The (young) Williams sisters

1

10ismom

Semi-Pro
I found this YouTube video while browsing on Serena's serve. The original Transworld sport interview was done when Venus and Serena were 12 and 11 yo.
Sorry if you've seen it. I think I would share this heartwarming video for those who haven't seen. It was about the Williams sisters and their father, Richard William when he moved his family to FL so the girls would be able to train and be prepared for the pro career.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9gUo2o0494

Below is an interview Richard Williams gave at the 2005 Wimbledon. I have not followed him but from these 2 videos, he seems like a nice father/coach who knows what's important in life. He gave genuine comments and had realistic expectations about his daughters.
Could not believe TCF mentioned he overhyped his girls before. But as I said, I've never follow him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kar-GyIZwcg
 
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These are great. (change the "m." to "www." unless you are on a phone) I've seen them before but it's fun to see them pop up now and again.

I think Richard is a little crazy but you have to admit that he seemed to have a plan and be ahead of the game in these videos and his message and priorities seem pretty consistent in both.

There was an interesting SI writeup years ago on him that wasn't so favorable and apparently there is a new documentary coming out that Venus in particular is upset about how Richard is portrayed.

Just found the SI writeup. Pretty interesting.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1016052/index.htm

This is worth a look too...pretty neat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qnyi2phCpk

Richard is making a video to try and get some support from Vic Braden. Some great quotes:

"Playing with some guy...can't remember his name...PETE SAMPRAS, that's it." (pete was maybe 12ish?)

"Watching your tape, it says you'll be good by Friday. Guess, what, it's just Tuesday and look how good they got!"

Here's another great one...credit to them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv2iG5iQp1o
 
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BirdieLane said:
These are great. (change the "m." to "www." unless you are on a phone) I've seen them before but it's fun to see them pop up now and again.

I think Richard is a little crazy but you have to admit that he seemed to have a plan and be ahead of the game in these videos and his message and priorities seem pretty consistent in both.

There was an interesting SI writeup years ago on him that wasn't so favorable and apparently there is a new documentary coming out that Venus in particular is upset about how Richard is portrayed.

Just found the SI writeup. Pretty interesting.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1016052/index.htm

This is worth a look too...pretty neat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qnyi2phCpk

Richard is making a video to try and get some support from Vic Braden. Some great quotes:

"Playing with some guy...can't remember his name...PETE SAMPRAS, that's it." (pete was maybe 12ish?)

"Watching your tape, it says you'll be good by Friday. Guess, what, it's just Tuesday and look how good they got!"

Here's another great one...credit to them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv2iG5iQp1o
Click to expand...

Thanks Birdie. I did not realize the 2 links I posted on this thread would only work on mobile devices. I think I was using the IPAD at the time.

I saw the video for Vic Braden and another one you posted too. I will read that SI article when work's not busy today.
It will be interesting to learn from this family for sure. The process of how he raised these 2 champions and their family value is noteworthy. Later on, after fame and money....their lives might be portrayed differently.
 
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BirdieLane said:
These are great. (change the "m." to "www." unless you are on a phone) I've seen them before but it's fun to see them pop up now and again.

I think Richard is a little crazy but you have to admit that he seemed to have a plan and be ahead of the game in these videos and his message and priorities seem pretty consistent in both.

There was an interesting SI writeup years ago on him that wasn't so favorable and apparently there is a new documentary coming out that Venus in particular is upset about how Richard is portrayed.

Just found the SI writeup. Pretty interesting.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1016052/index.htm

This is worth a look too...pretty neat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qnyi2phCpk

Richard is making a video to try and get some support from Vic Braden. Some great quotes:

"Playing with some guy...can't remember his name...PETE SAMPRAS, that's it." (pete was maybe 12ish?)

"Watching your tape, it says you'll be good by Friday. Guess, what, it's just Tuesday and look how good they got!"

Here's another great one...credit to them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv2iG5iQp1o
Click to expand...

