The Serena bashing...

[aptennis91]

Serena made a big mistake last night.
She should never have had said those things to the lineswoman.
HOWEVER, how many of you have lost control of your anger at some point in your life?
If any of you say "not me" then you are lying.
People make mistakes. Especially when under immense pressure.
The lineswoman seems to have gotten the call wrong according to ESPN replays and at the very least, it was extremely close.
She should have the brains to know that when it is that close, then you give the benefit of the doubt to let them play.
Safin at AO open was clearly in the paint, but Serena's was not.
I saw a smirk on the lineswoman's face and I'm sure Serena saw that too.
That is no excuse for such harsh words, but to say she deserves criminal charges and that her career is over???
I'll be honest, I dislike Serena, however, people make mistakes.
If Serena comes out and admits that, then she deserves a second chance.
After all, we all get one so why shouldn't she?

 

[Lionheart392]

Don't do the crime if you can't do the time. She behaved appallingly and so far hasn't shown any genuine remorse. She deserves to be criticised.

 

[AR15]

Yes, people make mistakes and should be forgiven for their mistakes.

However, that doesn't mean they shouldn't suffer the consequences for those mistakes.

And, how do you know anyone is angry about this?

 

[charliefedererer]

Serena prides herself at rising to the occasion, and never cracking under pressure.
The US Open, along with Wimbledon, only happen once a year.
Serena only has a few left on which to further cement her legacy.
The episode last night on the tennis world's biggest stage goes down as part of the "warts and all" component of this complicated champion.

 

[jwbarrientos]

I lost my control many times playing soccer, tennis, anyhow at club level you don't get millions; in any case, when you made a mistake you start assuming it, apologizing, punished, etc.

I remember a soccer game we lost and after finishing the game i kick the ball to the sky, and believe, had bad luck and landed in official's head suspension was automatically, and also the apology.

Back to Serena. Let's pretend for a second that the lineperson was wrong, Serena over reacted; you could say anything to the lineperson without showing the racquet in that way.

BTW, Serena DID NOT LOSE THE GAME in that point, that point was the last in a match where Clijster was fairly superior (IMHO).

 

[gflyer]

After cooling down, during the press conference she was all BUT apologetic.
So it's not a matter of the moment.

 

[AR15]

If Federer wins the US Open it will be overshadowed by the Serena incident.

This was really a good tournament until this incident.

Instead of people remembering good things like Djokevik and Johny Mac clowning around, they will remember this.

 

[TennisBatman]

Serena made a big mistake last night.
She should never have had said those things to the lineswoman.
HOWEVER, how many of you have lost control of your anger at some point in your life?
If any of you say "not me" then you are lying.
People make mistakes. Especially when under immense pressure.
The lineswoman seems to have gotten the call wrong according to ESPN replays and at the very least, it was extremely close.

The replays were not from the angle at which the lineswoman saw the play. She had a much better view of it.

She should have the brains to know that when it is that close, then you give the benefit of the doubt to let them play.

But it wasn't a breakpoint or matchpoint situation...only Serena's behavior made it that way.

Safin at AO open was clearly in the paint, but Serena's was not.
I saw a smirk on the lineswoman's face and I'm sure Serena saw that too.

...and I see the smirk on your face. Really, if it was a really a smirk I'd say it was appropriate, because Serena deserved the shame she got and will get for her actions.

That is no excuse for such harsh words, but to say she deserves criminal charges and that her career is over???
I'll be honest, I dislike Serena, however, people make mistakes.
If Serena comes out and admits that, then she deserves a second chance.
After all, we all get one so why shouldn't she?

I'm not sure whether this means her career is over, but criminal charges are definitely appropriate for something like this.

 

[rommil]

After cooling down, during the press conference she was all BUT apologetic.
So it's not a matter of the moment.

This....Serena wouldn't even say what she said to the lineswoman.

 

[Rain]

I can only imagine what kind of penalty would get handed down if an NBA player pulled a stunt like this to an NBA referee. But, in tennis, this is not a big deal? Hmm...

