I Heart Sports, Especially the Ones You Can Watch While Reading a Book
People with real jobs, and people not living on the West Coast, likely missed most of the Australian Open. My job is way flexible, and I live on the West Coast, so I didn't have to stay up too late to watch the live coverage. I'm not a big tennis fan, but the tournament had a lot to offer. There were good story-lines, from Federer chasing history to Baghdatis and his chanting and very un-tennis-like fans to Martina Hingis' return to tennis. And the broadcasters. I wish the rest of ESPN would follow the lead of these announcers. Chris Fowler was the anchor, I guess, alongside Brad Gilbert (Agassi's coach). They were insightful and funny and kept me interested even when there wasn't an actual tennis match being played. The play-by-play teams were actually not annoying to listen to. They'd argue over things I didn't really understand, and they talked tennis language that didn't always make sense to me, but, and this is the part I really liked, they'd go for long periods of time without saying anything. They let the play on the court speak for itself. They didn't assume the audience was comprised of a bunch of idiots who needed to hear a cliched analogy or metaphor every few minutes.
The only upsetting part of the coverage for me was a short piece that one of the reporters did on Hingis' return to tennis. Hingis was a great story. She returned after three years of retirement and played incredibly well. She smiled a lot and seemed to enjoy playing the game. The story focused on how in her younger days she beat opponents not by hitting the ball harder than anyone else but by out-thinking them. She was a smart player who was constantly thinking several hits ahead of the opposition.
The disturbing part of the piece was when the reporter talked about why Hingis quit playing tennis three years ago. The game had changed. The players were becoming bigger and stronger. They had started beating her because they could overpower her. Naturally, Venus and Serena Williams were shown beating Hingis. The Williams sisters did change the tennis world. But there were other power players emerging along with the Williams. Lindsay Davenport, Maria Sharapova (well, she's a little younger, but still a power player). So, Hingis returns. She returns as Serena and Venus are playing injured, and this was noted. But this wasn't the end of the note about the Williams.
There were a few seconds where both Venus and Serena were the focus of the camera. They were smashing the ball past opponents. The reporter then said, while the Williams were on the screen, that for the past few years, it was muscle and power rather than intelligence that won tournaments. No other power players were shown, just the two black women. But now, when there bodies are ailing, there seems to be a change in the tennis world. The world of women's tennis seems to have learned that power alone isn't enough to win tournaments. Evidenced by the Williams sisters losing early on in this tournament.
I was disturbed. The two most dominant tennis players of the past 4 or 5 years were, it was insinuated, only dominant because of their physical power. Moreover, if they have to rely on intelligence, they'll cease to be a factor in tennis.
I really don't have much more to add. I was stunned. Lots of tennis players get hurt. Both of the Williams have been playing injured for the past year (and managed to win several tournaments). I realize that the piece was intended to emphasize why Hingis was able to succeed after a three year layoff. She's not as strong as other players, but she knows the game and knows how to think her way through a match.
As if Venus and Serena don't know how to do this. As if it they aren't smart and never have to think their way through matches. As if they have nothing else to offer the game of tennis now that they aren't necessarily the strongest two players on the tour.
I think it's very fair to criticize the Williams sisters about some things, and I honestly don't know how smart they are on the court. But I am disturbed that these were the only two players in all of tennis associated with failing to succeed when intelligence brought into question. For a brief moment in the year 2006 during world-wide coverage, intelligence was linked directly to skin color.
The only upsetting part of the coverage for me was a short piece that one of the reporters did on Hingis' return to tennis. Hingis was a great story. She returned after three years of retirement and played incredibly well. She smiled a lot and seemed to enjoy playing the game. The story focused on how in her younger days she beat opponents not by hitting the ball harder than anyone else but by out-thinking them. She was a smart player who was constantly thinking several hits ahead of the opposition.
The disturbing part of the piece was when the reporter talked about why Hingis quit playing tennis three years ago. The game had changed. The players were becoming bigger and stronger. They had started beating her because they could overpower her. Naturally, Venus and Serena Williams were shown beating Hingis. The Williams sisters did change the tennis world. But there were other power players emerging along with the Williams. Lindsay Davenport, Maria Sharapova (well, she's a little younger, but still a power player). So, Hingis returns. She returns as Serena and Venus are playing injured, and this was noted. But this wasn't the end of the note about the Williams.
There were a few seconds where both Venus and Serena were the focus of the camera. They were smashing the ball past opponents. The reporter then said, while the Williams were on the screen, that for the past few years, it was muscle and power rather than intelligence that won tournaments. No other power players were shown, just the two black women. But now, when there bodies are ailing, there seems to be a change in the tennis world. The world of women's tennis seems to have learned that power alone isn't enough to win tournaments. Evidenced by the Williams sisters losing early on in this tournament.
I was disturbed. The two most dominant tennis players of the past 4 or 5 years were, it was insinuated, only dominant because of their physical power. Moreover, if they have to rely on intelligence, they'll cease to be a factor in tennis.
I really don't have much more to add. I was stunned. Lots of tennis players get hurt. Both of the Williams have been playing injured for the past year (and managed to win several tournaments). I realize that the piece was intended to emphasize why Hingis was able to succeed after a three year layoff. She's not as strong as other players, but she knows the game and knows how to think her way through a match.
As if Venus and Serena don't know how to do this. As if it they aren't smart and never have to think their way through matches. As if they have nothing else to offer the game of tennis now that they aren't necessarily the strongest two players on the tour.
I think it's very fair to criticize the Williams sisters about some things, and I honestly don't know how smart they are on the court. But I am disturbed that these were the only two players in all of tennis associated with failing to succeed when intelligence brought into question. For a brief moment in the year 2006 during world-wide coverage, intelligence was linked directly to skin color.
posted by Michael Lasley | 8:47 PM
6 Comments:
Yup, see, that's what happens when a books person takes it upon himself to do a sports article. (And plus the Super Bowl has had enough coverage -- much ado about nothing.) Great points about QBs. Donivan McNabb did an interview with Michael Smith the other day and discussed this somewhat. There's always that assumption, it seems, that the black QB is there because of athletic ability. As if Michael Vick doesn't work hard at watching film and reading coverages and everything else.
Pittsburgh 24, Seattle 20.
Yes, I will be happy to accept Vince Young on behalf of the Dallas Cowboys. (The one thing about Texas that I really like, and Joe hates them! Sheesh!!!)
Did someone say something about tennis?
And to completely change the subject away from tennis, football, and racism...
I'd love to hear what you think, Joe, about the Bagwell situation in Houston. As a Cards fan, I've always taken great pride in disliking the Astros. But, it's one of those love-to-hate-them scenarios. I love it when both teams are good and there's a great rivalry. Just interested in your thoughts about how the Astros are treating Bagwell. And how he's responded to them (said he doubts the relationship will ever recover from what they're doing right now by not wanting to honor his contract). That's all.
(I actually am interested in the Super Bowl, I just hate all the hype leading up to it.)
And come on, Al. You need to get on the tennis bandwagon. As someone who likes sports that aren't given much coverage (like volleyball), seems you'd appreciate something different.
Actually, I like tennis. It is my current "sport-that-I-hope-to-play-to-get-in-shape."
And I've got a little tennis opportunity coming up in a little bit that I'll have to tell you about after it happens (can't spoil the surprise).
Whitney -- that's what I found so interesting about the piece. The reporter just made it seem natural that the Williams were just physical and not mental players. In football, there is at least an awareness that race plays into the discussion about quarterbacks.
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