Was Tennis Star Serena Williams The Victim Of A Double Standard? | Velshi & Ruhle | MSNBC

There was drama on and off the court this weekend at the U.S. Open and it earned Serena Williams both praise and fines. Stephanie Ruhle is joined by NBC Sports’ Mary Carillo and the Deadspin Editor-In-Chief Megan Greenwell to discuss whether Williams was the victim of a double standard or if the superstar’s temper got the best of her.

About: MSNBC is the premier destination for in-depth analysis of daily headlines, insightful political commentary and informed perspectives. Reaching more than 95 million households worldwide, MSNBC offers a full schedule of live news coverage, political opinions and award-winning documentary programming -- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Connect with MSNBC Online
Subscribe to MSNBC Newsletter: MSNBC.com/NewslettersYouTube

Was Tennis Star Serena Williams The Victim Of A Double Standard? | Velshi & Ruhle | MSNBC

[lubicamarkova]

the worst thing on this: she totally ruined the most beautiful tennis moment everyone dreams of - winning a slam. Serena made it about herself, the crowd BOOed when the ceremony started and poor Naomi cried like she committed a crime, not won a slam. No one will give her back the moment of ultimate happiness of winning a maiden slam, it is ruined forever. SHAME.

[gorgeouscfso]

i don't know if serena was robbed of her championship, but serena definitely robbed naomi's victory.

[AANasseh]

Why doesn't my cries of "hey, other people speed too why are you giving me a speeding ticket?!!!" never works with the cops?!!

[EMPOWERMENTalist]

*I completely agree with Mary Carillo 110%*
Serena Williams really screwed this up for herself, and women's tennis...

[kjamison]

Her coach later admitted he WAS coaching her. Slamming her racquet into the playing surface is a childish tantrum. Calling the referee a thief, was also childish.

And she managed to upset Naomi Osaka to steal her thunder at the win.

[seanseay]

#1) Ramos saw the coach making a clear "coaching" gesture. So if you are the ref and you know that is a violation, would you let it go? If you are a person of integrity that has vowed to uphold the rules, I doubt it. It may very well be that Serena did not "receive" coaching from the gesture, but as a ref, you have to call what you see. Also, giving a warning for coaching is not the same thing as calling someone a cheater. The call the ref made was not based on whether he thought cheating was happening, but that he saw a clear coaching signal. This was the 1st violation. Serena chose to be a victim here by equating a coaching violation to being called a cheater.

#2) Serena smashed her racket. This is the second violation and Ramos had to give the opponent a point.

#3) Serena maligned Ramos character by calling him a thief and a liar. I have read the "verbal abuse" rule and this statement alone meets the criteria. If you don't believe me, go read it. This is the 3rd violation. Because the verbal abuse came after 2 code violations, Ramos awarded the opponent a game. I've heard many people say that no man has ever lost a game because of verbal abuse. This might be true but the verbal abuse would have to come after 2 code violations. Is anyone aware of a man abusing the ref after the 2nd code violation?

In summary, what I think started the downward spiral is that Serena believed she was a victim. She took the "coaching" warning as an attack on her character and therefore she was prepared to fight no matter what it led to. Her attack on the ref was awful on many levels. I know I would feel bullied if she talked to me that way. Ramos is known for being a stern ref to men and women. For Serena to summarily believe and accuse Ramos of sexism is judgmental and misplaced. Serena broke the rules. Rather than taking ownership of that, she points fingers at others. Victim-hood at its finest.

[blaster]

What to do when a young girl completely outplays you, and you are Serena Williams:
1) Try the race card. Not working, the opponent is black too.
2) Try the sexism card. Not working, the opponent is a woman too. A real one.
3) "BUT I HAVE A DAUGHTER!!"

[sjjam]

Go Mary! You've completely nailed this. Thank you for fearlessly speaking the truth. I know it's hard right now to not cite sexism, but it clearly wasn't. Signed, Feminist who doesn't want the issue confused.

[stephenscharf]

Mary Carillo is 110% correct about this and Megan Greenwell is 110% incorrect. Mary has it nailed: The chair umpire, Carlos Ramos, was consistently and strictly following the ITF Rulebook. He has been backed up in his refereeing by the USTA and ITF. The first code violation was real; Morataglu admitted after the match that _"100%, I was coaching"._ That was code violation 1. Smashing the racket, which she did not have to do, Racket Abuse, was Code Violation 2. Calling the umpire a _"liar and thief"_ was verbal abuse was Code Violation 3 acc. to ITF Regulations, Sec. G: *"For the purposes of this Rule, verbal abuse is defined as a statement about an official, opponent, sponsor, spectator or other person that **_implies dishonesty or is derogatory, insulting or otherwise abusive._* Calling the chair umpire a liar and a thief impugns his objectivity and implies dishonesty; that is a clear Verbal Abuse code violation. The regs are right there in black & white. The regulations also state in B&W, for a third code violation, the player forfeits a game. Lindsey Davenport, in calling the match with Mary Carillo, even pointed out BEFORE Williams committed the 3rd code violation: _"She better watch her emotions, or she will lose a game for another code violation"_ Those are the rules; but Williams does not want the regulations to apply to her, just as in 2009, when she was defaulted for threatening to ram a tennis ball down a line judge's throat for calling a foot fault. Kudos to Mary Carillo for calling this one correctly.

