On the Nature of Things | Forum

Kyodo | Naomi Osaka wins U.S. Open to claim Japan's 1st Grand Slam title

Naomi Osaka wrote her name in Japanese sporting history on Saturday, becoming the country's first singles Grand Slam champion by beating Serena Williams 6-2, 6-4 in the U.S. Open final.

This is not how to do it, not good sportsmanship:

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This is ridiculous. The lady who won was reduced to tears and apologies- for winning and not cheating (as Ms.Williams coach admitted to afterwards.)

Then the audacity of Ms. Williams to claim that she is fighting for (in her words) "women's rights, women's equality, stuff like that"- stuff like that, indeed. And then the ensuing media push that this was some sort of systematic injustice to all black women.

This is what I was getting at a few months ago in the philosophy forum thread about men's/women's worlds...Serena Williams has been a pampered, celebrated figure in her sport for two+ decades now. She's been so since before she was a teenager as she was clearly the next "big thing".

And she deserves all of that because she was really, really good at what she does. But she's not that good anymore- time is taking it away, quicker now than ever. She lost to a lady who is 16,17 years her junior in a sport which rewards youth...she, and not Serena, is the "next big thing" now.

That her PR for the last several years has been extra keen in exploiting the social justice warrior atmosphere as a means to reinforce her entitlement has been ugly. Maybe uglier still has been the way others have acquiesced to it.

This is not ending well and definitely not a good look for an aging athlete.

She should apologize to Ms.Osaka for doing the thing they're paid to do- win tennis matches& be good at tennis.

NapLajoieonSteroids wrote:This is ridiculous. The lady who won was reduced to tears and apologies- for winning and not cheating (as Ms.Williams coach admitted to afterwards.)

Then the audacity of Ms. Williams to claim that she is fighting for (in her words) "women's rights, women's equality, stuff like that"- stuff like that, indeed. And then the ensuing media push that this was some sort of systematic injustice to all black women.

This is what I was getting at a few months ago in the philosophy forum thread about men's/women's worlds...Serena Williams has been a pampered, celebrated figure in her sport for two+ decades now. She's been so since before she was a teenager as she was clearly the next "big thing".

And she deserves all of that because she was really, really good at what she does. But she's not that good anymore- time is taking it away, quicker now than ever. She lost to a lady who is 16,17 years her junior in a sport which rewards youth...she, and not Serena, is the "next big thing" now.

That her PR for the last several years has been extra keen in exploiting the social justice warrior atmosphere as a means to reinforce her entitlement has been ugly. Maybe uglier still has been the way others have acquiesced to it.

This is not ending well and definitely not a good look for an aging athlete.

She should apologize to Ms.Osaka for doing the thing they're paid to do- win tennis matches& be good at tennis.

There is wining, and then there is grabbing the spotlight. Sometimes the latter pays better than the former.

Since she could not win, she went for the next best thing, or perhaps the more lucrative thing.

John McEnroe made a whole career of throwing temper tantrums on the court. People still pay him money to show up and throw tantrums. (Which sounds like a fun career, to me )

He was also penalized for it (and criticized for being a crybaby), over and over again, but people don't seem to remember that part.

And McEnroe, while a very good player himself, was always behind Bjorn Bork. Some have said that if McEnroe had learnt to control his tempestuousness and focus on the game, he would've had a greater on the court legacy. But he didn't- and now he's known mostly for the clownish part.

NapLajoieonSteroids wrote:John McEnroe made a whole career of throwing temper tantrums on the court. People still pay him money to show up and throw tantrums. (Which sounds like a fun career, to me )

He was also penalized for it (and criticized for being a crybaby), over and over again, but people don't seem to remember that part.

And McEnroe, while a very good player himself, was always behind Bjorn Bork. Some have said that if McEnroe had learnt to control his tempestuousness and focus on the game, he would've had a greater on the court legacy. But he didn't- and now he's known mostly for the clownish part.

So, summing up, there are multiple ways to become famous, or at least memorable. And if either are the goal, and both lead to a paycheck, either way, you win!

first they came for Alex Jones, then they came for Serena Williams, then.....

I only became a internet household name after my failed bid to become POTUS, win the Indy 500, and launch a lucrative career as a porn star.

As they say in Russia, "Sometime fate is a bitch, but sometimes she is a tiger."

McEnroe and Bork are 'colorful, strong personalities' but Williams is a bitch and a bad sport? No.

Nonc Hilaire wrote:McEnroe and Bork are 'colorful, strong personalities' but Williams is a bitch and a bad sport? No.

Like I tell my wife, you can say some things to a guy and get away with it, while I would not be able to get away with it, and other things that a guy can say to a guy (and get away with it) you would never be forgiven for.

I think it has a lot to do with the daughter-Daddy, and son-Mommy issues that we are all carrying as baggage.

it would have been more interesting if the ref accused Serena of being racist, or the reaction of the ref, if the ref were female.

Pro tennis need more catfights to widen it appeal. I think professional wrestlers would make good tennis refs.

all the usual suspects in america and england are most upset with the low class austalian response to this.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opini ... 20bcb21be7

Nonc Hilaire wrote:McEnroe and Bork are 'colorful, strong personalities' but Williams is a bitch and a bad sport? No.

Hardly.

I don't think anyone has ever characterized the dour and taciturn Bork as colorful.

McEnroe, even while he was playing, was criticized for being a jackass. His mouth got him thrown out of several tournaments, tournaments he had real shots at winning.

Most of all, it cost him his dignity.

No one mentions McEnroe when the subject of great tennis players come up; people may not remember the penalties and editorial opprobrium but they certainly remember their impression of him as a big baby.

There is plenty of money and attention for that. But there is that reputation-cost, too.

No one gets to be "champ" and "clown" at the same time.