15 pounds overweight and she still has not developed enough shot making skills, finesse and court intelligence to take her game to the Graf-Navratilova level. She's had a very, very good career, but it could have been better.

 

[Alexandros]

It's almost paradoxical that the two Williams' parents are so opposite one another. Oracene Price* is arguably one of the best tennis parents out there - sits in the stands unobtrusively, applauds good shots even when they are hit against her daughters and is seen laughing and enjoying herself. Richard Williams on the other hand is more int he vein of Yuri Sharapov with his gesticulating and rambling, arrogant us-against-the-world mentality.

 

[slice bh compliment]

Richard is boorish. But he is a brilliant architect for his daughters' success in sports.

Many of the things that make him a real dick...are the very same qualities that have helped him help his girls be champions.

The whole ''us against them'' vibe. The rationalizing of losses. The confidence that is also arrogance. No credit to the opponents. Winning. Losing without grace.

Then there's the Hollywoodish handlers (rather than actual media coaches who know sports well).

I'm not a fan. But I do appreciate the Williams family and their experience. I just feel they will end up with a lot of guilt and regret about their careers...and they'll never admit that 'cause there's fashion, acting and BS like they never signed up to be role models! Hrrriiiiiight, sure thing Charles Barkley.

SO many young people look up to them and maybe they do not know that (especially Serena). They could be so good for tennis, young people all over the world, education.

Who knows, maybe they will end up more like Andre Agassi. That would be nice.