The Williams Sisters Have a Daddy With a Big Mouth

Classy Richard Williams, proud papa of tennis stars Venus and Serena, has gotten in touch with his obnoxious side. Oh wait, that’s the only side he’s ever revealed publicly.

Perez Hilton reports that the head of the WTA, Larry Scott, is none too thrilled about Daddy Williams’ claims earlier this month that there is racism in women’s tennis. Scott notes:

“The Tour has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to racism, and I have previously let Mr. Williams know that he should let me know if he ever had evidence of racist comments or acts in women’s professional tennis.” 

Why the brouhaha? Maybe it has do to with the fact that Poor Richard’s choice of words had all the soft edges of a grenade covered with razor blades:

“Well, I’m black and I’m prejudiced, very prejudiced. People are prejudiced in tennis. I don’t think Venus or Serena was ever accepted by tennis. They never will be.”

Fair enough, he’s entitled to his opinion. But he doesn’t leave it at that. According to Mr. Williams, Venus and Serena were subjected to

 . . .“the worst media job that they have done on any human being in the world.”

So he’s got a flair for hyperbole. (We’re pretty sure an intense 10 seconds of thought on the subject could produce a lengthy list of people who’ve been shafted by the media far more than the Williams sisters.) But this is when he crossed the point of no return:   

“But if you get some little white no-good trasher in America like Tracy Austin or Chris Evert, who cannot hit the ball, they [the media] will claim this is great.” 

That’s probably the first and last time anyone will call Tracy Austin and Chris Evert “white trash.” Not only are they class acts who had superb careers—though Austin’s was cut short by car crash injuries—but they continue to contribute to women’s tennis long after hanging up the racket.

For our part, we think the inability of either Williams sister to credit an opponent after a loss has more to do with their reception from the media than anything else. No one doubts their talent, but many people are turned off by their God complex/blame the world ‘tude, depending on their performance on the court that particular day.

But with a father like that, we don’t blame them for the overindulgence of self-love. You reap what you sow, Mr. Williams.