Thanx for sharing these , I like Richard a very simple mind with a very simple plan , i like how Serena said at 12 yrs you need to plan your life "goals" ect. Like i have said i have met to many 2nd year college students who still not sure why they are there.
 
BirdieLane said:
These are great. (change the "m." to "www." unless you are on a phone) I've seen them before but it's fun to see them pop up now and again.

I think Richard is a little crazy but you have to admit that he seemed to have a plan and be ahead of the game in these videos and his message and priorities seem pretty consistent in both.

There was an interesting SI writeup years ago on him that wasn't so favorable and apparently there is a new documentary coming out that Venus in particular is upset about how Richard is portrayed.

Just found the SI writeup. Pretty interesting.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1016052/index.htm

This is worth a look too...pretty neat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qnyi2phCpk

Richard is making a video to try and get some support from Vic Braden. Some great quotes:

"Playing with some guy...can't remember his name...PETE SAMPRAS, that's it." (pete was maybe 12ish?)

"Watching your tape, it says you'll be good by Friday. Guess, what, it's just Tuesday and look how good they got!"

Here's another great one...credit to them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv2iG5iQp1o
Click to expand...

Crazy to you, genius to me.
 
Tennishacker said:
Crazy to you, genius to me.
Click to expand...

Just wanted to share a short story of my wife's encounter with Mr. Williams....who I believe is misunderstood in the tennis world.

My daughter served as a ball kid pretty much the whole week of the Bank of the West at Stanford this last summer. My kid did not get to work the finals that Serena found her self in against Coco Vandeweghe, (who happened into the main draw as a "lucky loser")...but her ID Pass let her in for free. Not wanting to pay finals entrance fees, my wife and son watched from outside Tuabe Stadium on the big screen. Coco takes Serena to 7-5 in the first set and Mr. Williams seemed nervous as he stepped outside to take a smoke. He see's my son has fallen asleep on one of the benches and approached my wife to inquire if he is alright. My wife is shocked that he initiated in conversation with her. He says in short, "I just wanted to make sure your son is alright". They exchange pleasantries for a short while.

Pretty cool guy and apparently still gets nervous even though it was not a grand slam event. He goes back inside the stadium after finishing his smoke. By this time, my wife realizes that she failed to get an autograph and picture with him. :shock:

Serena wins the second set 6-3 for the Championship.
 
tacoben said:
Just wanted to share a short story of my wife's encounter with Mr. Williams....who I believe is misunderstood in the tennis world.

My daughter served as a ball kid pretty much the whole week of the Bank of the West at Stanford this last summer. My kid did not get to work the finals that Serena found her self in against Coco Vandeweghe, (who happened into the main draw as a "lucky loser")...but her ID Pass let her in for free. Not wanting to pay finals entrance fees, my wife and son watched from outside Tuabe Stadium on the big screen. Coco takes Serena to 7-5 in the first set and Mr. Williams seemed nervous as he stepped outside to take a smoke. He see's my son has fallen asleep on one of the benches and approached my wife to inquire if he is alright. My wife is shocked that he initiated in conversation with her. He says in short, "I just wanted to make sure your son is alright". They exchange pleasantries for a short while.

Pretty cool guy and apparently still gets nervous even though it was not a grand slam event. He goes back inside the stadium after finishing his smoke. By this time, my wife realizes that she failed to get an autograph and picture with him. :shock:

Serena wins the second set 6-3 for the Championship.
Click to expand...

Nice story, btw, do you know the "mystical" sportsman, LeeD?
 
^^^No, I don't know this legendary fellow you speak of...but have read some of his postings. I thinks he is a Bay Area guy?
 
Tennishacker said:
Crazy to you, genius to me.
Click to expand...

I don't know if I read in the SI article or 1 of the videos but wasn't it said he would make the girls work hard passing out phone books and his wife Orecene was not liking it ? Also I believe he said the household was working hard at 2 yrfs old ?

