Tennis - of Pride, Prejudice and Bias

Earlier today Serena Williams issued another statement expanding her apology over her Sept 12 meltdown at the US Open women's semi-final match versus Kim Clijsters. The revised apology was contrite and humble enough for TV's tennis commentators to once again restore Serena to the lofty status accorded grand slam champions.

What we have not heard throughout this 3 day cycle of incident replays and pundit commentaries is a reference to, and comparison between Williams' behaviour vis-a-vis that of John McEnroe who was notorious for his on court tantrums directed at what he considered erroneous calls against him. Some have asked for her suspension and other stronger sanctions.

Somehow, I come away with the impression that, as far as the commentators are concerned, McEnroe, a white male champion, gets a pass for unbecoming behaviour, while Williams, a black female champion in the same sport, gets excoriating criticism. McEnroe's transgressions have, in fact, been viewed and now treated as amusing much like parents viewed their toddlers antics.
Smacks of hypocrisy?

The other thing that I've had a chance to dwell on is the imbedded prejudice that orientals, or people of Asian descent, have against blacks. The linesperson who called the 2 footfaults on Serena Williams appeared to be a middleaged Asian woman. Since no other player in most of the televised matches ever seems to have gotten a footfault called ( and experts as well as the commentators have openly admitted a difficulty in positively identifying this transgression) the question of predisposed bias on the lineperson's part needs further exploration by the USTA before passing final judgement on Serena Williams.

This Asian prejudice towards blacks is well known within the many Asian communities in the US. even though it is seldom discussed outside of their respective enclaves. As an Asian immigrant myself I have had to caution some of my compatriots against making outright racial comments about blacks and to seriously rethink their inherent prejudice and bias. Many of them do not even seem to realize that they harbor these sentiments until are openly pointed out.

That and all the USTA, and more specifically, the US Open can rightfully point with pride to its vigorous and vibrant pursuit of harmonious diversity. After all, the center is named after an accomplished female player - Billie Jean King, and the main venue itself after an the history setting Arthur Ashe. That is not to say, however, that human prejudice and bias can and will still filter thru and need to be guarded against.