Serena Wants You To Know Her Side Of The Story
Serena Williams was slapped with the biggest fine in tennis' history ($82,500) for her meltdown at this year's U.S. Open, but Williams hasn't been able to get a word in edgewise!
We guess that's why Serena has taken to her official blog to rant about the fine - which Williams says was actually $92k, but she paid the initial $10,000 right after her choice comments.
So what does the tennis champ have to say?
Check it out for yourself:
Hey Guys!
As the world seems to know or for those who don't I want to speak about my recently dubbed "outburst" and how I feel.
I have recently been fined by the Grand Slam Committee of the ITF (International Tennis Federation) over 82 thousand dollars for getting mad and using the "F-bomb" at a line Judge.
To clear things up FIRST I was NOT fined 82 thousand dollars. I was fined 92 thousand dollars! I paid 10 thousand dollars on site immediately after the U. S. Open. So for the record, I was fined $92,000 not $82,000! The biggest fine EVER in tennis.
Also for all those that don't know, I felt incredibly bad, and miserable for losing my cool, and most importantly not representing the person I really am spiritually and the role model I want to be to my young fans. I have been a very feisty player all my life, but when the time came for me to be calm and cool, I did not exercise a mild temper. How I regret not being a better role model and person to all of my fans. I apologized to my fans and even wrote a personal letter to the lines woman with my apologies. She understood as she often witnesses this as it is not uncommon in my sport, or any other sport. She was extremely supportive and said that she did not think any further actions should be taken against me.
A few years ago in a most important match being watched my millions; I was blatantly cheated and robbed of a US Open title by yet another official. I was again on the wrong side of not one or two, but several other bad calls. This incident however changed tennis. Because of what was incorrectly done to me, the whole sport of tennis adapted new technology for a player to challenge the calls lines persons make if the player feels they were wronged. I was expected to take solace in the fact even though I lost the U.S Open title (a dream I've been working for since I was 2 years old). At least others won't be wronged in the future. I am always happy for the next person. I always am. I received apologies from the USTA, the Lines Official, and the Head of the US Open. However I don't recall EVER receiving a note, a phone call, a letter even a text from anyone at the Grand Slam Committee ITF apologizing about the wrong and disastrous call one of THEIR officials made.
When I was a teenager I was booed by an entire packed stadium at Indian Wells. In my new book "On the line" I talk about how I remember crying on every changeover in the towel. Praying and wishing I could lose and the match would just be done with. When the match was over I thanked the crowd those that cheered for me, and even those that did not. Looking back I am still amazed how I remained so calm and positive, and even managed to come out on top.
The fact is every professional athlete gets wronged in one way or another. And every athlete gets upset. We have been working, sacrificing, missing out on numerous things, things we will never get back or experience for the sake of our careers. For the sake of that one moment in time where we have a chance to shine through.
Imagine for 20 years working day in, day out, sacrificing on countless things to get this job, that will make all your hard work and endless efforts worthwhile. Try to imagine having that promotion in one moment being taken away from you because of a slight over sight, by someone overseeing your work. 20 years gone away. Time to start over, dust yourself off and try again. You work harder make positive changes. It happens again.
"Dust yourself off" you say. "Try again"
You do just that. You work even harder than before, spend longer hours. Then it happens yet again. Another slight oversight.
Well this is what happened to me, and to be honest I believe I reached my boiling point. After yet ANOTHER wrong call I began to wonder- Was I being "overlooked" or wrongly judged on purpose!??? Is this being done to keep me from achieving my best? Why does this keep happening at the same place?
Throughout my career I have remained calm. But I guess I finally reached my breaking point. A point I should have never allowed myself to get to. Everything seemed to have surfaced. As you know, losing my cool cost me over 92 thousand dollars. 92 thousand dollars! This is more than most people make in a year. 92 thousand dollars! Answer this: Why is it another player who also lost HIS cool not to a line judge - like I did - but to the main officiating judge- using the same "f word" why was HE only fined 10 thousand dollars. Was what I did 10 times worse than what he did?!
There is another HE who was fined less than half of what I was fined after someone in his camp actually physically ATTACKED an official!!!!
What about the famous HE who made arguing with officials "cool". Cool for "MEN" I guess.
Is it because they are all HE's and not a SHE like me?It is indeed a massive difference. Being American I guess the 1st amendment, freedom of speech, does not apply to a SHE in this case? In any event the Grand Slam Committee, ITF and its staff did not hesitate to call, send a note, text, nor write letters after this incident. Ironic is it not?