Sound like the account my friend Mike Cole told me Serena and Venus were running a lot of windsprints early on in their lives , something about crazy work-ethics and top athletes !
 
I spent quite a bit of time talking to Richard at tournaments about 10 years ago. He was very much as described in the S.I. article. Trying to shock, exaggerating, making stuff up, and mixing in insightful smart comments on the tennis world and his girls. You can't believe anything he says, and you can't discount it either. I'd love to get the real story of how he developed 2 champion players- but I don't think we will ever get it from Richard.
 
coaching32yrs said:
I spent quite a bit of time talking to Richard at tournaments about 10 years ago. He was very much as described in the S.I. article. Trying to shock, exaggerating, making stuff up, and mixing in insightful smart comments on the tennis world and his girls. You can't believe anything he says, and you can't discount it either. I'd love to get the real story of how he developed 2 champion players- but I don't think we will ever get it from Richard.
Click to expand...

Like i have said the guy that taught me my job knew them, in that he shot basketball next to where they hit tennisballs in Compton and the thing he told me was that man had those girls running a lot of windsprints when they were young like 8yrs old , After reading the article it just comes down to this have a plan and work as hard as you can towards that goal and make it happen .Richard did just that its not rocket science its just not in us here in the USA to think that anymore and its sad.
 
TCF said:
Just not true. Tons of parents in America are obsessed with their kids sports. I see 6-7-8 year olds doing sprints, having trainers, working out as hard as the sisters ever did. Ever since Tiger was on the Mike Douglas show tons of parents have tried to duplicate what his dad did.

Boatloads of American kids work hard in many sports. I see basketball and football kids doing workouts that would make a grown man cry at 8 years old. The reason we have the top players in those sports is because our best athletes go into those sports as kids. Simple as that.

The reason we do not have any more Williams sisters is because they were lightning in a bottle...rare talent combined with hard work. Many girls have followed them who have worked just as hard. Some day another American great player will emerge, once again a combination of rare intangibles and hard work.
Click to expand...

Sorry I looked at the videos did not see world class strokes at 8 yrs old Plain and Simple, didnt even see Super freak movement Plain and Simple as you have always claimed!!! In fact I hate to admit it but Jan Silva had better strokes then both of them at 5 yrs old so did that kid Tristen Once again the williams Strokes and Movment were very very average I said it 2 x's now "Average" !!

You have been in Fl. to long Venus and Serena were not a hurricane in a bottle or even a small water funnel off the coast they were definately average at best "video shows that" BUT their dad wasnt and there is were the magic was and to that I say "Thanx Richard Williams" for filming your daughters young and allowing all of us to see with a single mind , a goal and some hard work "you forced" on your kids from the time they were 2 yrs old Anyone can do it!!!!!

See you in Jupiter soon will be arriving in a week so hopefully i can finally see your girl and how unbelievable she is , bringing my video camera.
 
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Number1Coach said:
Sorry I looked at the videos did not see world class strokes at 8 yrs old Plain and Simple, didnt even see Super freak movement Plain and Simple as you have always claimed!!! In fact I hate to admit it but Jan Silva had better strokes then both of them at 5 yrs old so did that kid Tristen Once again the williams Strokes and Movment were very very average I said it 2 x's now "Average" !!

You have been in Fl. to long Venus and Serena were not a hurricane in a bottle or even a small water funnel off the coast they were definately average at best "video shows that" BUT their dad wasnt and there is were the magic was and to that I say "Thanx Richard Williams" for filming your daughters young and allowing all of us to see with a single mind , a goal and some hard work "you forced" on your kids from the time they were 2 yrs old Anyone can do it!!!!!

See you in Jupiter soon will be arriving in a week so hopefully i can finally see your girl and how unbelievable she is , bringing my video camera.
Click to expand...

Macci has said that when he first started working with the Williams sisters he was not blown away by their strokes and ball striking. He was blown away by their athleticism. Obviously that is a self serving statement by Macci as it means he is responsible for creating their games. After all, Venus played 80 junior tournaments in Cal. and never lost. Serena lost once or twice.
 