[lazybasturd]

Thank you Mary for being the voice of reason. Receiving coaching is against the rules. Throwing your racket is against the rules. Calling the umpire names is against the rules. What is going on, how is this even an issue?

[jerseyneil]

Mary Carillo is absolutely correct. I have no idea who the other commentator is or why her opinion is relevant to tennis. The reason Serena blows up at the US Open is because the tournament officials at the French and Wimbledon do not put up with this crap. The French Open implemented a dress code after Serena came to one of her matches dressed in a catsuit. Serena can get away with her abuse in New York because you have American fans rooting for Serena to win the American national championship against foreign players, like Kim Clijsters in 2009, Samantha Stosur in 2011, and now against Naomi Osaka. All of these times Serena acted in the same aggressive manner.

[user]

Mary is totally spot-on here. She's one of the few still around that can look at things objectively. I'm a proud Bernie supporting progressive, but this identity politics crap is getting out of hand. I think there are a lot of people now defending Serena (even though she was clearly in the wrong) in order to avoid being called sexist and/or racist. Serena is the best female tennis player in history, but she can also be a total drama queen and bully at times.

[fitnessfirstcpt]

Mary is on point here. Should we talk about inequality in sports? yes, Are there chair selectively choosing to enforcing rules? yes. Was this occasion the example of sexism and racism on display? Absolutely not. Naomi took first set 6-2. Think about when was last time Serena lose the first set with 6-2 at the major final. She changed her strateges and be more aggressive. Did that over power Naomi or changed the momentum? No. She was actually leading the second set as well. Anger took the worst out of Serena. Check the clip from 2009 semi final between Serena and Kim. Same thing. And yes, she comforted Naomi like a person who destroyed someone's wedding with argument and dramatic behavior and at the end, talked about lets be positive lol. Cray cray cray lol

[MrTrackman]

Thank you, Mary Carillo for calling Serena's disgusting behavior what it was. And Megan Greenwell somehow thinks overlooking such behavior is progress for females. Serena, Greenwell, the brainwashed crowd should all rethink and apologize to Osaka for spoiling her great achievement and moment of glory.

[MR-intel]

No double standard. The referee was pedantic, but he does it to everyone.
Temper tantrums are Serena's thing. Always when she is losing, ruining the experience of the wins by her opponents.

[denisdaly]

Serena is a bad loser. Tim Henman, the nicest English gentleman in tennis, once accidently hit a ballsgirl. He was immediately defaulted, and he apologised to the girl, and to his fans, and to the spectators. Now that was class. John MacEnroe got defaulted in 1991 in Australa, for saying much less that causing the umpire of being a cheat and thief. Serena is a bully, and has a reputation for being one. She lied through her teeth when arguing, as her coach later admitted that he was coaching her. And she is not even embarassed. She continued the tirade in the press conference, again taking away from Osaka. No class at all. This is why Federer remains the greatest tennis player in history.

[davidkpark]

Thank you for bringing a clearer light to the situation, Mary! This particular event is a story of bullying....not racism.... not sexism! Her temper tantrum got the best of her and took away Naomi's moment. Serena should apologize to Naomi!

[michaelhensley]

Thank you Mary Carillo for an honest assessment. Your were a professional in this sport during WTA inception and have been a respected commentator for decades. The shame on you finger should be pointed at Serena.

[drumcircler]

Congrats Naomi!
Serena, poor sportsmanship is embarrassing.

[alysiamerdavid-wasser]

What "blows my mind" is that Ramos saw the "coaching", Serena claimed she didn't, yet SAID: "He gave me a thumbs-up...". Coaching is STILL a Violation, EVEN IF THE PLAYER *DOESN'T* SEE IT!
He also let her rant at him for a LONG TIME! Over two change-overs! She called him a liar. He tried to talk wit her. She snapped: "Don't talk to me then!" So, he looked away. He remained composed. *It's like she was trying to provoke a reaction, so she wouldn't lose AGAIN, to Osaka, so she finally said: "You're a thief, TOO."* THAT was the game violation.
Also: Watching the award ceremony was gut-wrenching. i've never seen a "winner" look so humiliated. *Her speech was: "I'm SORRY that Serena Didn't WIN. Thank you for watching our game.".* The ONLY thief was Serena, who robbed Naomi AND a NATION!!!