I don't mind being fined. If I did wrong I accept the repercussions. All I ask for is to be treated equal.
When I was fined the 92K, I asked to see if I could donate some of it to different schools, and programs I'm involved in. My request was denied. So, I decided to match the fine by raising money and donating an additional 92K to my 2nd school that I am opening up in Africa, as well as to schools that I am helping here in the United States. I also want to educate women about what I learned from this whole experience. How we as women are still treated as less than equal. I am going to turn this 92K into a positive!!! And I have decided to call it Serena's 92K mission!!! Go to Serenawilliams.com to learn more about my 92K mission.
Xxxx,
Serena Williams
If you made it this far - thoughts????
[Image via WENN.]
Suri Cruise Has Had Enough!
Gary Busey Will Spawn!
Good for her!
Re: divas2 – First of all she is not a "hoodrat", I would have done the same thing. Working my ass off for some four eyed official to make a bad call. It's not like Serena does this all the time, she just had enough of the bullshit. Good for her. I would have been waiting for the bitch at her house.
What a MORON! Her self serving references to other bad boys' outbursts fail to mention SERENA THREATENED TO SHOVE A BALL DOWN THE LINESWOMAN'S THROAT after USING THE F-BOMB. 1st Amendment? Give me a f*%#ing break!!!! She's lucky it was only 92k. And losing one CLOSE match because you threaten the line judge WHEN YOU ARE TWO POINTS AWAY FROM LOSING ANYWAY does not mean the results from your entire 20 year career are "taken away." What a MORON…they should've fined her 100k for being stupid and self-absorbed!
Re: stacilu30 – wow what a racist mofo YOU are - she never once says its because of her race only that its because she is a woman and imo she is right men are "allowed" to throw hissy fits and use the "f" bomb but women get doubly slammed for using this because its not "ladylike" or how a woman should behave… i read the whole thing its actually very good i guess the rest of u need to L2read
i read the whole thing and I don't feel sorry for her having to pay the fine, but I do agree that the money could have just as easily be allocated to go to charity. Did the line judge get a cut of the money for being threatened, because even that I could understand, but for the ITF to just take the money and run is bull. Why couldn't a part or all of that money go to a charity?
YOU GO GIRL! LOVE YOU! SPEAK THE DAMN TRUTH HOW IT IS!
Re: E.N.S. – You must be black
Re: elbowgrease – Could not have said it BETTER - AMEN!!
"she acts ghetto and then accuses everyone of racisim. she needs to take responsibility for her bad behavior and get over herself "
Re: reidalicious – Team Serena!
You must be black - that is the only way you could support her behaviors
Re: leeffie – It's not about race or gender, its about class. Have some sportsmanship and accept the good with the bad like the rest of us
100% CORRECT…thank you!!! until black people are held to the same standard of the law and behaviors (Michael Vick, Serena, OJ, Kanye, Tiger, etc) that white people are and quit blaming the WHITE people for their actions, racism will always exist. Why are black people exempt from manners? this is getting very, very, very old….the backlash will occur
Re: Renee1234 – "I would have been waiting for the bitch at her house. "
You must be black and full of hate (especially for white people)
Re: cajunsher –
And you must be a white racist, as you're lumping people you don't know into groups over the internet. Assuming that anyone who supports her is black? People like you are the reason that black people are so hyper-aware of racism. Because people like you are so hyper-aware of race. It's ridiculous to assume that racism no longer affects our country–racial discrimination may be technically illegal but government institutions (housing authorities, school districts) find legal ways around it and individuals like you can legally be as racist as you like. Despite all that, Williams never mentioned the issue of race. I'm sure you won't read all of this because like most of the other people insulting Williams, you probably lack the ability and/or attention span–so I'm typing this for my own benefit I guess.
Re: Wastin' Time says – reply to this
I am hyper-aware of racism because black people shove it down my throat everyday. Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, on and on, they cannot address ONE SINGLE issue without making it about race…so dont preach to me! I hear it every time i read the news. Now, you suppose that i am white, hearing this from a white person makes me racist! Go to Trinity Church…Jeremiah Wright…Barack Obama's spiritual leader and then talk to me about racism. Black people today are some of the most racist/haters i have ever seen in mhy lifetime… and why? we have a black president, black AG, black SG, and the list goes on….dont put this on me my friend, blacks brought it on themselves..but i am sure i wasting my words on someone like you.
The only one lacking ability is SW, ability to control her temper and show grace under pressure.