TCF said:
Macci said he as blown away by the athletic ability at age 8-9......as did Paul Cohen at age 6-7....as did others.

Brad needs this fantasy that as long as he works his kid like a pack mule he will magically become Nadal.
Click to expand...

.................
 
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TCF said:
Brad is saying the Williams sisters were nothing special, the only reason they got to the top was Richard Williams pushed them hard.

The truth is that Richard Williams did push them BUT everyone who saw them also said they were freak athletes. Many others have pushed lesser talented kids like Williams did and they failed....but we never hear about them.

For every Agassi and Williams that daddy pushing worked there are thousands more where it did not result in a top player.
Click to expand...

.......................
 
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coaching32yrs said:
Macci has said that when he first started working with the Williams sisters he was not blown away by their strokes and ball striking. He was blown away by their athleticism. Obviously that is a self serving statement by Macci as it means he is responsible for creating their games. After all, Venus played 80 junior tournaments in Cal. and never lost. Serena lost once or twice.
Click to expand...

There was a young girl here in So.Cal and her dad was crazy and at 10years old he had his daughter press 140lbs on the bench and this girl was small but was strong as a bull , she would do 20 one arm push ups , I saw this with my own eyes and thought Damm,,, let me tell u he told me he started when she was like 5 yrs lifting ,,,My point had you or TCF saw her you guys and Macci would have been blown away by her strength "Freak" I know the behind the scenes 'Not Blown away"!

Mike Cole told me these girls were running Lots of sprints and by the time Macci saw the work he was blown away by athlecticism Why? Because he was used to rich white kids who never get pushed like this therefore it was amazing to him and Cohhen,,to me I know the behind the scenes "not blown away or supprized"
 
ga tennis said:
I agree you cant compare anyone's kids to the Williams. I hope Brad wasnt comparing Deit to Serena apples to Oranges.
Click to expand...

No kidding she's a girl he is a boy he is far superior to her at that age and now , Like I said set the match up we will show up and she would get dismanteled right now ,She's a female .
 
TCF said:
At what age? Age 9-13? Serena would have destroyed your kid. I am not so sure he would win even today, no track record of him beating superior players, seems to come up small vs the top guys.
Click to expand...

..............
 
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ga tennis said:
Deit will beat serena. Im 100% sure of it.
Click to expand...

Ga Tennis this is why you and all on here should take what TCF says as if was Manson , He said DB would be a. D2 player and now shows he believed every bit of that when he said that with something so ridiculous as Serena beating him ,,anyone on here who could make that match happen bring it to the table we will show up for that just to get guys like TCF to look at reality and short-circut !

BTW tcf to many letters arriving to the kid. I can't count LOL Oh yeah all D1 pal , time to wake up
 
TCF said:
No one is 100% sure of anything on court. Superior physical attributes are meaningless.

Bottom line is if Brad thinks his kid could have hung with Serena if they were both ages 9-13 he is living in an alternate universe.
Click to expand...

We would have spanked her when they were both 10 , shoot at 11he was beating the no.2 girl at UCLA in baseline games and tie breakers and had they played sets it would have been the same thing ,TCF this is where you show the game has passed you up and development is not your specialty !
 
Number1Coach said:
Sorry I looked at the videos did not see world class strokes at 8 yrs old Plain and Simple, didnt even see Super freak movement Plain and Simple as you have always claimed!!! In fact I hate to admit it but Jan Silva had better strokes then both of them at 5 yrs old so did that kid Tristen Once again the williams Strokes and Movment were very very average I said it 2 x's now "Average" !!

You have been in Fl. to long Venus and Serena were not a hurricane in a bottle or even a small water funnel off the coast they were definately average at best "video shows that" BUT their dad wasnt and there is were the magic was and to that I say "Thanx Richard Williams" for filming your daughters young and allowing all of us to see with a single mind , a goal and some hard work "you forced" on your kids from the time they were 2 yrs old Anyone can do it!!!!!

