Serena

As a fairly avid tennis fan, I was offered condolences on yesterday as I settled in for a full day of tennis and encountered yet another rain delay. I smiled at the sentiment, but had no problem finding something else to do. Today, however, condolences are more in order. I am ailing – as the Serena Williams / Kim Clijsters U.S. Open semi-final match debacle settles into my consciousness.

It is not what happened that is making be ail. What happened was no more than an incident that took place between two, three, four, five or six people -- depending on how one looks at things. The 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 people involved acted out their individual minds, beliefs, hearts and spirits – the good and the bad, the right and the wrong. They did it before tens of thousands of people and in front of cameras that immediately conveyed their images to millions more people. But it was only the 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 people who were actually involved who created the incident, and I know better than to expect people to behave any differently from whom and what they are.

No, the thing that hurts me is that in tennis’ many public discussions, commentary and analysis that are sure to ensue, no one will defend Serena although her position and behavior was AT LEAST as defensible as any and all of the positions and behaviors of the other 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 other persons involved.

No one in the booth or locker room will say, “I cannot imagine being called for a foot fault – mistakenly or otherwise -- in a semi-final match at deuce! That is unheard of in our sport! Had it happened to me, I would have been very, very upset as well. So yes, I can understand what happened with Serena whether I can condone her reaction or not.”

None of the commentators will consider the difference between Serena’s penalty and the penalties (or lack thereof) handed down to the many professional tennis players who have verbally abused referees (much less linespeople) as a matter of course. Neither John McEnroe nor anyone else will be heard on air saying, “I regularly behaved far worse, provoked by far less! Had I been called for a foot fault at a point in a semi-final as she was, I cannot imagine what I might have done or said! With all of my misbehavior, I was never penalized to the extent of losing a match! I would have been apoplectic! So yes, I can understand Serena’s reaction whether I can condone it at this point in my career or not.”

Comments and discussions such as the above may certainly be taking place in private and/or off the air. But the sport – the corporate sport of American tennis, its spokespersons, and much of its rank and file – will not express any such opinions publicly. The few within the ranks who might wish to do so will consider the (legal, financial, and peer) pressures involved – and try to be content with more private and personal conversations.

The party line will be:
“Of the two to six people involved, all behaved within the limits of lawful, acceptable and understandable behavior. Only Serena must be held accountable for any missteps here. Only Serena can be held responsible for this unfortunate incident.”

No producer, journalist or columnist will wonder aloud how often these “unfortunate incidents” – obscure rules, incorrect line calls, botched scores and bumps – revolve around Serena and/or Venus Williams. None of them will share any musings about how these sisters, who have brought untold numbers of fans and literally, billions of dollars to the sport would be feted if they were white Americans instead of Black ones.

No one in tennis will publicly give Serena her due as she steadily and methodically defeats all comers. She is a phenomenon, a great tennis player and, on many measures, the best female tennis player of all time. But the sport will never celebrate her that way. Her sport will never support, defend or celebrate her as it should. Her sport will never cease to criticize her even as they grudgingly give her some minimal credit for her skill, heart and victories.

As she did last evening, Serena will graciously congratulate her opponent, square her shoulders, lift her head, smile and wave to her fans, and stride off the court – alone. And those of us who know – those of us who identify – those of us not deluded or in denial or under illusions about what it is to be African-American in America – don’t feel so well this morning.