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Let’s start first with the duplicity of some when it comes to the transgressions of African American athletes in comparison to those committed by others. Do we even know about or have the same outrage regarding the behavior of Vitaly Potapenko, Donald Sterling, George Shinn or Jim Stack to name just a few. For clarity Potapenko, the oft-injured native of the Ukraine and member of four NBA teams in eight seasons, was charged this summer with disorderly intoxication and resisting arrest without violence. The Seattle Supersonics center, angry that he wasn’t admitted into a Miami club because of his drunkenness, allegedly told the arresting officer to “go arrest some (racial slur) drug dealers.” (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basketball/181980_vitaly14.html) Then there’s Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, who besides making the franchise the joke of the entire sports world also can’t seem to respect his marriage vows. Various levels of sexual deviancy have become public over the last few years involving the 70-year-old mogul. For example, a former employee sued him for sexual harassment at his Beverly Hills real estate offices. The plaintiff accused Sterling of making “unwanted and offensive physical conduct” that included hugging, kissing and touching her chest. Furthermore, the lawsuit contends that Sterling at times unbuttoned his pants and “adjust(ed) himself” while she sat across the desk from him. (www.sportsline.com/nba/story/6506884) This past August it was revealed that he had a three-year sex-for-money relationship with another woman. (www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0812041sterling1.html) Sterling’s miserly approach to supporting the product on the basketball court hasn’t hurt his pockets. Since assuming ownership of the franchise in 1981 the team has lost three out of every four games, yet their worth has grown from $12.5 million to more than $200 million. Oh but I digress, there are more legal issues! A federal lawsuit is pending in Los Angeles claiming that Sterling ordered employees at two apartment complexes he runs to only rent to Koreans, not to Blacks or Hispanics. (www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/6408917.htm?1c) George Shinn, the current owner of the New Orleans Hornets, was also accused of unwanted sexual advances when the franchise was in Charlotte. (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/news/1999/08/06/shinn_hornets) Jim Stack, the recently named general manager of the Minnesota Timberwolves, was arrested this summer for a fight at a little league game. (http://msn.foxsports.com/story/3011698) Some hockey players continue to drink and drive. Craig MacTavish, the current coach of the Edmonton Oilers, served a year in jail after his vehicle killed a woman in 1981, and Rob Ramage is possibly facing time for his intoxication resulting in the death of friend and former player Keith Magnuson this past December. These incidents are only pointed out to ask for balance in the collective condemnation of all actions, and I’m sure that if I delved even closer into all of their lives I’d find something positive as well, just as I probably would anyone else. Nevertheless, in nearly every bad case (regardless of color) someone was harmed, done wrong or sadly killed. However, the lack of impartiality or even scrutiny and the same intense press coverage suggests various things. With that said, Venus and Serena Williams come to mind. For the last decade or so these two young ladies have grown up right before our very eyes, while also resurrecting and revolutionizing the world of women’s tennis. Also, they are a shining example of what balance and perspective are all about in one’s life. I’m sure we’ll all agree that though they aren’t currently ranked one and two respectively, they are accomplished professional athletes having attained lofty heights in their chosen career. However, for me what is even more admirable is that they have lives outside of tennis. They both design a lot of their own outfits – pursuing an interest in fashion design – and Venus has started her own interior design company that has the set of the Tavis Smiley Show as one of its latest customers. Serena, ever the diva, has expressed an interest in acting. Many should laud the role that both parents played in raising these two since they’ve allowed them to be who they are, and not obsess over early tennis success. This is especially true when you contrast it with the childhoods of Mary Pierce and Jennifer Capriati. Yes, it is noted that both have overcome those early days and conduct themselves quite well today, and their efforts should be respected. Unfortunately, in the case of the Williams sisters we are constantly reminded of this “attitude” they have. In fact, after the recent controversy involving bad calls in Serena’s eventual U.S. Open loss to Capriati, a television reporter responded by saying that though the calls were wrong, they (the Williams sisters, and more specifically Serena) didn’t need any more reasons to be angry. I didn’t see anger on the court – reminiscent of the fury unleashed by John McEnroe two decades ago – when Serena dealt with the umpire at Flushing Meadows. She was angry, but conducted herself with the kind of sportsmanship expected of the white shorts, white shirts and white socks crowd. And yes, I will grant you that the aforementioned McEnroe supports many worthy causes – the Althea Gibson Foundation being one of them (as do the Williams sisters and other athletes of color) – but his behavior then was not a good example. If you’ll allow me I have a reason for this obsession with the Williams sisters “attitude” by some. If you watch them carefully they don’t go out of their way to ask the tennis community to accept them on bended knee. They both have a healthy respect for their opponents, but they play to win and step on the court to do just that. Now selfishly I would love to see them devote more time to their respective games and put an end to a lot of those unforced errors, but I do appreciate the fact that they’ve been allowed to grow as complete human beings without the drama. It’s funny; you know this plea for balance and fairness in the media forces me to mention the huge contradiction one network displays in using that as one of its trademark slogans. You know the one, making unrealistic claims like their offices are, “America’s Newsroom.” I’m also reminded of the two-faced approach of a mediocre man who continues to leave a trail of death in his wake and has failed to validate his reasons for going to war. Furthermore, during his coronation earlier this month in New York he – and the rest of the grand old party – failed to mention the man we were told was responsible for the worst attack on this country in history. You know, “Wanted Dead or Alive.” Then again I should be careful, the election is approaching and he may be found in a cave as well. Where is the outrage for the carnage occurring in the Sudan, since we’re laying our hat on spreading democracy and freedom? Also, years ago, under a different regime, the freedom of a million Rwandans was not as important as the oil fields in the Middle East. Oh pardon me, but I digress once again.  Copyright 2006 by BlackAthlete.net, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
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