 

[jwbarrientos]

I can only imagine what kind of penalty would get handed down if an NBA player pulled a stunt like this to an NBA referee. But, in tennis, this is not a big deal? Hmm...

Yeap, Like Shaq telling to Bareta "hey old boy, next time you call me 3 secs, you better open your mouth".

For the record, I wouldn't officiate any coming match of Serena, I'd demand proper security staff

 

[borg number one]

Serena has revealed a quality I disliked very much in both Connors and McEnroe. All three of them, often, when they start losing a match and face real trouble against an opponent used "questionable tactics", such as suddenly complaining about calls, becoming angry at the opponent's play/mannerisms, yelling at people in the stands, umpires, ball boys, or engaging in "gamesmanship" such as trying to intimidate the opponent,etc. When you have crowds involved in such situations, such tactics can often change the momentum of a match simply because an opponent can become distracted by such tactics if they are in effect being orchestrated by the opponent. The "instigator" has no reason to stop, because such a player is trying to change the match dynamic anyway possible, by hopefully regaining some sort of perceived psychological advantage. McEnroe was smart enough to not try this against the unflappable Bjorn Borg, who would never complain about a call or engage in such "gamesmanship". It is basically cheating, in that players like Connors, McEnroe, Nastase, and Serena often end up on top after matches in which they utilize such underhanded tactics. Advice for such players: Just shut up and play the game the way it's supposed to be played, and stop whining!!!! If you are really better than the other player on that day, just let your strokes do the talking. In my opinion Serena has sullied the game, in the same way that Connors, McEnroe, and Nastase did with their behavior which only detracted from other great accomplishments. In that respect, both Nadal and Federer are light years ahead of McEnroe, Connors, and unfortunately, now Serena.

 

[ubermeyer]

i don't threaten to kill people...

 

[three eights]

Serena made a big mistake last night.
She should never have had said those things to the lineswoman.
HOWEVER, how many of you have lost control of your anger at some point in your life?
If any of you say "not me" then you are lying.
People make mistakes. Especially when under immense pressure.
The lineswoman seems to have gotten the call wrong according to ESPN replays and at the very least, it was extremely close.
She should have the brains to know that when it is that close, then you give the benefit of the doubt to let them play.
Safin at AO open was clearly in the paint, but Serena's was not.
I saw a smirk on the lineswoman's face and I'm sure Serena saw that too.
That is no excuse for such harsh words, but to say she deserves criminal charges and that her career is over???
I'll be honest, I dislike Serena, however, people make mistakes.
If Serena comes out and admits that, then she deserves a second chance.
After all, we all get one so why shouldn't she?

Bud she didn't, did she? and so she does not.

 

[dincuss]

This explains all with some humor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzmyFVPbXg4&feature=popular

 

[EtePras]

Second chances? Why is that everyone else gets it right on their first chance?

 

[West Coast Ace]

Serena made a big mistake last night.
She should never have had said those things to the lineswoman.
HOWEVER, how many of you have lost control of your anger at some point in your life?
If any of you say "not me" then you are lying.
People make mistakes. Especially when under immense pressure.
The lineswoman seems to have gotten the call wrong according to ESPN replays and at the very least, it was extremely close.
She should have the brains to know that when it is that close, then you give the benefit of the doubt to let them play.
Safin at AO open was clearly in the paint, but Serena's was not.
I saw a smirk on the lineswoman's face and I'm sure Serena saw that too.
That is no excuse for such harsh words, but to say she deserves criminal charges and that her career is over???
I'll be honest, I dislike Serena, however, people make mistakes.
If Serena comes out and admits that, then she deserves a second chance.
After all, we all get one so why shouldn't she?

Sorry, I have a hard time believing you 'dislike Serena'... an apologist by any other name...

I still think a 'time out' until after next year's AO would be acceptable. Would send a clear message. And it's not like she's hurting for money - and given the state of the WTA her ranking wouldn't fall very far...