See you in Jupiter soon will be arriving in a week so hopefully i can finally see your girl and how unbelievable she is , bringing my video camera.
Click to expand...

I think Rick Macci is quoted as saying he was not that impressed with their tennis skills when he first saw them (which is shocking since he is so easily impressed these days, LOL)

But he was impressed when Venus began to do walking handstands or something like that.
 
TCF said:
Venus later
got to hit with both pros and told reporters afterwards that she felt she could
have beaten McEnroe if the bounces had gone her way!
Click to expand...

That's an interesting quote as it shows this high (unrealistically so) confidence that Venus had even back then.

Such high confidence certainly has certainly served both sisters well.
 
TCF said:
This is the wildest thing ever said on this forum by a mile.

Serena at 10 years old would have destroyed your kid. Girls mature early. At that age she was miles stronger, miles faster, and so much more athletic. Your guy would not have won a single point for goodness sakes.

You are either totally kidding or the most delusional parent ever to walk the earth. The way you insult the tennis gods on a daily basis, I pray your bad tennis karma does not doom your kid. Between saying he would be the next Nadal, to bragging how he "never gets injured thanks to your training methods", to this abomination of saying he was in the same universe as the Williams girls at age 10.....wow, just wow.....you tempt tennis fate daily.
Click to expand...

Delusional ? Tennis gods ? Tennis karma gods on a daily basis ? Need I say more to the man who knows everything without seeing it ? Delusional ?

Please board I admit I did some stuff I shouldn't have "drink /smoke ect." In the past but is TCF's cosmic world really all there ?
 
TCF said:
The guy who seriously typed that his kid at age 10 would beat Serena at age 10 should never call anyone else delusional again......or imply they drink or smoke anything!

Interesting that we can find several well known coaches on the record raving about Serena being a freak athlete at age 6-12.

Yet not one well known coach on record saying that about your kid....why is that? You took him on pilgrimages to IMG and others as a kid....got any record of any coach raving about your player? How come they all jumped on Serena as a kid yet none have jumped on your hype wagon?

Why? Because she as an obvious freak athlete all along the way. Companies tossed million dollar contracts to the sisters at age 13. Your player is almost 17....show us the press release of his million dollar deals. Anyone better than Serena at age 10 should have several already.....and wins in Orange Bowls and Jr. slams too.

Your players great deeds seem to be only in your mind. Richard Williams players accomplishments are all on the record.
Click to expand...

Once again college educations are overrated and you prove it your comprehension skills are at and alltime low , I have said she was a freak athlete "because her dad made her one" !!! I am not at all shocked by it !

Where we differ is you think cause she is black that makes her a natural born freak athlete ! I dont ,I have heard the storys firsthand eyewitnesses and we know that works for you ? her dad had her and Venus running sprints since they were 5 yrs old therefore he "developed athletes"

Not a big crazy cosmos spitting magic moondust horse out there giving out magic karma from the tennis gods as you would say !!!!
 
ga tennis said:
Do you think that was mostly instilled in her from her father.her environment,or do you think that just something she was born with?
Click to expand...

Ga quit listening to moonbeam-TCF ,, you need to build your daughter into a champion ,make her train, lift weights, run sprints , work on her movement, it does not fall out of the sky from the magic horse TCF prays to.

Jupiter and Boca Resots here I come now I have to see this kid of his ...
 
Number1Coach said:
We would have spanked her when they were both 10 , shoot at 11he was beating the no.2 girl at UCLA in baseline games and tie breakers and had they played sets it would have been the same thing ,TCF this is where you show the game has passed you up and development is not your specialty !
Click to expand...

I don't know about that. To be fair, your boy is pretty good now, but at 10, a lot of boys his age were handing it to him. If he could have spanked Serena at 10, so would half of the boys in socal.
 
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